Members from the First Presbyterian Churches of Colby and Hoxie made Christmas less of a 'Silent Night' by spreading Christmas cheer.
The yoked parish in Northern Kansas showed gratitude to public servants in two northwest Kansas towns by giving home-baked cookies, hugs and loving Christian company to fire fighters, law enforcers, healthcare works and other people working on Christmas eve.
This is the second year the initiative has taken place, all thanks to Rev. Andy Sonneborn of Presbytery of Northern Kansas. Sonneborn was once working at a gas station on Christmas Eve and knew what it felt like to work on the holiday.
"It was a long and lonely night for Andy. He knew other people working on Christmas Eve must feel the same way," said Rev. Ed Thompson, general presbyter/stated clerk for the Presbytery of Northern Kansas.
One of the Church's members who volunteered for the initiative spoke of the happiness they gave to the people working on Christmas Eve.
"When Pastor Andy suggested that we take cookies to people who work on Christmas Eve, we delivered cookies to our hospital, our long term care unit and our sheriff's office. The young woman at the sheriff's office was so delighted that someone remembered her on Christmas Eve," said Judy Cressler, a ruling elder at the Hoxie church.
For this Christmas, the church delivered about 50 dozen cookies in Colby plus 10 dozen more in Hoxie. The volunteers worked up to the early hours of Christmas morning.
Generousity is a common trait in the churches in the region, according to Sonneborn. He said, "They care deeply for their communities. We like to say that 'Even though we are small, we do mighty things for the Lord.'"