A return to candlelight Christmas at Gilboa Methodist Church

Tired of worshipping at the twin altars of Walmart and Amazon?

Weary of a holiday wrapped up in lights and tinsel and cash, cash, cash?

Exhausted from the demands of Christmas merriment that have little to do with the remembrance of the birth of the Christ Child?

Then perhaps it might be best to step back, to slow down, to dim the lights, to lower the voices, even to return to a quieter, simpler time — all of which will be possible at a Gilboa Old Fashioned Christmas.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 21, beginning at 5 p.m., and will feature the singing of Christmas carols as well as a reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.

That Sunday is also the day of the Winter Solstice and will be the shortest day of the year. The night that follows will be the longest night of the year.

The sun will have reached its southernmost point in the sky that day and will begin the long and tedious journey north again toward spring.

For those of you who don’t know, Gilboa Methodist Church is located in an undisturbed rural setting roughly five miles southwest of downtown Morganton off Hwy. 64.

Gilboa is considered to be the Mother Church of Methodism in Burke County and traces its roots back more than 200 years to the 1790s.

The current church building, which was built in 1879, is the oldest frame church in the county and is virtually unaltered from that time. It was built from native wood from the surrounding forests by members of the church.

The church is sparsely decorated and follows a simple one-room plan. In many ways the church symbolizes the character of religious worship in rural areas of North Carolina during the second half of the 19th century.

The church has no lights, no heat, and no plumbing. It is, in short, the perfect spot to step back in time and celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas.

The inspiration for holding a Christmas celebration there came from Drexel’s Sue Cozort. Sue, who is a member of Grow With Drexel and serves on the governing board of the History Museum of Burke County.

Sue is also a powerhouse of energy and ideas.

Sue approached Susan Amico, a member of the Historic Gilboa Foundation board, and said, “I have a dream. A dream of an old-fashioned Christmas … singing carols by candlelight in the Historic Gilboa Methodist Church.”

Sue has recruited the Rev. Mike Chandler, interim pastor of the Drexel First Baptist Church, to read the Christmas story, and Keith Watts to lead the carol singing.

On that Sunday evening, Dec. 21, Sue’s dream will come true.

“This is an event that is most definitely open to the public,” Susan said, “but we do ask that folks RSVP by sending us an email at historicgilboafoundation@gmail.com.”

The RSVP is necessary, Susan said, because the old church, under fire marshal regulations, will only hold about 140 people.

So, the church has no electricity. How will folks see in the dark once that winter sun sinks behind the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west?

“It’s truly going to be a celebration of Christmas as it was in the 1800s,” Susan answered. “That will be the atmosphere we are aiming for. But we will have electric candles and electric lanterns in the church.”

To ensure safety on the solstice evening, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office will be controlling the traffic turning from Hwy. 64 onto the narrow road leading to the church.

Parking will also be available in a large field near the top of the road, with vans then ferrying those attending the celebration down to the church itself.

The event will be held rain or shine, and families are most definitely encouraged to bring their children.

“The Historic Gilboa Foundation Board is thankful for Sue’s enthusiasm and vision,” said Susan. “And is excited to support this event.”

My hope is that the evening will bring fair skies, chilly but not bitterly cold temperatures, and a recognition that although cold days lie ahead the march toward spring has begun.