Visitors to Prestonwood Baptist Church can also pay for a buffet during prior to the show
Posted on 12/11/2025 10:32:16 AM PST by DFG
A Christmas show at a church in Plano, Texas, has become a flash point in America - a Rorschach test in today's hyper-political culture.
The 'Gift of Christmas' at Prestonwood Baptist Church, as the nearly two-hour extravaganza is called, has become one of the most well-known holiday shows across the US, mostly thanks to social media. People seem to either love or loathe the 'Vegas-style' production at the mega church- complete with a flying Santa Claus and live camels and sheep- with tickets selling from $20 to $71 per person.
'Tell me how a family of 4 has to spend $200 to go but that's considered "community outreach,"' one critic wrote online.
'Jesus would be flipping tables y'all.'
Other churches across America who have comparable Christmas spectacles (Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake, Elevation Church at multiple locations in the south, Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas) do not charge for their programs.
However, the Plano church says there's nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward for Jesus.
'Nothing is too extravagant for Christ. We bring our very best offering. If we do anything less than our best, then it’s not acceptable,' lead worship pastor Kaleb Moore Moore told Texas Monthly.
The show's organizer defended it as a cherished holiday tradition that reaches people who've never heard about Jesus Christ.
'The Christmas show here is extraordinary, and it is over the top and it's designed that way as an outreach for people to come into the church,' Andy Pearson, the church's creative director told Fox 4.
'It is not a normal Sunday morning experience. Our Sunday mornings are free, they're amazing, I encourage you to come and be a part of them, but this is something in addition to that.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Visitors to Prestonwood Baptist Church can also pay for a buffet during prior to the show
Sounds like an episode of “The Righteous Gemstones” from HBO.
The cast includes 8 sheep, 3 camels, 3 peacocks, 2 donkeys, 2 zebras, 2 alpacas, and 1 horse. The animals come from Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm in Kansas which also provides animals to the Texas State Fair.
Maybe they can say: “Our Christmas show incurs significant costs from outside vendors. Recommended donation $70 per seat.”
Don’t like it, don’t go. Too many people whine too damn much!
Not the best use of the venue, imo.
Wife has gone for 25 years. Its a good show with one of the best BIG finishes I have ever seen.
The cast includes 8 sheep, 3 camels, 3 peacocks, 2 donkeys, 2 zebras, 2 alpacas, and 1 horse.
No partridge?
Our church did a much more modest Road To Bethlehem. It was outside in the parking lot with real animals too. No camels but enough to keep most happy. Sheep, Donkey, chickens and rabbits. 4 tableau stations to view along with a guide narrating it. Hot Chocolate and cookies and stuff to be had inside after. All free.
Both Matthew and Luke fail to mention Santa Claus.
No one is being forced to buy a ticket.
Is anyone else just a tad bored with it?
I intend to go down the closest local Catholic Church, of which I am not a member... and see a live nativity display. It may cost a few bucks... but the joy is agreeing that the Birth of the Lord God and Savior actually happened for mankind’s benefit.
I hate to see it turned into a side show for money.
As good as some casino shows in Vegas
Matthew 7:15-20
New King James Version
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Taking away the jobs from awkward kids from the congregation....
Needs pipers piping
I just watched that on TUBI last night. Fun movie.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.