The Lehigh Evangelical Alliance of Ministers (EAM) will present its second outdoors Christmas program in Lehigh on Sunday night, Dec. 20.

It will be held on the front lawn of Christ United Methodist Church and the community and members of all the churches are invited to attend. The program is free to everyone. It’s expected to begin at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Everyone is reminded to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.

Last year, several hundred people turned out for the first Christmas Program to be held outside and put on by the group composed of many ministers of Lehigh Acres. It was also held on the lawn of Christ United Methodist Church.

A welcome will be extended by Pastor David Soden, president of the EMA, and pastor of Richmond Avenue Baptist Church. Following will be an opening prayer by the Rev. Don Rock, Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s chaplain.

Then starts the Christmas program of music including such famous and loved carols as Joy to the World, The First Noel, What child is This.

Pastor Michael Porzio will present a Christmas reading. He is the vice president of EMA and also the pastor of New Image Ministries Church.

Soden said more music will follow with those in the audience participating. The carols will include hark the Herald Angels Sang and O Little Town of Bethlehem.

“We have some fun music, like the 12 Days of Christmas and Jingle Bells,” said Soden.

Pastor Kenneth Wright will following with another reading concerning Christmas. He is the pastor of Metro Christian Fellowship. Later, Pastor Carlos Otero, EMA treasurer and pastor of Christ United Methodist Church and Pastor Steve Kelly of Lehigh Acres Christian Church will present readings with more Christmas carols to follow. The last reading will be done by Pastor Steve Cecil of the Church of the Nazarene.

A closing presentation will be made by the Richmond Avenue Baptist Church.

“We really hope to have as large a crowd as we did last year,” said Soden. “This is the time of the year we celebrate Christ’s birth and how much better than to come together as a community with this outside program.

“I promise everyone will be in the Christmas spirit when it’s over,” he said.

Soden said the alliance of ministers has also presented a program at Veterans Park during Easter and last year, they walked, carrying a crucifixion cross from the Walmart parking lot to Veterans Park on Homestead Rd., where they held a sacred program. Along the route, other ministers and residents of Lehigh picked up the cross and helped to carry it to the pavilion along the lake at the park where it was erected. The program attracted more than 200 people.

“This is Christmas and this is our gift to the community. We hope everyone will join us and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas,” Soden said.