Holiday Worship: Riverdale Presbyterian Church

Think of how busy you've been the past few weeks. Now multiply that by 200, and you have some idea about the goings-on at Riverdale Presbyterian Church this season.

The congregation offered free gift-wrapping to shoppers at Beaver Valley Mall, and then church members filled a truck with new toys for disadvantaged children in Washington, Pa.

Along the way, the church members managed to compile and publish a cookbook, which became a church best-seller and has all but sold out.

Now the church is preparing for two services this weekend: 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, when the band will play, and 9 a.m. Christmas, when music will be accoustical.

After that, everybody will take a breather before the festivities start again on New Year's Day, when the church will celebrate "Throwback Sunday." The congregation will use old hymnals and will hear music from an old organ, which will be brought into the church for the occasion.

"This is when we will look at where we have been and where we are going," said B.J. Moore, Director of Discipleship and Education. The New Year's Day service will begin at 11 a.m.

Check back with Patch this week for more on how area churches are celebrating the Christmas holiday.