The Dexter Christmas Reading will mark its 10th anniversary this year at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. The community reading was created when Dexter resident Greg Mathis felt the city needed something to kick off the Christmas season after the city discontinued the annual Christmas parade.
Mathis was inspired by a tradition his mother-in-law has started with his children.
"My mother-in-law always read the second chapter of Luke to my children before they went to bed on Christmas Eve," said Mathis.
The second chapter of Luke discusses the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. The chapter also tells of Jesus' early years from the visit of the three wise men to Jesus as a young boy in the temple.
Mathis and his wife Lisa decided to share this tradition with the city of Dexter. In 2009 the first reading was held on Stoddard street across from Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home. Ten years later it is still there.
This year, as he has done every year, Mathis will keep the name of the guest reader a secret until the night of the reading. Hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies will also be available.
The Crowley Ridge Mennonite Choir will again provide the prelude music prior to the reading. They will also perform for another 15 to 20 minutes after the reading.
All families attending this year will receive a commemorative ornament created to mark the event's 10th anniversary. The ornament will be handed out the night of the reading.
"We anticipate a large crowd," Mathis said. "Last year we had in excess of 350 people."
"We want folks to go away from the Christmas Reading, remembering the simplicity of the Christ Child's birth and the miraculous gift through his birth in the manger, that we can be born again in his glory," said Mathis.