Sidney Churches to Hold Christmas Festivities

A sampling of Sidney churches revealed a host of celebratory festivities this Christmas season, and clergy members explained the reason for the celebrations to the Roundup. While some churches are giving away hams so the needy can enjoy a Christmas dinner, others are hosting candlelight services, Christmas cantatas and special song services.

Paul Turek, pastor of Faith Alliance Church in Sidney, Montana, told the Roundup that their annual Christmas Eve celebration will be held at 4:30 p.m. It will be a candlelight service. Turek explained, "The point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Savior."

The Nazarene Church in Sidney will also be hosting a candlelight service and special music, with Pastor Richard Evans explaining the reason for the season, "Christmas is about celebrating the advent of the Lord and Savior with a look toward his return. Jesus became man so that the Father could have a suitable sacrifice to satisfy his justice, solve our sinfulness and to destroy death."

Fellowship Baptist Church will be giving away Christmas hams for needy families to enjoy together. They will be in limited quantity, but Richland County residents may contact the church at their listed phone number to request a ham the week of Christmas. Paul Richter, a pastor at Fellowship Baptist, explained, "Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of Christ, which was necessary because God had to become man in order to atone for our transgressions."

Fellowship Baptist Church will also have a children's choir, and choir director, Amanda Snodgrass, explained that the children will be preparing to sing a Christmas carol for the congregation on Christmas Sunday. She also iterated the meaning of Christmas, saying, "It's a celebration of the incarnation, and God becoming man to save us from our sins."

Rolf Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, told the Roundup, "We're going to have Christmas Eve service which we call a 'A Service of Lesson and Carols.' Normally we have a liturgy, but I've decided for the Christmas Eve services to have scripture, prayer, and a message. We will read through the whole Christmas story. That will be at 6:15 p.m.

"We will have a children's Christmas service on Wednesday, December 20," Preus continued, "and the purpose of Christmas is to celebrate when God became our brother to save us from our sins. Because if he's not true God and true man it's just a sentimental holiday, but if he has become both God and man, then that's something to celebrate."

Ebenezer Congregational Church will have a candlelight cantata composed of about 15 church members which will be had at 5:30 p.m., Christmas Eve. Its pastor, David Meehan, quoted Psalm 8:4, "'What is man that you are mindful of him or the son of man that you should care for him?' He had to become a man to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins."

Youth pastor at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Nick Cass, explained that they are having a children's performance on Sunday the 17th at 9:30 a.m. They are also hosting a Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m., and he explained the meaning of the holiday.

"Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus who we believe is our Savior," said Cass, "and it is through him we receive the grace of God and without his birth we would not have that path to God."

Mike Hussey, pastor at Sidney Lutheran Brethren, said, "Christmas isn't just about a baby being born and giving people presents, ultimately Christmas is about God fulfilling His promise to redeem mankind through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of His only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ."

Hussey said that the Lutheran Brethren will be having a Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m.