“What a beautiful Name it is” musical performances caps day of Christmas celebration at Lincoln Christian Church

[December 13, 2017]   LINCOLN - The events at Lincoln Christian Church started long before the doors opened Saturday morning. Hundreds of individuals were baking cookies, polishing nativity sets, practicing instruments, and memorizing songs for weeks. For anyone hoping to be inspired for the holidays, LCC was the place to be.

The first thing one saw when walking into the church building Saturday morning were rows and rows of cookies in different shapes, sizes and colors. For $6 a pound, there was something for everyone. All proceeds from the sale will be donated to International Disaster Emergency Services to help fight world hunger.

Just around the corner Saturday afternoon was a nativity display with nativity sets from around the world. Nativity is from a Latin word meaning “the process or circumstances of being born.” Nativity is especially prolific regarding the birth of Jesus Christ. A couple of years ago Judy Kukuck and Teri Rich decided to display their nativity sets during “Celebrate Christmas” for others to enjoy. This year they invited others to share and ended up with 206 nativities. There were nativities from the Holy Land, Kenya, Mexico, and other countries made of ceramic, yarn, paper, and banana leaves. The nativities were fantastic!

Before entering for the “Celebrate Christmas” program a few took to the dance floor with music from “Misfit Toys,” a musical quartet founded in Atlanta, IL. Members of the group are Kevin Bolton, Robbie Bell, Wayne White and Brian Bolton. The quartet specializes in jazz, playing Christmas arrangements that had the audience tapping their toes. The Misfit Toys can be contacted on Facebook and would love to be booked for your Christmas festivities.

The finale of the day, under the direction of Laurin Hill, LCC Worship Minister, was the concert “Celebrate Christmas 2017 Beautiful Name.” The audience was taken through the Christmas story with songs from the Worship Choir, Sanctuary Choir, Kids Choirs, Heartsong, Good News, Handbell Choir, Worship Band, and T.R.A.S.H. Soloists during the performance included Betsy Ramsey leading O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Ellie McFadden and Morgan Riggs leading Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Maura Gowin leading What a Beautiful Name, Emily Messner leading How Glorious the Love of Heaven, and Kathryn Nobbe leading O Holy Night. Special accompaniment included chimes by played by Kyle Marten, Kelsey Marten, Eli Roemer, Aiden Wilson, Jingle Bells played by Jacob Wilson, and T.R.A.S.H. by Eli Morris, Brandon D’Andrea, and Sadie Bolton. With over a hundred musicians and vocalists, along with technology and lighting, the Beautiful Name of Jesus put everyone in the mood for Christmas:

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King.

[Lisa Ramlow]