This weekend one city neighborhood is hoping to spread some Christmas cheer while reminding everyone of the true reason for the season.
On Saturday evening, the Golf Course Acres neighborhood will present the 37th annual “Lights For Jesus” event. In addition to the lights and decorations on the houses and in yards, the streets will be lined with candles — 6,000 luminaries to be exact.
Resident Pat Sweeney is one of the event’s coordinators, but he is quick to spread the credit for the success to all of his neighbors.
“A lot of people work on this, it’s no one person,” he said.
According to Sweeney, 150 homes in the neighborhood are participating in the event.
“Everybody in the neighborhood gets together,” he said. “On Saturday afternoon everyone is out working on it, putting the candles and sand into the bags.”
The luminaries will line the streets through the neighborhood from West G Street to Armour Drive.
The neighborhood first did the Lights for Jesus event 37 years ago, Sweeney said.
“We had a Bible club in the neighborhood with young kids and they were looking for a project to do,” he said.
So the children, under the guidance of Becky Magill who organized the club, decided to have a special event to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The children worked hard and invited their friends to join them, Sweeney said, and “Lights for Jesus” was born.
Over the years, the event grew to encompass the whole neighborhood.
“The neighbors give a lot of time and effort to make this a special event for visitors,” Sweeney said. “What we really want is for folks to come out, drive through the neighborhood and get in the spirit of Christmas.”
“We hope the people that drive through will know that this is all for Jesus and to celebrate His birthday, and may it bring glory to our Father and His Son,” Sweeney added.
But, the event is more than a chance to set the lights twinkling and spread holiday cheer. As the neighbors work together, they also take time to pray, and not just for themselves and their own neighborhood.
“The neighbors are asked to pray for God’s protection for our community, nation, U.S. military and our families,” Sweeney said. “This year we will also pray for the people of the countries affected world-wide by terrorism.”
Sweeney and his neighbors in Golf Course Acres invite everyone to take a drive through the neighborhood on Saturday evening and celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
Viewing of the luminaries will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue until 11 p.m. on Saturday. To enter the neighborhood, turn onto Sabine Street off of West G Street behind the Mullins Auto Dealership.