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ALLENWOOD -- Saturday, Dec. 14, was a gray and bleak day outside.
However, inside the old Stone Church, on the grounds of the Federal Prison in Allenwood, was warm with candles and holiday lights.
This illumination helped hold back the darker oppression, and allowed for a simple and quiet contemplation of the season and the surrounding environment.
Over 150 people gathered inside for the annual Stone Church Candlelight Service to reflect on Christmas. The children and grandchildren of the former residents of Alvira gathered to reconnect with their heritage.
Alvira had been a thriving community in the 19th and 20th centuries. During World War II, the United States government stepped in and confiscated the community for federal lands to help with the war effort.
Afterwards, the government built the prison facility. Now, twice a year, officials will allow the members of the Montgomery Area Historical Societies to hold events at the church.
At the beginning of the candlelight service, Larry Stout, president of the Montgomery Area Historical Society, praised the prison officials for helping maintain the Stone Church.
As the service progressed, choirs and attendees sang traditional holiday songs and heard readings inspired by the Bible. Each of the readings held a theme of light, such as "The Light of Hope," "The Light of Peace," "The Light of Joy" and "Jesus, Light of the World."
During the reading entitled "Light of Wisdom," it was said that, "With the birth of Jesus, God is establishing a new covenantant with all mankind." This covenant is based around the concepts of love, sacrifice, redemption and reconciliation.
After the service, Shirley Smith, musical director, said the choir was made up of singers from St. John's Lutheran Church in Montgomery and Trinity Lutheran Church in Hughesville, along with singers from the West Branch Chorale.
She said the singers rehearsed several times in the preceeding weeks.
"I am very pleased with how it turned out," Smith said.
She said doing this allows listeners and participants to get centered for the holiday.
"It allows them to drink in the music and the Scripture," Smith said. "I was touched by a number of the readings."
Stout said planning for the event began in early autumn.
"We talk about we are going to do for (the Candelight Service) in September," Stout said.
Montgomery Mayor-elect Fae Herb, who took part in a reading, said her involvement came thanks to family connections.
"This is my first time doing a reading for something like this and it's because my older brother is the president of the historical society," Herb said with a laugh.
She added that both Herb and Stout's father was from Alvira and holding events like this keeps the memory of the former town in the minds of Lycoming County residents.
"I loved history and joined the historical society to help remember this," Herb said.