For nearly 25 years, families from Tugaske and the surrounding communities have gathered on Christmas Eve for a special kind of holiday service, one that creates a unique connection to the spirit of Christmas.
Rather than hosting a Christmas Eve service in the church building in nearby Eyebrow, as most communities do, Tugaske hosts their service in a charming, rustic barn at a local farmyard.
The rows of pews are made with straw bales and wooden beams, and the invited guests that truly make the service special are the live animals — which in past years have included goats, sheep, pigs, horses, calves, and even occasionally chickens.
Including the animals in the congregation gives the service a novelty that can’t be found anywhere else.
“One year, the sheep came along and took the papers from the worship leaders and started to eat them,” said Kathy Russell, who hosts the service with her husband, Jim, at their farm.
Kathy writes and organizes a skit that tells the nativity story each year, which is acted out by members of the community. There is also live music, provided by local musicians on the keyboard, guitar, and even one year, the flute.
The service also includes the traditional Christmas scripture and music, as expected, and finishes with hot chocolate and Christmas oranges for those gathered.
The barn service takes place every other year, and the Russells have happily played host for the last decade, spending a great deal of time making their barn welcoming for those who attend the service.
The rustic setting adds a special depth to the service, with the close quarters and live animals mirroring the setting of the original Christmas Eve in that famous stable.
“It's the animals and it's the quietness, the simpleness of it that makes it special,” said Kathy. “It's as close of an experience as we will get to how we think the story actually happened.”
For this community, the barn service has become a tradition during the holidays. Those who live in the area bring their visiting family members to the service, filling the barn to capacity each and every year.
“It really just takes you back to the true meaning of Christmas, away from the commercialism, and it creates a quiet space for people to reflect, after and before the rush of Christmas Day,” said Kathy.
This year, the barn service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve at Ledgerwood Farm, located 1.5 miles northeast of Tugaske. There is limited space, but everyone is welcome to attend and experience the unique service.
