New Covenant United Methodist Church held a “Keep Christ In Christmas” event Friday at their church in The Villages.
There were plenty of cookies, decorated golf carts, and even Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance.
But there were also songs of the season, food for the needy and a serious message.
The event, in part, was to continue to bring on line their new church, New Covenant United Methodist Church Lake Deaton being constructed in the Brownwood area.
Reaching out is a big part of the church’s mission.
“You can’t just look around at the same old people,” said Ida Poret of the Village of Belle Aire. She joined the church back in the humble days when members met at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Wildwood.
Today, the church has an impressive campus off County Road 101 in The Villages.
But it was time to take the next step. Hence, the new church near Brownwood.
That call for growth attracted Darlene Morris of the Village of Sabal Chase, who was raised Episcopalian.
“I wanted to be in on the ground floor of the new church and meet new people,” she said.
That new congregation will have its final preview worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 12 at Eisenhower Recreation Center. They will begin regular Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 at Eisenhower.
And before that, the congregation is encouraging everyone to keep the Christ in Christmas.
