Erskine hosts community-wide Christmas event

“An Erskine Celebration: Christmas Lessons and Carols” was hosted Dec. 6 at the Due West ARP Church. The well-attended evening event included musical offerings from the Erskine Choraleers, directed by Dr. Keith Timms; Honea Path Baptist Church (including organist Joey Carlisle); the Johnson Bentley Band of Bethel Mennonite Chapel; and Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church of Donalds, S.C.

Participants who took the podium included Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. R.J. Gore, who welcomed attendees; Erskine staff members Florica Saracut and Elizabeth Sims, who sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”: staff member Sadie Bradley, who sang “Be Born in Me (Mary’s Song); Erskine staff members Paul Bell, Shane Bradley, and Bobby Clarke, who sang “We Three Kings”; and several readers, including Paul Bell, Shane Bradley, Darius James, Loyd Melton, Wendi Santee, Florica Saracut, and Kyle Sims.

Due West ARP Church Pastor Scott Moore presented a brief message. He stressed that the readings and carols presented were not random, but told the gospel story. “It’s not enough merely to know this story. It’s not enough to merely enjoy it like we did tonight. It’s not enough to be inspired by it. It has to be your story,” he said. “The story won’t do you any good until it’s yours.”

Moore said that trusting Jesus Christ “is nothing less than joy,” and told the assembled community members, “Let that joy transform every moment of your life.”

Johnson Bentley Family Band of Bethel Mennonite Chapel

Members of Mt. Zion AME Church, Donalds, S.C.

Handbell choir from Honea Path Baptist Church