Santa at the Manger sends the message that children can enjoy both the Christ of Christmas and Santa Claus

 

[December 16, 2022] 

On Thursday evening, Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln hosted “Santa at the Manger,” an opportunity for children to visit with Santa Claus and come to a better understanding of how there is room at Christmas for both Jesus and Santa.

The setting was a nativity with a live Joseph and Mary, portrayed by Chris and Ally Twente sat inside the shed with Santa, played by Pastor Dan McQuality, sat to the side, welcoming children to come visit the manger with him.

As kids came forward, they sat down with Santa who then regaled them with the typical questions, have you been good and what would you like for Christmas. Then, Santa offered each child a candy cane and asked the to hold it upside down and tell him what letter of the alphabet it resembled. When they answered with the letter “J” he went on to share with them how that Jesus was born in a manger, sent to the world as a baby from the Heavenly Father to save us from our sins.

After visiting with Santa, the children were given a treat bag from the church and invited to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

There was also a guessing game going on as children came into the church. A jar of Skittles was set on a table just inside the auditorium. Kids were asked to guess how many of the candies were in the jar. The one closest to the correct answer would win a prize.

This is the second year the church has hosted Santa at the Manger with a large turnout at the first event last Christmas. This year the event got off to a slow start, but Pastor and Mrs. McQuality were hopeful that more children would come out before the evening was over.

In the Thursday edition of Lincoln Daily News, Pastor McQuality offered a Christmas devotional with a Santa theme, reminding readers that Santa in the commercial version we see today is not what the original Saint Nicholas was all about.

“Saint Nicholas was a Christian pastor. He knew the love of God. This is God’s love that He sent His son into the world to save sinners. Nicholas was so moved by this fact that not only did he become a pastor to share this good news, but he had a particular compassion for widows and orphans. He would make sure that their needs of both body and soul were taken care of, bringing them gifts and supplies. His generosity became quite famous, and he was loved very much by others, especially the children.”

Christmas is a special time of year that can be both spiritual and commercial but needs to be observed in the correct order. Please remember Jesus first as you come to December 25th. Keeping Christ in Christmas is all the Father asks.

[Nila Smith]