Around the world, many missionaries and their families do not have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in the same way they would if they were in their home country. As a result, many develop special traditions of their own as they celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve.

The Night Before Christmas is the theme for the 2017 CBA Church Network Christmas Luncheon. The annual event will be held from 11:30 am to 1 pm on Monday, December 4 in the Atrium of Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen.

The program was written by CBA staff member Marc Ira Hooks while serving overseas in Eastern Europe, where Christmas is a minor holiday and is celebrated in January following the Eastern Orthodox calendar.

Hooks remembers their first Christmas overseas, where his family was awakened not by the sound of carols, or by ringing Christmas bells, but by jackhammers and noises of the workers at the construction site outside their window – December 25 was just an ordinary workday in Russia.

The audience participation-based program begins with a celebration of Advent, and the ligting of candles. Following a catered lunch by Hutchins BBQ in McKinney, participants will help tell the story of Jesus’ birth as they construct a large Nativity.

Music will be provided by Jud Kossum of Gateway Baptist Church in Wylie. An offering benefiting the CBA Disaster Relief fund will be taken, followed by a drawing for door prizes.

You can make your reservations for you and your church staff by visiting: http://bit.ly/CBA-ChristmasLunch2017