By Randa Norman

As we drove to the church through the blizzard on Christmas day, I questioned my own sanity. Who would be there to help with the dinner for the homeless? How would our homeless guests get there? (I forgot most of them live just outside our door!)

When we arrived everything was under control. The food was almost ready, we had the help we needed and our guests were arriving. Christmas music was playing and Harris Hall came alive with somewhere around 150-175 guests. There were singles, couples, and families. Soon they were enjoying a sumptuous meal, visiting with one another, laughing and warm.

As our friends were finishing their meal (with leftovers which were taken to Jesus House), the movie Polar Express began. The children loved it and the adults did too. It was just like sitting in your own living room watching the movie, drinking hot chocolate, and opening a few last moment gifts: stuffed stockings for the children and socks, caps, gloves and other necessities for the adults.

The Celebrate Recovery group and all the others who contributed to this endeavor are in agreement that this is the first annual “Home for Christmas” to be held in God’s House at First Church. As we cut the Baby Jesus’ birthday cake, sang “Happy Birthday,” and ended with prayer and “Silent Night”, God smiled.