Celebration helps Christmas not be blue
On the longest night of the year, one family is very excited about the Blue
Methodist church brightened the holidays Christmas event. At the end of the evening
for some old and new friends. Faithbridge many comments were made about “doing
Church in Osage Beach hosted a Blue this again next year”. Hopefully this posi-
Christmas event for the community on tive, festive and safe Christmas event will
Sunday December 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:45 be repeated next year for more old and
p.m. featuring the four-piece blues band new friends.
Chump Change, great hor’dourves and hot “Other Churches have a Longest night
and cold soft drinks. The worship center service, but we felt that more people would
served as the stage and banquet room. come out to chase away the blues with the
Beautiful Christmas trees and table decora- Blues,” Cueni-Smith said. “I did have a
tions gave the event a festive holiday flare. small message about Christ being the light
Not everyone has family and friends in the darkness during one of the intermis-
to celebrate with as Christmas rolls sions, but it was an event to bring people to
around. Loneliness at the holidays is a church for something different.”
reality. Anyone can feel “blue” from the Faithbridge Church is a restart from
reduced daylight with some even devel- Cornerstone UMC at Lake of the Ozarks,
oping Seasonal Affect Disorder (S.A.D). but it emerged as a new church start. It’s
Some may just need a safe place to be with grand opening was in May, but well prior
friends. Rev. Buck Cueni-Smith, pas- to that the church was having what they
tor, and the launch team of Faithbridge call “Elbow Events,” to encourage people to
thought a Blue Christmas celebration on invite others to a non-threatening events,
the longest night of the year might benefit bringing the new visitors with them on
the community and the church family. their elbow (escorted).
There was a good showing of all ages, “By non-threatening, we mean some-
with the focus being to meet a need in thing that doesn’t ask much participation
the community and to provide a non- from our guest,” said Rev. Buck Cueni-
threatening event to get people to a church. Smith.
Some singles were in attendance as well as The church advertised its special
families that included the children, parents, Christmas event on secular radio 101.9 FM
spouses and grandparents. A few brave “The Wave,” and got a strong response.
souls even danced to the music by the light For more informaiton about Faithbridge
of a Christmas tree! UMC, go to www.faithbridgelakechurch.
While plans are not definite, the church com.
7
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16