Lake Martin’s Church in the Pines hosted an elegant candle light Christmas Eve service on Tuesday evening. Worshippers came together to sing Christmas hymns, fellowship with one another, and reflect on the gift of grace from Christ.

Watch a video from the service below:

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15b196QbUb

Ben Russell, Founder and Chairman of Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin, called Church in the Pines one of the “most unique services in the country.”

“The services, with time, took on a non-denominational and ever more sophisticated format,” said Russell. “The most unique aspect of this little church was, however, the fact that many of the congregation arrived in a rather motley collection of boats. In the early days the property was owned by “Russell Mills” and in 1956 they constructed a large, open, a-frame building to replace the pine straw covered arbor that was the original. In the mid-70’s Russell Lands, Inc. took over responsibility for the property. The church was then renovated, and permanent benches were installed.”

Church in the Pines & Children’s Chapel began in 1953, under a small, pine straw covered arbor, on the shoreline (750 mi) of Lake Martin in Alexander City, AL.

Julia Russell organized and convened the first service with the help of the reverend Duncan Hunter. Church in the Pines became, pretty much, a certainty; a guarantee, none-the-less, of remaining “down at the lake” all day on Sunday.

In 1990, Children’s Harbor Inc., put on the mantle of responsibility, now providing year-round services, either in the Church in the Pines or in the Children’s Chapel.