Local church lights up holiday spirit

Published 6:30 pm Saturday, December 27, 2014

Brookhaven First Assembly Church of God’s musical gift to the community has been a successful endeavor.

“This year, we decided to do something for the community,” Matthew Taylor, family pastor at First Assembly, said.

Taylor added the musical Christmas-light house, located on Tanglewood Drive, recently inspired the church. The church was looking for a way to celebrate the season of giving, and they agreed this would be an event for all ages.

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First Assembly members, Chad and Erin Smith, headed up the light show and have provided free hot-chocolate and coffee starting every Friday before Christmas Day at 6 p.m. Although the coffee and hot chocolate feature of the program has ended, the lights will remain up until around the first of the new year, according to Taylor.

Taylor added there have been handfuls of individuals attend throughout the operating hours, but the largest during the hot cocoa and coffee has been around 20 to 30 attendees.

The lights dance rhythmically to six alternating songs such as “Born is the King,” “Carol of the Bells,” a techno version of “Amazing Grace,” “Mad Russian’s Christmas” and other classic holiday tunes.

The display features a cross, manger, angels and banners that read, “A Place to Belong,” “A Place to Believe” and “A Place for You.” The display is set up across the street from First Assembly, located on 226 N Second St, and welcomes all visitors.

The light show runs five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. This has been first year First Assembly has put on the program, but the church plans to continue the tradition in following years due to the positive response from the general public.

“We plan to grow a little every year,” Taylor said.