During the rush of the Christmas holidays, members of Connection Christian Church want Odessans to take one morning to slow down and celebrate the reason for the season.
The fifth annual Breakfast at the Stable is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 16, on the north side of the building at 4241 Tanglewood Lane.
Starting with an indoor meal of pancakes and sausages, along with crafts for children, the event shifts outside, where parents and children can interact with various farm animals, such as lambs and horses.
The event will also include a stable where families can dress up as different animals or characters from the Nativity Scene for photos. Pastor Dawn Weaks said the event will use the Gospels of Mark and Luke to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
“You must have a big spiritual imagination to see how God became human and was placed in an animal feeding trough,” Weaks said. “It means that God came to identify with the poor and those who don’t have any place to go, and that’s something we want these children to carry with them their whole lives.”
Partnering with organizations such as Ector County and the Ector County Independent School District’s agriculture program, the entire program is run by volunteers and hosts about 200 people annually.
Rosyln Ross, who has led the Breakfast at the Stable event for the last two years and has been a part of it since its inception, said one of her favorite parts of the event is seeing the excitement on the children’s faces as they explore the lot and interact with the animals.
During Christmas, Ross said it is easy to get wrapped up in thoughts of travel and presents. Breakfast at the Stable is a way for people to take a morning to slow down and think about what they are celebrating.
“They’re not at the mall, or Walmart, or standing in line to see Santa,” she said. “It’s a quiet space and, personally, I enjoy seeing everyone smile.”
If you go
- What: Breakfast at the Stable.
- When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Dec. 16.
- Where: Connection Christian Church of Odessa, 4241 Tanglewood Lane.
- Cost: Free.
