2024 Living Christmas Tree Presentations
@ Newburg First Church of God
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December 5th @ 7:00 PM December 6th @ 7:00 PM December 7th @ 7:00 PM* December 8th @ 3:30 PM |
*Free Community Meal
You are invited to join us for a free meal before the Saturday (12/7) presentation. The meal will be served from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. RSVP for the meal is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome!
You are invited to join us for a free meal before the Saturday (12/7) presentation. The meal will be served from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. RSVP for the meal is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome!
The History of the Living Christmas Tree
Forty years ago, Pastor K. Hull Byers heard about a unique type of presentation being performed in various parts of the country. He decided to look into the possibility of having The Living Christmas Tree program in Newburg. Noting that the Lynchburg, VA Thomas Road Baptist Church had such an annual event, he and layman, Jay Myers, visited Lynchburg and witnessed the presentation. With assurance from Myers that such a program could be adapted to the Newburg church, plans were made. Along with Lewis Swartz and Victor Mowery, Jay Myers and several other men began planning for the construction of the Tree to be presented the following year.
During the Christmas season of 1974, the program was presented for one night with a beyond capacity crowd. The following year, there were three evening presentations with over one thousand attending. There was also an unplanned extra presentation for the overflow the last evening. The program has grown to five evening presentations and one afternoon presentation. Wednesday evening is host to the residents of area nursing homes and the church family. The other programs are open to the public with free admission.
The 25- foot “Living Christmas Tree” of steel construction was first covered with 2,000 pounds of fresh pine. Today an artificial pine is used. Hundreds of controlled lights of various colors adorn the Tree adding to the beauty. The first Tree was also adorned with 80 singers from the Newburg and Green Spring First Churches of God. Today there are 50+ singers from the two churches and many other voices from the community.
Pastor K. Hull Byers was the first director of the choir. Other directors have followed in his footsteps – Janet Varner, Fred Keener, Duane Gipe and presently Frank Heberlig. Mrs. Highlands was the first accompanist. Others who followed in her footsteps – Esther Graham, Kathy (Brechbiel) Bennett, Janet Mentzer, Helen “Sammy” Martin, Marnie (Reese) LaBonte, JoEllen Koser, Allen Mowery, Cathy Gipe and presently Phillip Shuman and Diana Reinert.
The first program included seasonal and religious songs, emphasizing the theme of Christmas and God’s Gift to the World – Jesus Christ. The theme hasn’t been changed in forty years. It is still about the birth, death, resurrection and promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
During the Christmas season of 1974, the program was presented for one night with a beyond capacity crowd. The following year, there were three evening presentations with over one thousand attending. There was also an unplanned extra presentation for the overflow the last evening. The program has grown to five evening presentations and one afternoon presentation. Wednesday evening is host to the residents of area nursing homes and the church family. The other programs are open to the public with free admission.
The 25- foot “Living Christmas Tree” of steel construction was first covered with 2,000 pounds of fresh pine. Today an artificial pine is used. Hundreds of controlled lights of various colors adorn the Tree adding to the beauty. The first Tree was also adorned with 80 singers from the Newburg and Green Spring First Churches of God. Today there are 50+ singers from the two churches and many other voices from the community.
Pastor K. Hull Byers was the first director of the choir. Other directors have followed in his footsteps – Janet Varner, Fred Keener, Duane Gipe and presently Frank Heberlig. Mrs. Highlands was the first accompanist. Others who followed in her footsteps – Esther Graham, Kathy (Brechbiel) Bennett, Janet Mentzer, Helen “Sammy” Martin, Marnie (Reese) LaBonte, JoEllen Koser, Allen Mowery, Cathy Gipe and presently Phillip Shuman and Diana Reinert.
The first program included seasonal and religious songs, emphasizing the theme of Christmas and God’s Gift to the World – Jesus Christ. The theme hasn’t been changed in forty years. It is still about the birth, death, resurrection and promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ.