Church Hosts Ninth Annual Community Christmas Celebration

Beginning Friday, Nov. 30 and running through Sunday, Dec. 2, the Menifee Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will put on its annual Community Christmas Celebration. Program Director Frank Faldmo says, “The goal of this event is to give the community a chance to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season, to really kick it off.”

The three-day event includes an impressive Nativity display, live Christmas music, performances by three choirs, refreshments, and a special Family Values recognition ceremony.

The Nativity display consists of approximately 400 different Nativities of varying sizes from all over the community, and even the world. Residents are asked to share their personal Nativity, which results in an enormous collection of set-ups, both big and small, some coming from different countries or family heirlooms, some playful or even exotic, and traditional Nativities too. Be sure not to miss the smallest Nativity, which fits inside of a walnut.

Over the course of the festivities, three choirs, consisting of church members and local residents, will perform traditional Christmas songs. The adult choir has over 70 members and it is truly a treat to hear them serenade. The youth choir is for teens age 12 to 18 and has around 50 members, and the children’s choir has 35 sweetly singing little ones. The program will also include a narration from actors of all ages telling the story of what Christmas is all about.

The Family Values Award will be presented on Saturday night to the Menifee United Church of Christ as well as foster parents Rodney and Wanda White of Lake Elsinore. This award was established to “recognize the honorable efforts of moral, upstanding community leaders who, while not members of the Church, are striving to advance standards and values that are consistent with the Church’s position on the family.”

“We always look forward to the annual Christmas Celebration, but being able to add the Family Values presentations makes the activity even more special. The United Church of Christ is celebrating its 50th anniversary of service to area seniors and families, while the Whites have gone the extra mile in their family-building efforts,” said Lesa Sobek, Menifee Stake director of public affairs.

The weekend has brought in over 2,200 people in the past and is sure to be fun and festive for the entire family. The host chapel is located at 29725 Bradley Road, Menifee, and there is no charge to attend.

Daily schedule:

Friday, Nov. 30- Doors will open at 5 p.m. for viewing the Nativity scenes, followed by a youth choir performance at 6 p.m. and a community choir performance at 8 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1- Doors will open at 4 p.m. with the children’s choir performing at 5:30 p.m. At 7:30, prior to the final community choir performance, local Church leaders will present the Menifee Stake Family Values award.

Sunday, Dec. 2- The weekend event will commence at 5 p.m. with a special Christmas Devotional broadcast by satellite, featuring the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at 7 p.m.