Pleasant Grove Chapel to present outdoor Christmas production ‘O Holy Night’

Pleasant Grove Chapel invites the community to a special outdoor Christmas production, “O Holy Night,” Saturday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Chapel, 5230 Arrow Road, Minerva. The event offers a simple, meaningful way for families and individuals to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child.

Following the presentation, warm beverages and cookies will be served in the gazebo. The event is free and open to the public.

This year’s production comes with renewed enthusiasm after The Journey, the church’s long-running annual outdoor walk-through nativity, was canceled for the first time in 19 years due to heavy rain.

“We first did ‘O Holy Night’ in 2021 and people have asked over and over again, ‘Are you going to do it again?’” said Beth Zbasnik, who is involved in the event. “We were already planning it and excited to bring it back. We want to offer something beautiful and meaningful.”

Zbasnik explained the first year of “O Holy Night” was enthusiastically received by attendees including visitors from neighboring churches who encouraged Pleasant Grove to bring it back.

The production takes place on the same wooded grounds where The Journey is typically held. The path will glow with luminaries lining the ground and illuminated paper globes hanging from the trees. Additional floodlighting will softly brighten the woods, enhancing the peaceful, reverent atmosphere.

Originally, the woodland buildings on the property were constructed by men of the congregation while women prepared meals for the workers, sewed costumes and created props such as crowns and shellacked loaves of bread for The Journey.

The experience is designed to be interactive. Guests receive a simple script upon arrival and the program becomes a responsive reading. Pastor Kurt Thomas narrates passages from the Gospel of Luke, beginning with Mary receiving the news of Jesus’ coming birth, and attendees respond with designated lines from the scripture.

The children of the church, from toddlers to early elementary age, portray the angels and shepherds.

“We have really young children,” Zbasnik said. “The oldest is only about 7 or 8, and we have several 1-year-olds. They don’t speak in the program, they just look adorable in their costumes.”

The 20-minute walk begins in the outdoor chapel, continues to a small fireside scene where angels meet the shepherds and then leads guests silently through the woods to the stable. During this quiet walk, the woods fill with the sound of “O Holy Night,” performed on trumpet by Mandy Snode, a former Ohio University Marching Band musician. Hidden among the trees, she cannot be seen, only heard, creating a stirring moment as guests approach the stable. The evening concludes with everyone joining together to sing “O Holy Night.”

“If you are looking for a simple and meaningful way to celebrate the season, please consider joining us and bring the whole family,” Zbasnik said.

For more information, contact Beth Zbasnik at 330-495-7265, email bzbasnik@kent.edu or follow Pleasant Grove Chapel on Facebook.