Ocean Grove's Christmas in August

Pumkin Praline with Graham Cracker
Day's Ice Cream

On the spur of the moment we decided to drive out to Ocean Grove to pick up some salt water taffy to give as a gift to friends when we see them next month (shh!!! don't tell Andrew). It was a nice night for ice cream and a stroll on the boardwalk up to Asbury Park.

After enjoying our ice cream we walked the block to the boardwalk when we hear "The First Noel" being sung nearby. In many places, that might feel odd, but Ocean Grove is famous for being founded by the Methodists, and to this day is still a dry town. When Don was growing up it was illegal to drive in town on Sunday, or even have your car visible on Sundays! It either had to be in a garage or moved just outside the town's walls. That rule was changed in 1979 when the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled it illegal, and the chains came down permanently. Of all the shore towns, hearing Christmas music in August felt reverent and charming. As I listened to the waves on the beach and smelled the salt air, I was transported to Christmas 1999 when we celebrated Christmas at the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. 

As we walked closer to the crowd we saw something even more remarkable than a crowd singing Christmas carols, we saw a full on Christmas pageant called the Beach Nativity, an event held annually on a Monday during the summer (last year it was the same week, a Google search brought up a date in July a different year, so a little research would be needed before making the drive).

The costumes were charming. In New Jersey, it is so much nicer to be standing outside in August than on many December evenings. We are also less stressed about the holidays. We could just listen to the familiar tunes and hear Mary encouraging us to turn to Jesus. The feel was more evangelical than traditional Christian. It reminded me of the simple messages the International Church in Barcelona preaches. The message is simple: God loves us. We humans have a way of making it more complicated than it needs to be.

As the members of the congregation processed out, Don pointed out the camel. I was too slow to get a decent picture. It was two people in a camel suit with their head sticking out of the humps. That takes teamwork! The angels wore lights on their halos. It had a simple feel. I left feeling embraced by God's love.

As we walked towards Asbury Park we heard the end of the community band's rehearsal. They were playing "White Christmas," further encouraging us to embrace the holiday spirit.