The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting free event.
A Columbia County church is throwing a birthday celebration for Christ the next two nights.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is hosting a Nativity Celebration from 6-9 tonight and Saturday night at its chapel at 909 SE Country Club Road in Lake City.
The free event is open to the public and will celebrate Christ’s birth through Nativity displays, art and music as part of a self-guided tour.
“We changed the venue to our Stake Center building over off of Country Club,” said Mark Cook, the communication director for the stake in the area, compared to the celebrations in past years which were held at the location off of SW Bascom Norris Drive. “That’s a smaller building, it was just a packed house.”
Cook said the church has “put on” the event the past seven years, although there were some interruptions due to the covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to choir music from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, choirs from other churches will also be performing during the celebration.
“There’s no better way to start this CHRISTmas season than with live choir performances, cookies and cocoa and the most beautiful nativity scenes you’ve ever seen,” Cook said.
In addition to the Nativity Celebration, the church is also hosting the “Light the World” blood drive on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The blood drive, which is being held in collaboration with OneBlood, will be held at its 1293 SW Bascom Norris Drive meetinghouse in Lake City. Those donating will receive a limited edition “Light the World” T-shirt, a $20 eGift card and a wellness checkup that includes a blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count and cholesterol screening.
Walk-ins are welcome for the blood drive but appointments are encouraged. To register, got to one blood.org/light or call 1-888-9-DONATE (1-888-936-6283).