Snow does not stop Children’s Christmas Celebration

Submitted photo Marian and Friends, a ventriloquist performing group featuring Marian Gehman of Berks County, provided a family-friendly and laughter-filled program during the Children's Celebration at Salem. See http://www.marianandfriends.com
Submitted photo Families were invited to stay for lunch after the program. The meal featured homemade soups and desserts provided by families of Salem EC Church. The food was a hit with old and young, including Philip Lefever (front) of Edenberg.
Submitted photo Each child received a bag of goodies to enjoy following the program. Gracie Long of Lenhartsville could not wait to enjoy her chocolate treat.
Submitted photo Salem's Children's Celebration on December 15 was a special worship service, featuring seasonal songs, a ventriloquist program and a Christmas message especially geared for children from preschool through elementary school.
Submitted photo Families stayed for lunch and had a chance to visit. The Children's Celebration was a great way to get ready for the busy holiday season without losing sight of the first Christmas story.

PUBLISHED: December 23, 2013 at 11:26 a.m. | UPDATED: August 22, 2021 at 4:11 a.m.

Snow did not stop Salem EC Church, Lenhartsville, from holding the second Children’s Christmas Celebration on Dec. 15.

The special event began last year when the church members wanted to do something geared towards children, who often have to sit quietly and behave during more adult geared services every Sunday at church.

‘We wanted to see children worshipping,’ said Dave Long, pastor of Salem EC Church. ‘We wanted to do a special service geared toward children.’

The special service included songs, a lesson on the first Christmas and a special performance by Marian & Friends. Last year’s first celebration included a puppeteer with the children taking part in crafts including making their own puppets followed by Christmas cookies. This year there was a full blown lunch after the service with 15 different homemade soups and all sorts of desserts for the whole family.

‘This is a Sunday that all revolved around them [the children] and is interactive,’ explained Long. ‘We wanted to let the kids know that they are important. We wanted them to realize that worshipping is not just for the adults, but the whole family as well.’

Rather than sitting in the pews for the service, the children were gathered on the floor up by the front and encouraged to join in the interactive service that was made just right for them.

‘I loved seeing all of the children gathered up front. It was a wonderful time,’ said Long. ‘You could see in their faces that they were having a great time.’

The Children’s Christmas Celebration is not the only child geared program that Salem EC Church offers. Once a month, the church has a program called ‘Time Out.’ What it comes down to is more of a time out for parents while the children can enjoy time at the church. Long described it as having a babysitter for the children while the parents enjoyed their own time out. From 5-8 p.m. the children are served dinner, can play in the gym, play games and other activities al under the careful eye of volunteers.

For more information on Salem EC Church visit their website at https://www.facebook.com/wearesalem and see the church calendar on C4 for weekly news from the church.