By Lindsay Peyton

Preparations for Cedar Creek Lake UMC’s Community Christmas Dinner require months of planning. It’s an event that requires all hands on deck, Pastor Kristin Rockwell explained. “It starts early in October – with thinking and planning,” she said. “Creating a full-fledged meal for anywhere from 200 to 400 people requires a lot of cooks and a lot of coordination.”

Rockwell continued, “The people who do the chopping aren’t necessarily the ones doing the cooking or the cleaning. We also have greeters, people who wash dishes, people who help the kids and people in charge of registration. Everyone takes a shift.”

The church men’s group set up the tables, and the fellowship hall transforms into a restaurant for the occasion, scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9. “We serve dinner to anyone and everyone who wants to come,” Rockwell said. “And it’s a full holiday with turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes and dessert.” Her first year, after being appointed to Cedar Creek Lake UMC in 2019, Rockwell thought, “This is what the table in the Kingdom looks like.”

She explained, “We serve the community – those who have a lot and those who have a little. People from every walk of life come to eat together, to enjoy and anticipate the holiday season.”

Now in its 36th year, the event started with a lack of Christmas activities in Tool, Texas, a town about 58 miles southeast of Dallas.

“This congregation has a heart for people who don’t have enough,” Rockwell said. “And they wanted to make sure everyone had a holiday meal.”

Now the Community Christmas Dinner features so much more than a meal. Children visit Santa Claus and then head to the elves’ workshop to pick up a present. A Boy Scout Troop hosts a toy drive to supply the goods.

Adults might even leave with a Christmas gift. Upon arriving, they are invited to enter their names in a drawing. Prizes are announced throughout the evening.

“Our choir sings, and we have a fabulous pianist who plays Christmas carols,” Rockwell said.

Families in need are also given a bag from the Community Food Pantry in Tool, which partners with Cedar Creek Lake UMC.

Children also can experience the Christmas story in a unique way during the celebration. At the Nativity booth, racks of costumes await.

“You can pick what you want to be in the Nativity story,” Rockwell said. “There are robes and headgear and animal costumes.”

Then, the children pose in the Nativity attire with the manger in the background. “You can dress as a sheep or one of the animals or you can hold Baby Jesus dressed as Mary,” Rockwell said.

The pastor explained that the photo booth offers children a hands-on way to learn the reason behind the season.

Many families come from the church-sponsored afterschool program at the local elementary, Rockwell said.

“This is a congregation with a heart for those with food insecurities and a deep sense of caring and concern for this community,” she said. “They’re really generous with their time and with their giving. And they’re generous in wanting something more and something better for everyone who lives in Henderson County.”

According to the U.S. Census data in 2021, about 15.8 percent of the county’s population lives in poverty. “It’s one of the poorer counties in the state,” Rockwell said.

She explained that the congregation is dedicated to helping wherever they can. “At the heart of this church is the desire to improve lives, particularly for children,” she said. “For families that don’t have a place to get a Christmas meal, they are inviting them to the church’s family table. It’s really been lovely.”

There are often about 60 volunteers who band together to make it all happen. Rockwell said the church has about 135 members, with an average of 80 who regularly attend worship services.

“They all contribute to make the whole thing work, to make it a good experience across the board,” she added. “Talk about being the body of Christ. Everyone contributes. It all comes together for this festive and fun evening.”

 Community members and congregation regulars alike look forward to the dinner each year.

“We aren’t the only thing happening in town anymore,” Rockwell said. “But we still get a really lovely crowd. It’s become a family tradition. And we see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd each year. It’s like a Christmas family reunion.”