Open Arms Church’s annual Christmas Eve’s Eve service will feature classic and contemporary Christmas songs, a children’s program, a dance performance, some videos and a brief inspirational discussion.
The service will start at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Bradford Area High School at 81 Interstate Parkway. Doors open at 6 p.m.
“With all the challenges of life and the chaotic busyness of the holidays, this is a great time to get our bearings and find hope, peace, love, and joy as we remember the reason for the season,” said Pastor Mike McAvoy.
The evening’s event carries the theme the “Imago dei,” defined as the image of God.
“Mankind was made in God’s image, but became something less and living in that less is where our brokenness and pain comes from,” McAvoy said. “We believe Jesus came not to establish a religion, but to establish and restore his family. But what does that mean and look like?”
He said that Christmas is a reminder of God’s great love and work and invitation to all to join the family.
There will be bus transportation available to bring people to the high school. The stops and times are Togi’s Sub Station at 402 E. Main St., 5:40 p.m.; Save-A-Lot at 75 Forman St., 5:50 p.m.; Tops at 150 E. Main St., 6 p.m.; Marilyn Horne Hall at 2 Marilyn Horne Way, 6:05 p.m.; and the bus stop along Barbour Street across from the VFW hall, 6:15 p.m.
During the service, an offering will be received, half of which will go to the local sober-living homes and half will go toward a missions trip to Kenya, Africa.
“We moved our Bradford Eve’s Eve service to the high school because we just ran out of room, and we hope with more room even more people will join us to celebrate the holiday,” McAvoy said.
