IFB Christmas

[kaje]

Anybody have any "priceless" Christmas memories from Fundyland? I'll never forget the ridiculous "Christmas cantatas" that our old church put on - oh, the horrible drama! Or the endless "candlelight service" where people were supposed to give testimonies on what God had taught them that year, and it always ended in women crying lots and men feeling awkward. I'll also never forget the hideous, gaudy, gigantic Christmas bows and wreaths that hung at the front of the auditorium, although that's probably not exclusive to Fundy churches.

[exOBCstudent]

That pretty much describes my Christmas holidays when I was IFB. You left out the ranting against Santa Claus being Satan or how Christmas trees were supposed to be a pagan symbol.

Our church used to do the carolling too...good thing most of our neighborhood never turned up on our church's doorstep for a service.

[FinallyFree]

The first offertory I ever played on piano for special music was at Christmas time. It was the Carol of the bells and the sheet music blew down into the piano when the heat kicked on... I just sat there playing the duh dudu duh theme over and over again till some one was able to pull out the last page and I finished.

[FinallyFree]

My fundy church was not against trees. They even put them in the church.

[myotch]

I guess my fundy church was different. Santa Clause wasn't a no-no, and we had Christmas trees. We also did Halloween and the Easter Bunny.

Holidays were a balance of the culture's myths in the celebration of holidays, and the faith in God through Christ. They needn't be repelling forces.

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My favorite Christmas memory happened in the summertime. I guess our Pastor hadn't time to prepare a proper sermon, so we had a "request-a-hymn" service. Preacher calls on someone to request a hymn, the congregation sings the hymn. (And my poor mom was the pianist).

I had my hand raised throughout the whole service. Finally, towards the end, Preacher Griffin calls on me. In the sweltering summer, with the AC not working right, I request "Away in a Manger". Throughout all the giggles, the congregation sang the liveliest version of "Away in a Manger" that church had ever heard.

I'm still thankful for my request was honored by these god people.

[Qrayze]

my favorite was when I was in highschool and the church had just started an orchestra. They played "Sleigh Ride" and it was awesome. Probably the best instrumental version of that song. even had the whip crack at the end!

[zeusTHEgoose]

the last christmas i had at fundyland was a few years ago. instead of a cantata or play we shot our own christmas pageant video thingie. I directed and edited it myself! it was the most fun i've ever had at church EVAR! all the church members helped with setting, acting, and props, it was so much fun. the only downer was that the pastor never really seemed interested in what we did. oh well, maybe it was for the better because it gave me absolute creative freedom! god, i remember how much fun that was

[Perry]

@zeusTHEgoose I went on a missions trip with my church one year to a large US city and the church that was hosting us allowed us to make a movie in their building just for fun. It was awesome!

Anyway, I remember one year the church Christmas play was "Peanut Butter Christmas" (a Ron Hamilton play) and at the end of the play the church gave out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (because it went along with the theme of the play). I kept thinking how bad it would be if someone in the audience had a peanut allergy. The former pastor's grandson was allergic to peanuts and at school we students weren't allowed to have any products with peanuts in it. Fortunately this wasn't a problem (as far as I know), but if it was, I wonder what would have happened that night.

[laurat99]

The memory I pull away from my fundy church experience is the Pastor asking us what our "Christmas Gift to Jesus" would be. As in how much money we were going to put in the offering plate extra because it was Christmas time. It sounds just as crass now as it did then.

[Phatchick]

I'll never forget one we did when I was Jr High (I was in the choir for that one). The xmas program plot was in a store just before xmas and at one point the store catches fire and the non-xtain (played by the pastor's son) runs to the door (actually the door to the choir loft) banging on it and screaming in terror. He did such a good job, I had nightmares that night. {sigh} I guess it just wouldn't be a fundy xmas program without an in-your-face gospel message (the fact that we're celebrating Jesus' birth isn't message enough?) and an altar call to all the heathen family and friends we may have dragged to church with us.
The Bear's lutheran church always has a lovely candlelight carol service on xmas eve. Much more reverent, IMO, and more relevant to the season.