The sanctuary buzzed with folks gathering for the Christmas program.  All the children were meeting in the Sunday School room, to practice their lines and to don their costumes.  The kitchen was a regular Grand Central Station, with a group from Celebration Church preparing the turkeys, hams and potatoes.
I had dropped my salads in the kitchen, while capable hands quickly put them in the fridge.  So I went on to mix up jugs of juice to chill before the meal.  Escaping from the hub-bub, I went to the sanctuary to shake hands with those who had already arrived.
Advent candles, Christmas carols and announcements...and then the big show was to start.  Things weren't quite ready in the back room, so Pastor Bob led in a sharing time.  We had a few guests present so we didn't expect much sharing.  But surprisingly, a few hands went up and people shared various things.  I want to mention that we don't "censor" sharing time; it is exactly as people are at the moment.  One guest was a man unknown to us.  He began very "normally", saying he was a missionary to the East Hastings (Vancouver) and went on to share how he saw many on drugs and dying from their addictions.  But then he declared he had begun to pray over those he found "dead on the streets" and they were rising to life!  I began to feel uncomfortable.  Looking up at Pastor Bob, he was not showing any reaction, but I knew he was wondering how to respond to this individual.  As this man shared more, he began to get way off track, even using a profanity and then apologizing for it.  Just when I thought someone needs to gently intervene, the man ended by saying, "I want to give God the glory."
A slight pause.  Then Bob responded with, "I can agree with your statement at the end..." and affirmed that we want to worship God through Jesus Christ and give Him the glory.
A second guest raised her hand and introduced herself.  She declared that her "spirit guides" told her to come to this church today.  Then she continued to share that she is a medium, using "energy" to bring healing to people.  "Jesus energy" she said.  I squeezed Walter's hand, giving him a sideways glance and he smiled and we both bowed our heads and began to pray.  Something odd was happening in this service to have two strangers "show up" and begin to declare and even advertise their gifts.  It was apparent the enemy was stirring up against our Christmas program; not on our watch!  When this woman ended her sharing, Pastor Bob calmly replied by saying, "I don't want to 'dis' (disrespect) you, but at Healing Hearts we worship Jesus and He is the only way to the Father."  Bob presented the basic Gospel message.  We all wondered if this woman would be upset, or get up and walk out.  She stayed for everything, even the meal!
The kids finally arrived, decked in robes, towels, white sheets and tinsel halos!  The play was a Biblical take on the "Twas the night before Christmas" poem.  Priceless!  The kids really rocked the carol "Angels We Have Heard on High" on the chorus they all sang "Gloria. In Excelcius Deo" with all their hearts!  Later Vivian Helliwell told me her grandkids came home yesterday after the play practice asking, "Who is Gloria?  Is she in the Bible?" Boy, we laughed!
Amazingly, Walter and I drove home with some leftovers from the meal before 3 pm!
This was a typical Healing Hearts Ministry (Regina) Christmas program, where anything could happen and usually does!