After School Tutoring Students Captivated by the Wonder of Christmas

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Editor’s Note: Each year, the After School Tutoring (AST) program hosts a Christmas Party for refugee kids. This year’s event took place on Tuesday, December 10th, with the help of several volunteers and staff members, including Amy Zeigler. These precious moments of celebrating our Savior’s birth together is a reflection of His goodness, kindness, and love for all people. 

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“Silent Night, Holy Night,
All is Calm, All is Bright…” 

Recently, a dedicated volunteer tutor presented gifts to our Thursday night After School Tutoring (AST) children. One of the students lit up when she saw the swirly font “All is Calm, All is Bright” written across the bag. Though she had come to the States only 15 months prior, the student beamed and proudly said, “I know those words.”  

A few days later, 50 tutoring students and 45 volunteers gathered at Epiphany Lutheran Church to celebrate Jesus’s birthday. AST Coordinator, Jen Janssen, masterfully organized games, crafts, food and activities while volunteers drove youth to the site, played games, shared conversations over glue and glitter, and enjoyed a nice meal together. The joy was tangible, laughter voluminous, and all around, friendships were growing. 

After dinner, everyone gathered in the sanctuary to hear Pastor Tim Staffeld’s words of good news. This year, it struck me how the energy in the room from moments before was quickly replaced by a quiet, reverent attitude. With keen interest, the children leaned forward in the pews to hear about the “holy infant so tender and mild.”  

After we sang “Silent Night,” the students eagerly waited for their gift. This year, several churches and schools, including Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Christ Community Lutheran School (CCLS), and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Des Peres) donated specially wrapped presents. The room buzzed as each student received their gift with their name written across.  

Though the kids were excited to receive their gift, the true gift for me was seeing the effect of Christ’s love for the children, and how Love’s pure light broke through the darkness that evening. I pray that this year, you, too, will be surrounded by the Light this Silent Night season.

by Amy Zeigler