Open Arms Community Church will hold its 15th Christmas Eve’s Eve service at 7 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Bradford Area High School auditorium. The doors open to the public at 6:15 p.m.
“The move to a bigger venue has been a long-time coming to accommodate the growing scale of the production, so we have high expectations of this year’s program to be bigger and better than ever,” said Pastor Mike McAvoy. “We also hope the ease of accessibility and ample seating will encourage even more from the community to join us in the Christmas celebration.”
The program will consist of contemporary Christmas music, a dance routine directed by Mauri Shembeda of the Bradford Area Dance Center, a children’s song, a candlelight service, a three-part drama and a message following this year’s theme of “Fake News.”
“This year’s theme came from the frustration and distrust that many have experienced with those in positions to communicate authoritatively on things, but have been found to be less than truthful,” McAvoy said. “We’ve used this context to address the issue of truth, how to recognize it, and to apply these principles of discernment to see the truthfulness, certainty and rationality of the Christian faith. We really hope our December series and this Eve’s Eve service will help the reality of the Christmas story become more real to those who attend and that they’ll experience the hope and joy that reality brings to those who embrace it.”
A special offering will be received that will be split between Destinations of Bradford and the Bradford Surr’inity House.