A mainstay of Downtown Living Windows has been local church participation.
Living Windows
[]Most recently, First Presbyterian Church has opened its building, which is a half-block south of High Street, as a place of reflection.
Visitors are drawn by a live Nativity facing Madison Street, and then they're greeted with the smell of freshly baked cookies in the church kitchen.
From there, guests may enter the sanctuary, where four area organists and the church pianist will provide a musical background.
Music is the primary expression of the Christmas spirit for these churches.
At the corner of Madison and High streets, the 24-voice Southridge Baptist Church choir will sing through its cantata music, as it has done since 2004.
East along High Street, colorful dancing puppets from Cornerstone Baptist Church will continue to captivate audiences.
And in the 100 block of East High Street, more than 40 musicians from Wesley United Methodist Church will set up hand bells, chimes, crystal bells, children's and adult choirs, and a praise band.
Other churches and faiths have participated through the years, including the Temple Beth-El and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"Downtown Living Windows is a great way to showcase Jefferson City and to showcase Wesley's music programs," said Wesley member Bonnie Ricks. "Our hats are off to the businesses who allow us to come in."
Most congregations are busy this time of year with a variety of other Christmas programming.
But for these churches, the community event has become an anticipated and welcomed opportunity.
"The reason we have Living Windows this time of year is because of the Christ Child," said the Rev. David Henry with First Presbyterian. "Our folks who participate get so much out of it."
The Southridge choir prepares for the cold night with auxiliary heaters, plenty of layers and headgear. The only year they cancelled was just after an 18-inch snow, when to clear the roads, the excess snow was piled on the sidewalks, recalled the Rev. Reuben Phelps.
And the coldest they've been out singing is 18 degrees, which may not be the record for long, Phelps said.
"This breaks down the walls of the church," Phelps said. "We can share our offering to God with those in our community."
The secular event has become such a priority for Southridge, Phelps now chooses his Christmas cantatas with Living Windows in mind, he said.
"We're trying to make it more of an outreach tool," he said.
For veteran puppeteers from Cornerstone, Downtown Living Windows is among dozens of community events each year where they take their ministry.
JOY (Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last), directed by Marlene Neely and Jan Soucie, has been performing in front of Cole County Abstract for more than 16 years on this night.
They mix religious songs with secular music with Christian lyrics. Their repertoire includes hundreds of selections, which they choose on the spot depending on their audience, Neely said.
Almost all of their songs are upbeat and lively, which helps especially in the cold weather.
"It's hard to do when your hands are frozen," Neely said. "You can't wear heavy clothes and you can't wear gloves.
"Puppets are a really unique media to be able to share the Gospel," she said. "We're always hoping we plant a little seed with somebody about our faith and who Jesus Christ is, what he did for us and the true meaning of Christmas."