By Lynn Nicolay – Palisade, Colorado…Palisade Adventist church takes the cancellation of the town Christmas celebration in stride and creates a safe zone for community members to celebrate the season.

The Palisade Chamber of Commerce chose not to host the town’s annual Olde Fashioned Christmas festivities this year. In previous years, the church has had a representative on the planning committee for the annual event which draws visitors from the surrounding area. The Palisade church’s contribution, over the years, was to open the church so the public could view Nativity creche from around the world.  New sets were acquired each year to attract visitors.

Activities at the gathering included nativity crafts for children and a Christmas puzzle to work on, along with hot apple cider and cookies to munch.

But this year, all these means of sharing the real reason for the season have been preempted. Not wanting to be impeded in witnessing to our community meant prayerfully looking for another way to share the Gospel and the season with our community.

This year, the church not only has the large, outdoor Nativity scene, but also three large signs with the words of a poem written by Ralph Libby, a 92-year-old Palisade member, for this Season that many celebrate.

Long years ago, as most folks know,
The Son of God was born:
The shepherds and three wise men
Beheld that glorious morn.

God’s Son grew tall, was loved by all,
And soon became a man:
Baptized by John, His work began,
As He fulfilled God’s plan.

The sick He healed; God’s law revealed
And miracles He wrought.
But years went by, and foes drew nigh,
His death was often sought.

Upon the cross He suffered loss,
To die for you and me:
Life was denied, His friends all cried,
What would the future be?

Yet He did rise and from the skies
His angels showed their might:
He lives today and now we say,
Thank God for our Redeemer’s light.

If we are true and serve Him too,
We soon will join the Lamb.
He’ll soon descend and come again,
God’s Son, the Great I AM!

— Lynn Nicolay is a member of the Palisade church and represents the church on the RMC executive committee; photo by Curtis Strain