Church Christmas Event Scheduled

Patti Bergman, facilities and events manager at Lititz United Methodist Church (LUMC), still remembers well the day she received the vision for Simply Christmas. "I was driving on Newport Road, and I looked over, and I felt God right there," said Patti, who saw LUMC and the surrounding houses of its neighbors. "God said, 'Invite them,'" she recalled, noting that the idea was to simply celebrate the Savior in a world that has become so busy and commercialized. Patti realized that vision when LUMC launched the event shortly after in 2011.

The 2022 Simply Christmas will be held at LUMC, 201 Market St., Lititz, on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. Originally held inside the church, the event has been celebrated drive-through fashion since 2020, but Patti has plans to return to the full-blown festivities in 2023.

The outdoor event consists of several stations. "You pull in and get a welcome bag and a craft," noted Patti, who said that a drive-through food court, a cookie decorating station, temporary tattoos, and trivia with a pastor are all scheduled. "A wonderful small group will do the Nativity," said Patti. The Gift of the Magi station will be the last stop. Patti reported that there will be a chance for children to choose gifts and that they will receive stickers. Gifts are divided and marked by age group and range from those designed for toddlers to adults. "In addition to the stations, we have people who roam and hand out little free gifts," said Patti, who said that last year, attendees received commemorative magnets that read "Simply Christmas. Established in 2011."

The first year it was held, Simply Christmas attracted about 100 neighbors. By the end of Simply Christmas 2021, 184 cars with 663 people had visited. From the beginning, the plan has been to reach out in a relatable way. "The point is to invite our neighbors in the community over to our house for an evening," said Patti. "It's a tangible way to show them the love of Christ and His free gift."

Since the beginning, Patti's husband, Kevin, a long-time cancer survivor, helped her with the event, handling press releases and other duties. Patti called Kevin her "encourager." "He was behind the scenes. He was always there to support and help," she said. In 2022, Kevin was not feeling well when Simply Christmas was held, and Patti did not expect him to be present. "(Kevin) waited until I left to come here, and then he asked our oldest son to drive him through," recalled Patti, who was thrilled to see him there. Kevin succumbed to cancer in March, but Patti still feels his presence encouraging her. "I can hear Kevin saying, 'Don't quit this year just because I am not there,'" she said. "He was such a big part of this."

Simply Christmas will be held rain or shine or snow. Attendees are asked to enter at the Market Street entrance closest to the Dean L. Saylor Park. Readers who would like more information may call the church office at 717-626-2710. More information about the church may be found at http://www.lititzumc.org.