Church expects early Christmas crowd

HAMPDEN – Though Christmas is still two months away, the Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church is expecting a Christmas crowd at worship at 10 a.m. Oct. 22.

“We are asking the entire congregation to bring at least one friend with them to church on Oct. 22,” said the Rev. Dr. Debra J. Hanson, pastor of the Hampden Highlands United Methodist Church at 44 Kennebec Road. “If each of our members is successful at that, we’ll need to set up folding chairs in the aisles. We’ll have a larger attendance than at either Christmas or Easter. Those two holidays traditionally attract the church’s largest worshiping congregations,” Hanson said.

Besides the worship service, the special schedule includes a reception and meal for visitors, tours of the church building and Sunday School classes, which begin in the service and then move to their classrooms.

“We want to share what our church has to offer with the people in the community who may not have a church home,” Hanson said. “In addition to worship, we offer Bible study classes, opportunities for fellowship, community service and special programs for all ages.”

Hanson noted that more than 90 percent of all Americans say that they believe in God, according to Gallup polls, but only 40 percent attend church in an average week.