SIOUX CITY | Laurie Van Cura is debating whether or not to have live animals at Sunnybrook Community Church's annual Christmas Eve at the Orpheum services.
"We've had them in the past," the church's spiritual formation pastor says inside her 5601 Sunnybrook Drive office, "but we always like to try new things."
According to Van Cura, she and her team begin planning the Christmas program as early as September.
"It's a pretty intensive three-month process," she says of a service that will include musicians, actors, technicians as well as many members of the the church's congregation. "We leave nothing to chance."
That makes sense since Sunnybrook's annual Christmas Eve service have attracted as many as 6,000 people.
"This year, we've added an additional service because they proved so popular," Van Cura says.
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The church's Christmas Eve services will be held at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St.
Van Cura says the event is Sunnybrook's "gift to the community."
"Too many churches turn inward when it comes to celebrations," she notes. "Instead, Sunnybrook prefer to look outward to the community as a whole."
The reason is simple.
"Many people think church services will be too stuffy or too formal," Van Cura says. "We are hoping to change people's attitudes toward religion by making it more relevant."
That includes casual clothing as well as a musical program that is "less church-like."
"While we'll still be doing 'Silent Night,'" Van Cura says, "our music will be less hymn-driven than a typical service."
Which isn't to say that Sunnybrook's services aren't based in the Bible.
"At Sunnybrook, our vision is to invite people from all walks of life to join us in getting to know Jesus in a very personal way," Van Cura says. "We seek out those who don't know Jesus, so they can experience his love and healing."
That includes people who may have had a bad experience with churches in the past.
"This is the reason we hold our Christmas Eve service at the Orpheum instead of our church," Van Cura says. "The Orpheum is a more neutral setting plus it is a beautiful place, especially around the holidays."
With comedy skits and contemporary songs played on guitars as opposed to the organ, Van Cura says Sunnybrook is hoping to reach a much wider audience with its Christmas Eve services.
"There are so many people searching for spirituality in their lives," she says. "We want to show those people that religion is just as relevant today as it has ever been."
