Christmas program, Christmas day visitor center, Light the World events

On the Saturday before Christmas the India Bengaluru Stake put together a great Christmas Program consisting of several skits put on by different wards/church congregations in the area. We sang in the choir, offering songs between each skit such as: Mary's Boy Child Jesus Christ, Feliz Navidad, Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, Angles we have heard on High, Silent Night, etc.

The skits depicted different times in Jesus Christ's life and ministry.

 These lambs are kind of cute.

This skit was about the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine.

They organized a children's choir. Here they were singing "Peace in Christ".

Woman at the Well

The full time missionaries got involved in the skits.

Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead.

Jesus ordained 12 apostles

 Scenes from Prodigal son, a modern adaptation

Gambling away his inheritance 

The Bengaluru Stake Presidency acted the parts of the original 12 apostles.

Nathalee Carlin Sunderraj sang Oh Holy Night

I borrowed this picture from Elder and Sister Willnauer showing parking out front. We had over 700 attend the Christmas Program.


I wrote the following story about the temporary visitor center they set up inside the church:

Crowds Gather at Christmas Holiday Visitor Center

BENGALURU, India - “It was amazing, many people gathered in off the street to learn more about the meaning of Christmas and the birth and life of Jesus”, said Sister Martin.

Under the direction of President Sundaraj of the Bengaluru stake, consisting of a group of six congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a “Light the World” open house visitor center was planned for December 21-31, 2019. 

The kickoff followed a multi-congregation Christmas program that was held the evening of  December 21^st. A large banner and jumbo helium balloon waving above the church, welcomed neighbors to come and see. The displays and murals mirrored many of the skits that were performed in the Christmas program.

The Resurrection of Christ, the cross and parable of the sower.

This short-term visitor center consisted of various displays, focusing on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Large murals were printed and then cutouts were added in front of the picture, giving it a 3D effect. Some displays included more elaborate decorations. The near life-size 3D murals depicted the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. They included: The journey to Bethlehem of Mary and Joseph, Jesus as a boy teaching in the temple, calling his twelve apostles, the Woman at the well, the Parable of the sower, the cross, resurrection at the tomb, and the resurrected Christ in America.

It was reported that hundreds of people walked in off the street on Christmas day alone. After watching a short nativity video in the chapel, 8 volunteers were on hand to take small groups to each display and share stories about the life of Jesus Christ.   

Many people took pictures in front of the dazzling “Tree of Life”, representing the love of God, that was illuminated throughout each evening.

People that visited wrote down comments such as, “Peace”, “Very nice…I felt the spirit”, “Made my day”, “I’m coming to church every week.”

“Two women who went through, that had never come to church before, liked it so much that they stood with us outside on the street for over an hour, as we wished everyone a Merry Christmas,” said Elder Gantner, volunteer from Switzerland.

A Stake Christmas committee was organized to come up with ideas and organized the room into a temporary visitor center. Many of the displays were built or modified on site at the Whitefield Road Chapel. 

More pictures at the Saturday Christmas Program

Other fun "Light the World" activities and displays