Fans of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra may want to make plans to stop by Impact Church on Christmas Eve. The church, located at 1070 N. Hudson, has been working on a symphonic rock piece that will lead off all three of its Christmas Eve services.
“For a long time, Trans-Siberian Orchestra style arrangements have been a staple at Impact at Christmas time, but this one pushes things to a whole new level,” explains Ryder Jones, worship and programming director. “We’re even working on a light show that will rival many professional level road shows.”
Called The Christmas Cinematic Spectacular, the program will pay homage to classic Christmas movies as well as feature music and clips from familiar favorites like Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Featured composers include John Williams, Danny Elfman, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven. The arrangement will include four electric guitars, bass, drums, keyboard and the cello played by Steve VanRavenswaay, a Lowell resident who is also part of the Grand Rapids Symphony.
The program will run at 3pm, 4:30pm and 6pm on Monday, December 24, 2018. After the 10-12 minute arrangement, there will be a worship service that will include an approximately 10-minute Christmas message as well as favorite sing-along Christmas carols. The service will end with Silent Night sung by candlelight. In total, each service is expected to last one hour.
2018 Marks Final Year in Current Church Building
This isn’t the first time Impact Church has performed a TSO-inspired arrangement. Two years ago, it offered a Star Wars-themed Christmas experience. However, Jones wanted to expand on that and pursue something even more ambitious this year, particularly since it will be the final Christmas celebration in the current church building.
At capacity in its current location, Impact is in the process of building a new, larger facility on Fulton Street, across from Meijer. It’s expected to be ready by early summer of 2019. Ryan Kresge, executive pastor for Impact, notes that it is a positive and much-needed move. At the same time, it’s hard to say good-bye to the building the congregation has called home for 15 years.
“You don’t [spend] 15 years somewhere without those special moments,” Kresge says. The Christmas Cinematic Spectacular is the chance to create one more special memory in the current worship space. “There’s a lot of celebration and a little bit of saying good-bye,” he notes.
Church Welcomes All to Attend
Kresge says Impact strives to be accessible to everyone. “We’re a place where you can belong to a loving community,” he says. What’s more, the church has a focus on celebrating God through music and art. That, in turn, has attracted many talented artists to Impact and made arrangements such as The Christmas Cinematic Spectacular possible.
“Come,” Kresge invites. “This going to be an experience worth your time.”
Community members are encouraged to arrive early. Fifteen minutes before each service, local musician Asher Postman will be debuting his rendition of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
Be aware the Impact parking lot can fill up quickly. Additional parking can be found in adjacent lots such as that of the neighboring medical center or in the city lot down Godfrey Street.
For those who aren’t familiar with the style of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Impact has posted a preview of The Christmas Cinematic Spectacular on Facebook.
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