Carolers ‘Walk a Christmas Mile’ in Roxborough

Pastor Steve Pitman of Green Lane United Methodist Church smiled to passersby while belting out Christmas classics along Ridge Avenue on Sunday. He stopped to take a deep breath before boasting about the weather.

“It’s a great day for lifting spirits in the community,” he said. “Often during Christmas and the holidays, we become commercial. We have to remember the reason for this season.”

Pitman followed about 20 other carolers from the Church of St. Alban, where carolers started off in Roxborough’s first “Walk-A-Christmas Mile” after a brief prayer service.

“It’s a great time of fellowship between churches, and I think it’s wonderful we can meet so many people in the community,” Pitman added.

After reaching Green Lane for another brief service and adding handfuls of carolers to the group, they then sang their way back to Ridge Avenue to Roxborough Baptist Church—for one last church service—recruiting even more carolers.

“I think it’s a good way to try to get the churches working together, because that’s what we need,” said Jalna Schuler, a member of Roxborough Baptist Church. “We hope to make people more aware of what churches have to offer them, both spiritually and community spirit.”

“There is a church presence in the community,” said Debbie Steed, a caroler. “It helps us get the word out that Jesus is still alive, today.”

“Christmas means a time to reflect what God has given us,” said Pitman.

Reverend John Murrow serves Roxborough Baptist Church and said caroling is a good way to help the community recognize the meaning of Christmas. “This is the first time we’ve done this,” he said. People thought it was a good idea, we have a pretty good group together today, and we hope next year we have more.”