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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 24, 2004 Pastors ready to spread the word on Christmas By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Amongst the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping and the stress of preparing for holiday parties or family dinners is a spiritual refuge for many people - the Christmas Eve church service. Tonight, the vast majority of Ashland churches will be offering services to remember and reflect what they believe is the most vital thing to celebrate this holiday season - the birth of Jesus. For Jim Curty, who has been pastor of the Church of the Nazarene Ashland on East Main Street for five years, giving Christmas Eve sermons is extra special. Growing up in Phoenix, he attended the Church of the Nazarene Ashland. Curty said he had many fond memories of Christmas Eve, remembering the church full of candles, Christmas hymns, and being with his fellow parishioners in fellowship. "It focuses on the day before Christmas and why we celebrate this holy day," he said. The memories of going to the church shaped his decision to become a pastor in college, Curty said. Before, he has planned to become an actor. "It's been really neat," he said about being pastor at the Church of Nazarene Ashland. "It has turned out really well for me." This year, his Christmas Eve sermon will focus on how people's plans sometimes change in life and relates it to how the plans of Mary and Joseph changed with the birth of Jesus. Curty said that when God is in control of changes, it's a better plan. For the past eight years, pastor Nate Shinn has been at the Ashland Bible Church on Dead Indian Memorial Road. He said he looks forward to the Christmas Eve service each year. One of his favorite things is having all the candles throughout the church lit for the service. "I like the chance to reflect and focus on what Christmas is about," he said. "[The candle display] brings home the point that Jesus came as the light of the world and to focus on that before the presents. ... Christmas is a holy day and a way to remember what God has done for us." Mark Anderson, senior pastor at the Ashland Christian Fellowship on East Hersey Street, said this year's service will be low-key and reflective. "To me, it's important to focus on the reason for the season, the birth of Jesus," he said. "It's easy for the commercialism to eclipse Christmas, but as Christians, it's a day to celebrate that God gave his son to the world and to look at what God did for us." Aside from the Christmas Eve service, for 25 years, the church has offered a free Christmas day dinner to the entire community. Each year, more than 800 people from all walks of life take part in the festivities. The meal will be served from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church's upper room at 50 E. Hersey St. The Christmas Eve service will be at 7 tonight. The Church of the Nazarene Ashland and the Ashland Bible Church will have their services at 6 p.m. They are located at 1760 E. Main St. and at 400 Dead Indian Memorial Road. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams