Once again the Grand Hyatt Resort in Po‘ipu is the location of a popular Christmas Eve Celebration created by the folks at Kauai Christian Fellowship. A crisp, fast-paced one-hour mix of carols, worship songs, hula, dance, video and stories that
Once again the Grand Hyatt Resort in Po‘ipu is the location of a popular Christmas Eve Celebration created by the folks at Kauai Christian Fellowship.
A crisp, fast-paced one-hour mix of carols, worship songs, hula, dance, video and stories that honor the core Christian message of Christmas, has made this event a fixture for families from all around the island for the last 16 years.
“This service grows every year.” Rick Bundschuh, one of the leadership team at the church. states in a release. “And we get to add some new components to the mix and improve our ability to serve every year as well. The word has obviously gotten out to both local families and visitors and now we are at the point where the Grand Ballroom is the only place on this side of the island big enough to host us.”
Last Christmas Eve those joining the celebration numbered over a thousand, according to church leaders.
“We think it is vital that in the swirl of holiday preparation and gift buying that there is one time, where, as a family, we pause to reflect, celebrate and honor the one whom Christmas is all about” said Bundschuh, “What we have tried to create is a family-oriented experience that has enough of the traditional elements of Christmas to be comforting and familiar while at the same time presenting the ancient message of God coming to earth to purchase our salvation in a way that is understandable, meaningful and powerful.”
Much of the energy of the evening comes from the band of top notch musicians and singers put together by Pastor Dain Spore and his careful choice and arrangement of carols and worship songs. “We rock and then a few minutes later we get reflective, we pause to consider the gift of Christmas and then we kick out the stops and celebrate like it’s the best news we’ve ever heard; because we think it is!” said Spore.
Backed by a chorus of a dozen singers and a full electric band, Dain threads his music in and out of short presentations and videos.
The church has added a new twist to their Christmas Eve Celebration this year by partnering with the noted relief agency World Vision to help find sponsors for kids in third world countries.
“We figured that a lot of people have a sense that this time of year they are just buying more useless stuff for people who already have a lot of useless stuff and they are hoping that perhaps they can do something that really makes a difference. We are offering folks a chance to do that, to make this Christmas a life changing one for one kid somewhere in the world who would never get a chance to go to school, have decent food and clothing if somebody didn’t step up to the plate and sponsor them,” Bundschuh states.
The Kauai Christian Fellowship Christmas Eve Celebration starts at 7 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt in Po‘ipu.
