By Annabeth Miller, SMT Editor
The format is really quite simple – could even be called eloquent if it were not so “hometown.” It’s not glitzy or fancy.
But the annual Christmas Reading in Dexter seems offers a respite from the hustle and hustle and pulls people into remembering the reason for the Christmas holiday.
The Third Annual Christmas Reading was held this past weekend in Dexter. And for a short time, while friends huddled to keep warm, and kids sat by fire pits, the choirs sang, the Christmas story was read from the Bible, and all bowed their heads together for a moment of quiet prayer.
With a large lit holiday tree and large “greeting cards” from the Mathis and Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home families, gathered across from the funeral home for a short holiday community custom.
Greg and Lisa Mathis began this tradition in 2009. Mathis explained to the nearly 300 people gathered Saturday evening that he remembered his mother-in-law, June Coffey, always reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve to his two boys when they were young. It was a tradition he decided to share with the community.
The reader of the Christmas story is selected by Mathis each year, and he keeps it a tightly-held secret until the program. In 2009 the reader was Jim Hall, whose family home was on the property used for the program. The reader in 2010 was Lynda Lovins. This year’s reader he called a “good personal friend.”
“I can remember him as a child when his father would bring him and his brother to the football field on Friday nights, and they’d both be out butting heads on the trck,” Mathis recalled. “I wondered if either one of them would ever amount to anything. But obviously that both have.”
Corey Mouser, principal at Dexter High School read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 2.
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."
Choral music students from T.S. Hill Middle School and Dexter High School under the direction of Jamie Sepulvado sang during the program. And the dismissal prayer was offered by Dale Rogers.
Hot chocolate and cider and Dexter’s own “Mrs. Menley’s cookies” offered a treat for young and old, as folks shared the special moment and community friendships.
