A friend recently asked me why we at Thomas Road continue to have The Virginia Christmas Spectacular. This multi-performance extravaganza attended by 40,000 people each year is about to have its 41st debut. Our production team has been working since January on the show for this year as it takes an entire year to pull off an original, live Broadway-style production of the Spectacular’s magnitude. My friend had recently read an article by a nationally-known pastor questioning the purpose, expense, and relevance of such productions in today’s post-modern church, and was bringing his well-intentioned concerns to me for answers.
Why do we do a Christmas production when we already have a myriad of ways we are actively reaching out to the community and the world? Is putting on a production like this the best use of our resources and energies?
I can’t speak for what God wants to do in and through your church, but I can share the conclusions we have come to in hopes that they will help you if you are trying to answer questions like this for yourself or your own well-intentioned friend.
Our pastoral and production staff prayed and decided, until God directs differently, that The Virginia Christmas Spectacular is right for Thomas Road. One of the primary reasons is that the show provides an opportunity for our talented members who are gifted as writers, musicians, dancers and performers to serve God with their creativity.
Another strong reason is the long-standing tradition of the program as a gift to the church and an outreach to the community. No doubt Christmas is the best time of the year to get peripheral church members and people from the community into the building. People are looking for entertainment, the spirit of the season, and fun things to do with their families during the holidays. But, when you get past the lights and all that glows, you find people who are looking for more. The Christmas season is a time when hearts are open – when some people feel the entire world around them has it all together when all they feel is stress, loneliness and pain. Maybe something in our production can give them an answer to that need.
As the Director of The Virginia Christmas Spectacular, this is what drives me on. I believe these productions and concerts are often used by God to touch, encourage, and change the hearts of people who participate and attend. I love doing a creative, fun show because I believe the excellence we strive for glorifies God and pleases Him. However, our greatest desire is not only to entertain people, but to present the hope of Christ in a fresh, new way that may be used by God to change lives forever. We strive to make the message as clear as a Christmas bell – the message that the Jesus who was the Christmas Baby is the same Jesus who grew up, died on the cross, rose from the dead and is the answer to what we all need this Christmas, and in the Christmases to come.
I have seen lives changed…and I have heard first hand testimonies too many times to not believe that all the hard work is worth it.
So, however you do it, whether in a 20-minute retelling of the story with carols and choir (Nativity Medley 1, 2 and 3) or a full two hour production with choir, orchestra, cast, lights and crew, I encourage you to throw yourself into it, pray about it, and ask God to lead you into what is right for your own church.
We have great, great resources available to you through Red Tie that we believe will work in the mega-church setting as well as the medium or small church. We created these resources in a way that makes it possible to do the entire show or individual numbers that are not script-specific. We have big-band, (Jingle in the City), Stomp-style (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen), Celtic (I Saw Three Ships/Good Christian Men Rejoice), Classical (Messiah Medley), carols in international flavors (Yesu Klisto, Midnight Sleeping Bethlehem), power-ballads (Immanuel), and many, many others. These are proven show-stoppers and absolute audience pleasers. I hope you’ll take time to watch the video clips and experience them for yourself. I would love an opportunity to talk with you about how you can use these songs and resources in your own church.
Have to go – packing my sunscreen and flip-flops – we are heading to the beach.
Blessings to you this July – and Ho! Ho! Ho!
Director
The Virginia Christmas Spectacular
VP of Operations
Red Tie Music
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