BELHAVEN — A group of local churches is gearing up to present a community Christmas cantata.

The group will host the Belhaven Community Christmas Cantata, an idea that originated from Brenda Van Gyzen, the choir director at Belhaven Missionary Baptist Church, at the Wilkinson Center on Dec. 14 at 4 p.m., Van Gyzen said. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.

Dubbed “Images of Adoration,” Van Gyzen got the idea from a series of preview kits her church receives through Lifeway, a religious goods store, she said. The theme follows all the things that signify Christmas, and the program will reflect those festive themes, Van Gyzen said.

“This is one of four cantatas I previewed, and I liked it enough that I wanted to do it,” Van Gyzen said. “The story speaks about images that we adore that are centered around Christmas, and some of those ornaments and adorations will appear throughout (the program).”

The program, a mix of music and pageantry, is similar to hanging of the greens, Van Gyzen said. It will feature the lighting of candles and Christmas lights, a live nativity and a big red banner, the color of love which also signifies Christmas. There will also be wreaths and garland hung and the lighting of Christmas tree lights and the hanging of the star of David atop the Christmas tree, Van Gyzen said.

During each activity, there will be a song performed by the choir, made up of 70 or more individuals from the different participating churches, Van Gyzen said. For example, there will be a child who will sing, “Who is This Baby in the Manger,” during the presentation of the live nativity. The program, in essence, will reflect the great celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Van Gyzens said.

Van Gyzen said she contacted area churches to get support, as well as participation in the program. So far, nine area churches have members participating in the program; joining Belhaven Missionary Baptist will be West Belhaven Church of Christ, Union Grove Church of Christ, Trinity United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, Sidney Free Will Baptist Church, Long Acre Chapel Christian Church, First Baptist Church of Smithton and Wilkinson Church of Christ. A member and musician of Union Grove Church of Christ, Marth Davis, will serve as director of the cantata while Van Gyzen will narrate the storyline and join the choir in singing, Van Gyzen said.

“I just ask and ask and it’s just grown to a point where there are churches within a 15-mile radius coming to participate,” Van Gyzen said. “This is the first year for something of this magnitude. I’m planning on doing a survey on churches involved to get feedback, and I’m hoping we might be able to do the same thing and get more people involved.”

Van Gyzen said the community gathering is much needed in the Belhaven community, and will hopefully bring everyone together for a positive, enjoyable event in the midst of a tough year for residents with the closing of Vidant Pungo Hospital.

“As you know, our town has been in turmoil over the closing of the hospital,” Van Gyzen said. “The Lord laid it on my heart to do something to bring our community together as one. He gave me the idea of bringing the community together as one in faith, rather than being torn apart.”