BLYTHEWOOD – As the sun sets in Blythewood on Christmas Eve, one field on Rimer Pond Road will begin to shine. It won’t be the sterile hum of fluorescent lights or the flash of holiday LEDs, but the flicker of crackling fire pits and the soft glow of hand-held candles.
For the congregation of Blythewood Presbyterian Church and its neighbors, the annual “Christmas Eve in the Fields” has become more than just a service—it is a return to the roots of the holiday.
The evening is designed to lean into the elements. There are no padded pews here; instead, families arrive with lawn chairs and heavy blankets, settling in as the sun sets to enjoy homemade cookies and hot chocolate while catching up with friends. The formal service, which features carol singing, scripture readings, and a Christmas message, begins at 5:30 p.m.
“An outdoor Christmas Eve service around fires is very reminiscent of what the shepherds must have experienced,” says Pastor Rhett Sanders. “The vulnerability of the open spaces, the exposure to unknown elements, and the quietness of the night being disrupted by Joyful Christmas Noise. The angel proclaimed good news that will cause great joy for all the people!”
Blythewood Presbyterian’s “noise”—a blend of traditional carols, the rhythmic reading of scripture, and a seasonal message—serves as the focus of the night. It is a celebration felt most tangibly when the congregation stands together in the dark to light their candles, transforming the field into a sea of small, defiant lights.
The church invites everyone in the community to join the circle, regardless of where they usually spend their Sunday mornings.
“Be mindful of the weather and dress accordingly,” Sanders says. “Bring a chair and come out to make some Christmas noise with your neighbors.”
In a season that can often feel rushed and commercial, Blythewood’s field offers a moment of stillness—and a reminder of a night two thousand years ago when the first “joyful noise” broke the silence of the countryside.
Celebrate Christmas Eve in the Fields at Blythewood Presbyterian Church, located at 441 Rimer Pond Rd.
