Local churches prepare for Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas as many local churches are busy decorating and preparing for the holiday weekend ahead.

With poinsettias, candles, wreathes and other decorations, volunteers spent Thursday morning decorating St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lake Zurich, which will host 10 services over the holiday weekend.

Between the main church, the church basement and the gymnasium at the parish school next door, St. Francis is expecting around 8,000 visitors during 10 Mass times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Even with three services going on simultaneously, volunteers suggest people arrive early if they want to get a seat, as several of the services become standing-room-only. As one of the largest churches in the archdiocese, St. Francis gets help from local firefighters to make sure the services aren't overflowing and help the ushers keep worshippers safe.

Volunteer Mary Ann Kwasek said she likes to make the church feel more comfortable and less formal for all of the people who will coming in, but she also just enjoys being involved with the church.

“When you give, so much comes back to you,” Kwasek said.

Working with flowers to decorate the church is something Nancy Willis, another volunteer at St. Francis said she likes best.

“It's just our way of contributing,” she said.

First Presbyterian Church in Libertyville has found another use for poinsettias, besides as a decoration.

People can give a poinsettia in honor of or in memory of someone close to them, said Reverend Roberta Dodds Ingersoll, associate pastor at First Presbyterian. She said the church is decorated with 100 to 150 poinsettias, and after services, people can take them home or they'll be donated to people who are alone during the holidays.

“It extends the community of faith beyond just the walls of the church,” Dodds Ingersoll said. “This is a time where we gather for worship, but also a time to be sensitive to the needs of people in our community.”

First Presbyterian will have three services on Christmas Eve and is expecting up to 1,500 people.

The days leading up to Christmas are busy, but joyful as churches try to make themselves more hospitable and welcoming for everyone, said Caroline Satre, a pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waukegan.

Satre said people are busy decorating St. Paul's, practicing music, writing sermons and getting ready for the festive weekend. St. Paul's will host five services during the holiday weekend.

She said the church is always the most full on Christmas and Easter.

“Christmas is a holiday that touches people, even if you're not a religious person,” Satre said. “The kindness factor and the goodwill toward all is a blessing.”