Local church reminds community of the true meaning of Christmas

For almost two decades, the Christ Community Church in El Centro has celebrated Christmas Eve with a candle-lighting ceremony to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas.

One church leader says the event helps community members refocus during the Christmas season.

Pastor Chris Nunn who’s been with the church for over a decade said, “It can be kind of distracting with all the cookies and gifts and shopping. All of that that goes on. We forget that really, the reason why we celebrate Christmas is because we have a savior who came to this earth to reach out and love. To pull us out of our pit. Pull us out of our darkness.”

Nunn said the ceremony will be an intimate event for all who attends.

“Everyone one will light the candles. We’ll turn off the light in the sanctuary and the only light that will be in here will be the flame from those candles,” Nunn said.

Nunn hopes the event will leave everyone inspired.

“What the light symbolizes is that there’s hope in our community. That there’s hope. You don’t have to live in darkness,” said Nunn.

The candle-lighting ceremony wraps up the church’s ‘Behold the King’ series that they’ve put on for the community.