Global look at Christmas

The Rev. Bethany Imbler Albrecht, of Community Christian Church, prepares a directional signpost Tuesday for the upcoming  annual Christmas Around the World event, which explores the different Christmas celebrations of nine countries around the world.
The Rev. Bethany Imbler Albrecht, of Community Christian Church, prepares a directional signpost Tuesday for the upcoming annual Christmas Around the World event, which explores the different Christmas celebrations of nine countries around the world.

One day. Nine different countries. All about Christmas.

Community Christian Church will host its second Christmas Around the World celebration 3-5 p.m. Sunday, offering a unique experience of cultural arts and crafts, indigenous food tastings, new languages and giveaways.

Glen Gessley and the Rev. Bethany Albrecht of Community Christian Church are coordinating this year's event.

"It's not just a celebration of how we in North America honor the birth of Jesus through our celebrations of Advent and Christmas time; it's about showcasing how other Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus," Albrecht said. "We want to open up what we've learned and share it with the community."

As the guests enter the church at 409 Ellis Blvd., they can expect to step into a lively airport terminal bustling with other "travelers," overhear various gate announcements and be issued a passport listing the countries they can explore.

On the two-hour expedition, guests will have the option to explore Poland, Germany, France, Botswana, Ireland, Mexico, Philippines, Russia and the Holy Land - which includes Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem.

"It's kind of like traveling in the world: you get a little direction, but not much," Gessley said.

During the past couple of months, members of the congregation have researched the countries assigned a room within the church, he explained. The rooms will be decorated to resemble the indigenous culture and artifacts related to the country.

"A lot of people have something as a family tradition and really don't know where it comes from," Gessley said. "It may come from a great-great-grandmother who immigrated from Spain and brought the tradition over with her. Now, the children who are long detached from that part of the family and have no contact with that lineage don't realize that what they do comes from somewhere else."

Gessley remembers a senior couple who attended last year's event visited "Germany" and settled there for the rest of the evening.

"We have found where we're comfortable. This reminds us of where our family comes from," Gessley recalled them saying.

Last year, 100 people attended Christmas Around the World, and Gessley hopes even more will attend this year.

"We wanted to celebrate the Christian story in a way it hasn't been before," he said.

Albrecht added: "This is an opportunity for us as a congregation to remind people we are here. We see this as a family-friendly event that all are welcome to come to."