Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 80 - Christmas Day

After a simple Christmas Eve dinner of lasagna, garlic bread and salad, everyone in the Abernathy household attended Christmas Eve services at Pastor Wilbury's church in the valley. Stephen and his family went with them. So did Reuben. In fact, the only ones who stayed home were Rosemary and Neil.

Matthew and Ashley met the rest of the family at the church, and Matt was frankly astounded Greg let Jessie come. But he was even more surprised that Greg, Reuben, and the Goodmans decided to come too.

"You all came?" Matt asked in amazement as he stood with the entire McGuiness family, just outside the church.

"We came to support you," Greg assured him.

"Come to see how the Christians celebrate?" Howard McGuiness asked Greg curiously.

"I am here to support my family's faith, in all its forms," Greg told him seriously.

"Are you, Gregory?" Reuben wondered. "Are you really?"

Greg cocked his head. "Have you another idea, Reuben?"

"I wondered if perhaps today's activities gave you something to meditate about," Reuben said.

"If that is the reason you came, you have come to the right place." John Wilson appeared out of nowhere, inviting all three families inside the church before Greg could answer. "Welcome and thank you for joining us on Christmas Eve."

"Thank you, John," Susan answered for them all. "Shall we go in?"

"Of course," everyone more or less agreed.

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The special Christmas Eve service included the telling of the Christmas Story, acted out by teens attending the nearby college, accompanied by song. The choir director led the congregation in singing the familiar hymns known as Christmas Carols outside the church. They punctuated the events being portrayed in the story. But they were also songs of faith, songs speaking to the promises of the Lord, and his special relationship with His children and believers. They were joyful and uplifting and touched the hearts and souls of everyone who came.

Karen Wilson sang a solo as part of the service, and John shared delivery of the message with his old friend, Wilbury Pierce. The service ended two hours before midnight, and the congregation left while singing a song.

John Wilson was among those greeting the church goers as they left after the service that Christmas Eve.

"Two evenings in a row, spent with the Abernathys. I feel honored," John remarked as he shook all their hands.

"As am I, John," Greg told him. "Thank you for joining us last evening."

"Thank you for coming tonight. Merry Christmas everyone," John said to them all.

"Merry Christmas, John. Goodnight," Susan answered for them all

And every one of the McGuiness's, the Goodmans, the Abernathys, and their guests made their way to the parking lot.

"Merry Christmas," they all said to one another.

"Susan, the church is lovely," Barbara commented. "Now that I see how they use it for services, I think it will do very well for the wedding."

"Isn't it a little bit late to be deciding that, Mom?" Ashley asked her mother.

"We are committed, that is true. But I have a much better idea now how we should ask the florist to prepare the flowers," Barbara told her.

Ashley rolled her eyes. "Everyone else is concentrating on Christmas tonight, and all you can think about is our wedding?"

"Aren't you thinking about it too?" Matt asked curiously.