Christmas party - fun and joy for children

Ever since the days of Adam the world had lived waiting for the Saviour. From generation to generation the faithful retold each other the God's promise that a Savior would come and crush the head of the snake, i.e. would overcome the sin and free the people from slavery to it, would open again for them the entry into the Kingdom of God, into eternal life.

Every year in our church there is a Christmas celebration. Both children and grown-ups listen to the tale about the Birth of the Saviour.

How in a little town of Bethlehem, in a cave, the Holy Virgin gave birth to our Saviour, the Son of God. She wrapped Him in cloths, like any mother would do, and put Him in a manger - a small wooden trough for animal food.

In Bethlehem, in Bethlehem, joyful news,

The chaste Virgin, the chaste Virgin gave birth to her Son

The church choir sings spiritual chants. Marta Lyubimova and the participants arrive to join in our celebration. The children listen to the tale about the shepherds, who were the first to come to the cave to find the Child and His Mother, and the Angels who brought them the joyful news, singing "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests". And how Magi from the East came and bowed down and presented their gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Then children recite poems they have prepared for the clebration. These are their gifts to the Child Christ. We speak about the gifts that our parish has given in the name of Christ to people in need - our donations that we have grown and harvested with the help from God and have given to the glory of God. Also our accordeon player Pyotr brings his gift, Lord gave him this talent which he didn't hide in the ground but uses to please us every year, perfecting his skills. The participants of the celebration, the big and the small, listen to edifying stories and maybe this is why every year more kids come to the party. So that many grown-ups have to stand outside our Christmas "creche" with a tasty dinner, milk and honey, and sweets on children's tables...

And, of course, after the spiritual part of the celebration, comes the fairy-tale figure beloved by the kids - Father Frost, who arrives with new mirrth, noise and laughter. The fun goes on, and then a funny toy-dog Tofik, also a favourite with the children, appears on Father Frost's lap, bringing yet more joy to both kids and grown-ups. All this is impossible to describe. Come and see by yourselves.

Our Christmas party finishes with giving presents, usually about 200 of those. And this isn't just a bag of sweets, there is also a toy for every kid. The kids' joy is boundless.

The already grown-up Christ's warriors from the work squad come to the party and contribute by helping to lay the tables and decorate the room.

We are grateful to God and to our rector igumen Theophan that children get not only material gifts, but are also instructed spiritually, and that the number of children doesn't diminish but, on the contrary, grows every year.

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests".