PLEASANT RIDGE - It's one of the best-known and most-observed church holidays in Christianity. So why is it one of the hardest sermons for a pastor to write?

"The real challenge is trying to come up with something fresh and something that will touch or change the hearts of the people who hear it," said Father Marc Sherlock of Nativity Church in Pleasant Ridge. "You're trying to find something they haven't heard before, while trying to convey how the good news of Christmas affects their lives."

This year, he plans to emphasize the importance of God becoming human.

Pastor Michael Volk of Messiah Lutheran Church in Greenhills approaches his Christmas sermon like most others, by starting with the text and prayer.

"On the one hand, you feel pressure because you want it to be the best, and on the other hand you feel all the other pressures of the holidays and everything else," he said. "Some years it comes easy, and some years it just doesn't."

This year, he'll give two Christmas Eve sermons: one at 7 p.m. about God revealed as humble and another at 11:30 about God revealed as approachable and accessible to all people.

Pastor Dave Harper of Hyde Park Bethlehem United Methodist Church has been a minister for 38 years, but each year brings its own Christmas sermon challenges.

"This year it's a scary world, and we're all ill at ease about terrorism and war and small pox vaccines," he said.

"But part of my goal is not to give people answers but to give them images to reflect on. We should take a step back in this season and talk about the light coming into the world and the hope it brings. Where do we find hope in the world and to what extent am I the bearer of the light?"

For Pastor Paul Brunstetter of Immanuel United Methodist Church in Lakeside Park, a creative set of topics for a month of Advent services provides a theme for him to follow and conclude on Christmas.

"What an incredible gift that God came to us and is willing to be where we are and go with us where we go," Pastor Brunstetter said. "It means forgiveness, peace of mind, eternal life. It's so much more than a story about a baby in a manger."

Break with tradition

Members of Vineyard Community Church of Tri-County will celebrate Christmas Eve without a traditional service. Instead of meeting for a formal service, members of the congregation will gather at about 4 p.m., light candles, sing and then head out the door with 1,200 dozen doughnuts.

"Instead of it being about us, it's about going out and serving our community," said Pastor Dave Workman.

As many as 200 people will head out the door with the doughnuts and deliver them to anyone working on Christmas Eve.

`Sing Hallelujah'

Peace and Serenity Ministries will present a performance of "Sing Hallelujah!", a Christmas celebration, at the Wyoming Civic Center, 1 Worthington Ave., at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10 for adults in advance and $15 at the door and $5 for children in advance and $7.50 at the door.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, call 281-5367.

E-mail news about church and religious groups to kvance@fuse.net or fax to 513-755-4150.