Christmas Community Engagement

Christmas provides a time when congregations across Missouri often engage with their communities in creative ways. From young to old, attendees fill the churches of Missouri District to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in different ways each year. This year, we highlight a few of those events both past and present below:

Boar’s Head festivals are held yearly at Peace Lutheran in St. Louis and at Immanuel Lutheran in St. Charles. Held this past weekend, this year marked the 28th year of Peace’s Christmas Festival and the 38th year for Immanuel continuing their celebration into this Sunday. At Peace, the good news of Christ’s birth, including a portrayal of the Nativity, was celebrated with instrumental and choral music while colorfully costumed actors depicted their joy with a medieval Christmas Festival. A reception then followed as the congregation and community continued the celebration with joyful fellowship and Christmas treats. Peace’s festival involves over 350 members of all ages and proclaims the good news of Christmas to over 1,500 attendees each year.

In Columbia, on Dec. 6-7, 2024, Campus Lutheran will host their own annual Christmas get together, called “Meet Me at the Manger,” a unique event showcasing hundreds of Nativity scenes from around the world. The event is a gift to the community, where they invite everyone to come see how different cultures depict Jesus’ birth. Members volunteer for setup and takedown, serving refreshments, and providing music and hospitality for all guests.

Inspired by the popular German Christmas markets, Timothy Lutheran in St. Louis put on their annual “Weihnachtsmarkt” for their community this past Saturday on Dec. 7, 2024. The church invited their neighbors to come enjoy food and beverages with display booths on the enclosed church parking lot. All ages of members were encouraged to set up and help run the event. Stephen Ministers, staff, and comfort dogs from Timothy Lutheran were present to greet guests and take prayer requests, which are then brought to services the rest of December. Every year, it is a joyful and considerate space for kids to run, play, and drink hot chocolate as they celebrate the season alongside friends and family. Members noted that it’s a welcoming event to invite non-Christian friends to attend and interact with the church as well.

On Dec. 14, 2024, two different churches will host Christmas events geared toward the children in their communities. St. Paul in Jackson joyfully brings the wonders of Christmas to young ones with “Celebrate Jesus” each year—a fun-filled sensory event for ages 6 months to 3rd grade. Similarly, St. Paul in Des Peres will sponsor their annual “Breakfast in Bethlehem.” Breakfast is provided for community children where they can interact with costumed characters from the Christmas story. Gabriel’s Gift Shop provides them with Christmas gifts for family members, which they can have gift wrapped. Often, there is also a petting zoo with live animals typically seen in the Nativity.