Macarthur Community Celebrates 'Spirit of Christmas"

Latter-day Saints and community members across the Macarthur region in New South Wales attended the Blair Athol chapel to celebrate the fourth annual ‘Spirit of Christmas’.

Each year the celebration seems to become even more special. The anticipated children’s activities, including card making and cookie decorating, entertained and delighted the children that were visiting.

Nativity displays surrounded by tiny white lights with a live Mary and Joseph, transformed the recreational hall into a special place to linger and feel the ‘real’ meaning of Christmas. Many people took the time to sit on the beautiful seat provided to ponder the reason for this season.

The  Samoan and South American Christmas traditions, customs and cake tasting were enjoyed by many.

In another area of the church building, adults participated in service projects for people in the community who needed a little Christmas cheer. Tie-blankets, food hampers and back packs were prepared as part of a prison fellowship program for people wo have recently been released from prison.

Christmas parcels of sports equipment, craft supplies, and kitchenware were also donated to Ghosts Special Needs Scout Group. 

Worthy and needful service projects are filtered through the Macarthur Interfaith Network (MIN), a consortium of local community organisations and other faiths.

Representatives from Wollondilly Community Links collected the food and gifts to distribute to the local community.

The day concluded with a Christmas Musical Devotional consisting of songs and stories in addition to the 2017 Mormon Tabernacle Choir and message.

Stake President Morgan Jones expressed his thanks, and remarked, “As we become more involved with other Christians and people in the community, we help to make our world a better place.”