RICHMOND – The First Baptist Church here celebrates Christmas all through the month of December. Pastor Willie Isaacson says they enjoy the festivities, and it’s an outreach to their community. Their attendance builds in the Christmas holiday season, and they all have a good time, as well.
In four short weeks, they have eight events or holiday projects. The pastor said they will take a deep breath and slow down after Christmas.
It begins with a “Hanging of the Greens” worship service. As they decorate the sanctuary for Christmas, the congregation and the pastor read devotionals that tell the significance of the birth of the Savior. They explain the traditions of the various elements of Christmas decor.
Greenery represents the everlasting love of God brought into the church to permeate the space with their fresh smell. Poinsettias represent the red blood of Jesus. They sing Christmas carols and read Scriptures as these are placed around the room.
Isaacson said they tell the story of the Christmas tree, recounting the time reformer Martin Luther took a walk in the wintertime and marveled at a snow-covered evergreen tree in a starlit night. He had a tree brought into the church and decorated with candles.
The nativity scene is set and finally the advent wreath is placed upon the altar and the first candle of Advent is lit.
A few days later the town of Richmond has a Christmas parade. The church provides s’mores for the community at the courthouse. They have hot chocolate to give away and a craft station for kids to make Christmas ornaments and things. A booth is set up for kids to get balloon animals, tied by retired minister Paul Patterson and his wife Verlee. Outside, there is a fire pit, and the church provides graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate—the makings for s’mores—to be toasted on the fire. The pastor agreed it was a classic small town Christmas environment.
But it doesn’t stop there. A week or so into the holiday season they box up hundreds of cookies and take them around to the businesses in Richmond. Pastor Isaacson said there are 209 places where they drop off the cookies. He said, “When they see us come through the door, they are always happy.” They take prayer requests from the merchants and the people working in the offices, and people are invited to the church.
Isaacson said their attendance always rises in December. They sometimes have as many as 160 to 200 people. Normally it’s a little closer to 120. But the holiday spirit brings people out to church.
He and his wife will open their home for an afternoon of home cooked foods, like smoky meatballs, chicken wings, chips, dip, cookies and candy. The Isaacson family prepares for about 60 people to come through their home and sample the buffet of treats. The pastor is the main chef, and he and Mrs. Isaacson welcome the church to come to their house and enjoy the fellowship.
A choir of about 15 people will put on a Christmas cantata just prior to Christmas. There will be a performance by a handbell choir also. And then there will be a Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24.
And all throughout the season the church emphasizes the Week of Prayer for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. They have a goal of $4,200 this year.
“We celebrate the birth of our Savior in a way that brings us together,” Isaacson said. “It offers some hope to the people of our community who are struggling to get by.”
The pastor said there are folks in Richmond struggling with financial challenges, some are having health issues like cancer, and they have people who are dealing with addictions to alcohol and drugs.
Richmond is a town about 40 minutes outside of Kansas City. It’s a farm community and has a lot of people who commute into the city to work. There are a little more than six thousand people living in the town and the church draws from that as well as the surrounding farming areas in the county.
They do Christmas pretty big at Richmond First Baptist, and they welcome the community to come and join in with them.