HAYDEN — In faithful hearts, strangers don't really exist.

"They're not completely strangers," Sven Black said Thursday. "They're all my brothers and sisters in Christ. That's the most important thing in life to me, is other people and not material possessions."

Black and his girlfriend, Zelda Loera, live in downtown Coeur d'Alene but decided to travel to Hayden to enjoy the free community Christmas meal offered by True North Church of the Nazarene.

"We just wanted to cruise around and see what was happening," Loera said.

They said they saw the meal advertised in the Coeur d'Alene Press.

"We wanted to be with our community, be around the people," said Black, who had to work later in the afternoon.

True North Church at 10583 N. Government Way has a simple mission to love God, love others, make disciples and grow in Christ.

That mission was gloriously on display Christmas Day as the Rev. Dirk Scott, senior pastor, and the Rev. Barbara Kingen, pastor of families, children and youth ministries, warmly welcomed about 50 parishioners and community members to gather 'round for True North's third annual holiday feast.

"We look at ourselves as a community church. We're here for the whole community," Scott said. "Our thing is, 'Just come.' We just want you to come."

Scott said he wasn't sure how many people would come to the Christmas dinner. The last time the church held a community meal was Easter and about 30 people were expected, but 104 ended up attending.

"That's why I say, 'I don't know,'" he said with a chuckle. "We're just saying, 'OK, we've cooked a lot of food and we hope we have enough, if not, we'll run out and get more food.'"

The worry of not having enough soon subsided as people trickled in during the drizzly afternoon with potluck dishes of salads, homemade rolls, snacks, creamy desserts and more. The spread also included mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, creamed corn casserole, sparkling ciders, stuffing, cranberry sauce and, of course, turkey and Christmas ham.

Longtime True North congregant Tom Wilson stayed busy in the kitchen cooking and carving the turkey. He said he left the church for about four years, but when he returned it was like a family reunion. He loves the smallness of True North, which has between 110 and 150 members.

"I know most everybody, we all know each other, we do things like this," he said. "That's why we're here. Dirk's preaching is right out of the Bible; he doesn't make stuff up."

His wife, Eileen Wilson, came to the church with a couple Bunco friends. She and Tom have one son in the Philippines and they plan to celebrate Christmas on Saturday with their other son who lives nearby. They were both happy to spend the holiday meal at True North.

"This is great for us, and he loves to cook," Eileen said, giggling, "so he's in there cooking and I'm not."

Kingen said many times, those who spend Christmas alone are overlooked.

"We think that everybody has a family, everybody has a place to go, and that's not true," she said.

She said True North closely works with members of the homeless population, who often take meals at local shelters.

"Then we have people who finally get into a house, and they still don't have anyone to have dinner with," she said. "We also have a lot of people in our church whose kids are all grown or their kids live in another state, and they don't have anybody."

Scott said the congregation has widows and widowers who are alone, as well.

"We have some older couples, they're married but they don't have children living with them or they don't have children, so this is a real refuge for them," Scott said.

All the tables had games on them, which some guests started playing even before the meal began, adding a layer of laughter and friendly competition over the festive music that could be heard throughout the room.

"When we all come here, then we all become family," Kingen said.

True North hosts a number of services and ministries, including free community meals at 5:30 p.m. Fridays.

Info: truenorthchurch.org

    Cindy Clark of Post Falls, left, and Amanda Labertew of Liberty Lake share a smile over the sparkling ciders Thursday during True North Church's free community Christmas meal.
  

    Twins Sarah Kingen, left, and Sierrah Kingen, 16, of Post Falls, help with the coffee Thursday during the free Christmas meal at True North Church in Hayden.

    Lynette Smith fills bowls with gourmet popcorn Thursday during the Christmas dinner at True North Church.
  

    Randy Smith of Hayden laughs with the Rev. Dirk Scott during Christmas dinner at True North Church.