Christmas at my church, 1954-1964

When I was small, I remember the church we attended as being very cold. The crackling of the small pebbles of gravel under the tires of our big old Buick was a sound that reminded us it was quite time as we prepared to enter the CHURCH. My sister and I understood the rules of obedience, but my brother,,, well lets just say he didn't like to be still or quite. I went to this church every sunday from birth until I was around ten. My cousins and neighbors were always there too. Maybe it is because the heat wasn't turned on until we all got there, or because it had only a room heater, I just know it was COLD. The floors didn't have any carpet and you could hear every step on the lanolin tiles. It was a small baptist church just up the highway from our house and it was built sometime in the forties with brick and a double front doors and a outside door on each side of the building. It was a baptist church and we always had a big cedar tree put up in the auditorium. We spent weeks creating candy canes out of pipe cleaners, garland out of construction paper or popcorn, and ornaments out of glitter and glue on Popsicle sticks or macaroni and sting to hold it all together and on the tree. It was covered from top to bottom with all the children's creative talent and a big Angel out of cheesecloth, that had been starched and dried over a form, adorned the top. This was the first time I got to smell spray snow, a scent one never forgets, and usually brings good memories of a time gone by. Between the spray snow and the fresh cut ceder tree, the church was full of Christmas Cheer! The rest of the rooms were Sunday school classes or restrooms. It had a big upright piano that rang out all the traditional Christmas songs along with the worship songs. When it was the last Sunday before Christmas, we would have Santa come and pass out presents for everyone in church. A doll, truck, top, jacks and a ball, hula hoop, and a porcelain tea set, were some of the special toys Santa gave out to all the children. Afterward we would have Kool-aid and cookies. I really enjoyed the closeness of a small church at holidays. I know we also sang songs and the preacher preached about the Holy Birth of Jesus. The Preacher lived in a small brick house next door to the church, I think that is where they should live. The church provided the home for them to live in and if you needed him, you knew where he lived. His door was always open and he was always available to be your encourager, friend, and answer any questions you had about your salvation. WHERE are those kind of churches and preachers anymore? Merry Christmas to you all.