Willow Creek services months in the making
While approximately 80,000 members and annual guests of Willow Creek Community Church have been anticipating this year's Christmas services for the past several weeks, the preparations for them stretch all the way back to Memorial Day.
That's largely due to the fact that, for the second year running, a professionally-made 30-minute film will be a big part of the services, church spokeswoman Susan DeLay said.
While entirely independent of last year's film, the fact that film ended with the birth of Christ provided the seed of this year's new idea.
“They thought, ‘What if his birth was just the beginning?'” DeLay said. “And if it was just the beginning, what does that mean for all of us? It tells people there can be a new beginning for them.”
The film, shot and edited last month, sets the story of Christ in present day Chicago against the backdrop of the modern media — with a TV newswoman as its central character.
The creative force behind the film was Blaine Hogan, who hired both Christian and non-Christian actors from the Chicago theater scene and television, DeLay said.
And one scene, shot in Elgin, involved hundreds of volunteer extras.
The “live” part of the Christmas Eve services itself involves a full stage of musicians and choir singers who've been rehearsing for weeks now.
Senior Pastor Bill Hybels will also deliver his own Christmas message to the audiences.
An annual tradition will also be observed by ending the service with everyone standing to sing “Silent Night” with their family and friends.
“It's just a feel-good, ‘love-you' moment,'” DeLay said. “I don't know how else to describe it. I can never get through it without tears.”
The 80,000 attendees are expected over the course of 12 separate services which actually began last Sunday.
Stretching the services over the course of a week acknowledges the holiday travel plans of some members, as well as that many nonmembers have come to enjoy the services as well while not wanting to miss those of their own churches.
“We're not trying to take people away from their own churches,” DeLay said. “But for a lot of people, even those who don't regularly come to our church, this is a tradition.”
A normal weekend at Willow Creek hosts about 24,000 attendees.
Attendance at the Christmas Eve services may not be evenly divided, but people should feel free to come to the one they want without being turned away, DeLay said. There are plenty of overflow spaces at the South Barrington church with large video screens that capture all the action in the main auditorium.
The remaining services this week are scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday; 5 and 7:30 p.m. Friday; and 12:30, 3, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday.
Willow Creek is located at 67 E. Algonquin Road, at the intersection of Barrington Road, in South Barrington.