Church Christmas Party

Maxime, Marina, Ira, and Joshua

On Saturday the 27th, we had our church Christmas party where we invited people to come from the three English clubs we are involved in. Several people from our church also invited their friends and family. The Christmas party began to take life when Valya suggested that we do something for Christmas where we could invite people to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

Maria and Edna

Kristina played the bandura and sang for us.

It started with Valya's idea of having a skit that would portray the parable of the ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom that Jesus told about in the book of Matthew. It ended up including several songs by girls from our church, a bandura performance, a slide show on the life of Jesus, a presentation of why Jesus is better than Santa Claus, personal testimony, and of course a slide show of American Christmas scenes complete with classic Christmas songs by Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and even Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Maria, Nastya, Zhenya, and Veronika singing

The girls performing a skit of the ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom from Matthew 25:1-13

Ruslan, Karina, Marina, and Anya

Besides being a fun time for everybody involved, our Christmas party was a cooperative effort to work together with fellow laborers in Christ. Along with our church, Ruslan and Anya and a couple from their church, Andriy and Marina, poured their hearts into making this Christmas party a success.

After the Christmas party we were all pretty tired, but thankful that everything went well and everyone had a good time. From left to right: Valya, Fedir, Nastya, Yana, Nikita, Ruslan, Anya, Me, Edna, Andriy, and Marina.

Maxime and Joshua with Fedir dressed as Did Moroz

Fedir wasn't able to join us until almost the end of our Christmas party because he had to work. It was his job that day to dress up as Did Moroz and delight the young children as their parents snapped pictures and took video. As not to be outdone, the children also dress up in costumes for the occasion.

Fedir as Did Moroz with some children

I thought it was cool that there were sleigh rides going on that day too.

On Sunday, the following day, we continued this same type of unity by combining our church with theirs for a joint service. We met at their church where I was honored to be able to share a message on the sacrifice of Christ being born into the world and several girls from our church were invited up to sing. The skit of the parable of the ten virgins was also performed again.

Regardless of what we may have shared or said at the Christmas party, I think our willingnes to cross denominational lines, put aside doctrinal differences, and work towards a common goal of making the Gospel known, spoke louder than words. In this way, no one person can take credit. To God goes all the glory.