Posted on 12/04/2004 9:59:56 PM PST by churchillbuff
Bruce Bain doesn't attend church regularly, but nothing was going to keep him from showing up on the corner of 17th Street and Tremont Place on Friday night.
"How can you have the Parade of Lights without the 'light of the world'?" he asked. "Christmas is a religious holiday."
So the 56-year-old Englewood man joined hundreds of Christmas carolers from metro-area churches and sang along the Parade of Lights route. They sang on 15th Street. They sang at Court Place. And they sang at Colfax Avenue and Bannock Street.
What they didn't do was raise hell.
Yes, it was a protest of sorts - if you count that five of the six songs in the 2,500 caroling pamphlets given out heralded the birth of Jesus. See, Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, upon hearing the parade wouldn't allow its religious-themed float this year, decided it would rally carolers and sing along the route beforehand.For its part, the parade started in 1974 as a way to replace Denver's traditional Saturday morning Santa Claus Parade that ended in the 1960s. The Parade Of Lights entry rules evolved during the past decade to reject religious-themed floats in favor of more secular symbols such as snowmen and gingerbread houses.
Pastor George Morrison - whose church has 4,000 members - said he was not even allowed to have a sign that read "Merry Christmas."
Rhoda Schultz, one of the caroling organizers, didn't know what to expect as people began to show up shortly after 6:30 p.m. She urged everyone to be respectful. She asked that they stop singing 10 minutes before the parade started at 8 p.m. so as not to divert attention away from the parade.
"OK, so we're not going to get a float," she said. "So let's get together anyway and carol."
The leader of Faith Bible Chapel's choir then stood on the steps of Republic Plaza and tried to marshal the caroling forces.
"OK, how many are ready to go?" she asked.
A few scattered hands went up. Finally, a group of about 20 were corralled, and with their song sheets, scarves and a few signs, they headed down Tremont Place.As the hour before the parade marched on, more groups of 20 or 30 went forth, singing. By the time Schultz's 10-minute rule arrived, about 500 were singing at various downtown street corners.
Along the parade route, the caroling groups were greeted with some applause. Some watched impassively. Some merchants zipped past them selling light sticks and foam Christmas-tree hats. One person walked by and asked, "Are these the Jesus people?"
Carly MacGill, who was with her 3-year-old daughter, stood on an icy curb as the first group moved slowly by. They were just starting Joy to the World when MacGill yelled, "Merry Christmas! God bless!"
Laura Ranger, who was bundled up in a red jacket and wore a Santa hat, said she wanted to sing because she was simply tired of feeling like Christianity was being excluded from the Parade of Lights.
She wore a sign on her back that read, "Say it loud and proud - Merry Christmas.
"It took me a few seconds to make the sign, but they were important seconds," Ranger, 31, said. "I needed to be out here to show my support."
Mary Beth Brugler, a 53-year-old from Arvada and a member of Faith Bible Chapel, showed her support by brewing 12 gallons of hot chocolate.
Another person brought an additional three gallons.
It was all gone in an hour.
"We pretty much covered everyone," Brugler said, adding that the batch she made consisted of "just the right amount of chocolate."
The Parade of Lights, sponsored by the Downtown Partnership, issued a statement Friday regarding the carolers.
Jim Basey, president of the partnership, said it stands by its policy of not allowing religious or political messages in the parade. He also said that despite last-minute lobbying by City Council members for a compromise, parade organizers said they would wait until next year to evaluate their policies.
But this year, well, rules are rules.
"We have no objections to Pastor (George) Morrison's plan to walk along the parade crowd, pass hot chocolate and sing Christmas carols," the statement said. "Please know that there are no policies for the Parade of Lights prohibiting Christmas songs or parade participants saying 'Merry Christmas,' 'Happy Hanukkah' or other holiday greetings. That is part of the holiday tradition."
Heard downtown
Friday night, carolers organized by Faith Bible Chapel blanketed portions of the Parade of Lights route with traditional Christmas songs including:
• Joy to the World
• Silent Night
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• The First Noel
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• We Wish You A Merry Christmas
• Ten minutes before the parade began, the carolers ended with Silent Night.
No but the nation has surely gone insame!
We need to start forming groups, and voicing that we are offended! Loudly!
Um, let me understand this. They want to ostracize and exclude some people in order to be "inclusive" and "not offend" anyone. Right. Makes perfect sense.
No more conventions or federal aid for Denver--violation of civil liberties. Let the litigation begin.
Love it! HE is the Reason for the Season.
Golly Jim. What a mensch you are.
Color me majorly surprised that Basey didn't direct the Denver police to administer a wood shampoo to the carolers then have them arrested. Surely, ALL of the carolers couldn't have had the proper health department permit to dispense hot chocolate in a public place.
(sarcasm OFF)
This brings into sharper perspective just who is celebrating Christmas.....and "the other" who is not. This small and insignificant minority enjoy their status through the generosity and forebearance of Christians, and because America is a Christian country. Americans heartily endorse Christian values as Nov 2, 2004 demonstrated. Those who chose to ignore that fact are in for a rude awakening.(MAP UPDATE: Bush won Ohio and New Mexico later.)
God bless all these people for going out and singing God's word!
This is probably a dumb question.......but is the mayor of Denver a dem?
I suggest all you Denverites un-elect him as soon as possible. And don't let the city of Denver forget how he stuck his foot in his mouth with his stupid "Holiday" tree, etc. etc. etc.
Throw him out!
This is probably a dumb question.......but is the mayor of Denver a dem?
I suggest all you Denverites un-elect him as soon as possible. And don't let the city of Denver forget how he stuck his foot in his mouth with his stupid "Holiday" tree, etc. etc. etc.
Throw him out!
Anyone have an email address?
Duck Fenver.
Through these people, and others,
The Lord is taking back His country.
Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
Denver City and County Building
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 720-865-9000
Fax: 720-865-8787
E-mail: MileHighMayor@ci.denver.co.us
WOHOO!!
SING IT LOUD ... SING IT PROUD !!
Merry CHRISTmas ! ! !
BTTT
"Are these the Jesus people?"
I love it.
Hey, you said what I was thinkin'! Thank you!
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