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By Melissa Lauber

God said, 'Let there be light,' and the people at the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kensington heard.

To celebrate the birth of Christ, they lit 450,000 colored lights. It took 700 of their members four months to hang these lights in the trees on the church grounds. With the flip of a switch, they all came on, reflecting in water, amid the gardens and across the skyline.

There is no doubt something of great glory is being illuminated.

At the Festival of Lights that kicked off this year?s light display, the Mormons invited the religious press and ambassadors from around the world to witness how Christ?s light shines for all in the darkness.

There was caroling and cookies and a cr?che display to usher in the spirit of Christmas. It was a grand event. But one of the more memorable things for me was the remarks of Kenneth Bowler, who delivered the Christmas message.

Bowler expressed the traditional words of glad tidings of good cheer, but he also spoke about being able to look into the mirror and see another?s face there. We are all reflected in the faces of those around us, he said, and their reflections illuminate us.

I thought about Bowler?s words and the Mormons? almost half-a-million lights when I was driving down country roads in the horse country of the Baltimore-North District. It was dark out and I turned the corner to see historic Union UMC in Baldwin shining like a beacon in the night.

The church had been lit up with spotlights for a live nativity show. It was a simple, white clapboard church with a bell tower standing aglow in the middle of a black field. It was illuminated like some sort of magical destination for a worn out pilgrim.

I went to the church?s live nativity display and was knocked over by the hospitality there. Three angels ? David, James and Lynne Thomas ? gave me the whole Christmas story, including their part about them making the shepherds 'sore afraid.'

The shepherds, Joe Ames and Ethan Brunswick, struck cool poses in their shepherd gear and told me how they were glad to 'support God and share a good story.'

But my heart was most struck by Katie Eyre, who portrayed Mary. She had been in all but one or two pageants over the years, beginning her time at Union UMC as the baby Jesus in the live nativity.

There wasn?t a lot of glory in their show. It didn?t shine with the wattage of 450,000 lights. But for Eyre and those gathered, Christmas was being born in their hearts this year.

It was tradition, and they saw themselves reflected in Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men (or at Union UMC, women), as the story was told.

This ability to look into a mirror and see others reflected there, was also displayed recently in a story I think is one of the best that I?ve heard in the conference this past year.

At St. Matthew?s UMC in Turner Station, children are bringing children to church.

It happened last September. The Rev. Dred Scott gave an altar call specifically for young people. Six came forward, three of whom, ages 8-10, were in the same foster family.

Those three, believing that their new found faith entitled, and required, them to come to Bible study, crashed the adult class, which met on Monday evening.

Believing this class might be too intense for them, Catherine Scott, the pastor?s wife, took them aside for lessons she tailored to them.

The next week the children returned, bringing others with them. Today between 12 and 15 children attend the twice weekly class and the five boys among them are asking for a class of their own.

'We weren?t prepared,' said Dred Scott. 'But that?s how it?s been. They wanted to come every day.'

Catherine Scott noticed many of the children arrived at the church hungry. With the help of one other church member, she finds and prepares them snacks, and addresses a number of other issues that arise in the lives of latch-key children from lower income homes.

Catherine Scott is not entirely clear why the children keep coming, or why they bring others with them. But she is impressed with their enthusiasm and their eagerness to learn the Bible.

Dred Scott believes they show up because they know they?re welcome. 'I believe it?s that simple,' he said.

The Scotts are eager to expand the program. Dred intends to teach them liturgical dance and Catherine is trying to secure funds and some assistance to provide them with something more hearty to eat.

The Scotts believe the children are leading each other back to church. 'They?re little evangelists,' they said. 'It?s also the Holy Ghost. The average age of our congregation is 63, but they?re finding God here.'

Providing the children with all they need is 'a challenge to our spirit,' said the couple, who sometimes feel unprepared to address all the situations with which the children present them.

But then they find hope in the children themselves, and one moment in particular, when Catherine was reading to the children about Acts 2 churches. 'Look at that,' said one of the boys. 'Our church is in the Bible.'

'This is a journey,' Catherine said. 'We don?t know what?s going to unfold next week, but we?re looking forward to finding out.'

'And there was light. And it was good.'

To contribute to the Scott?s children?s ministry at St. Matthews, call the church at (410) 285-4466 or e-mail