Morristown’s ‘Star Wars Christmas’ pairs two guys named Lucas

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Lord have mercy...it's the Liquid Church 'Cosmic Christmas.' Batteries sold separately.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Lord have mercy...it's the Liquid Church 'Cosmic Christmas.' Batteries sold separately.
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WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Lord have mercy...it's the Liquid Church 'Cosmic Christmas.' Batteries sold separately.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? Lord have mercy…it’s the Liquid Church ‘Cosmic Christmas.’ Batteries sold separately.

By Peggy Carroll

There’s George Lucas, the iconic film director who created the much beloved (at least the first trilogy) Star Wars franchise.

Then there’s Tim Lucas. He is the founder and lead minister of the Liquid Church, billed as one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing Christian churches. He is a passionate fan of Star Wars and the world George has created.

And he has found in the stories of the Empire and Jedi Knights, of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, of the Wookie and Darth Vader and all their supporting cast, a spiritual dimension.

“It’s the battle between good and evil and the light and the dark that’s something we can all rally about,” he said.

What have they done with Baby Jesus?  Morristown's Liquid Church is planning a Cosmic Christmas.
What have they done with Baby Jesus? Morristown’s Liquid Church is planning a Cosmic Christmas.

He was so much a fan of Star Wars that as a child, he replaced the traditional nativity figures with the action figures of the sci-fi films.

This Christmas, he is doing pretty much the same thing.

The launching of the highly anticipated Star Wars VII:The Force Awakens, the week before Christmas, has inspired him to join the two — the film and the holy day — to create a “Cosmic Christmas,” a  three-week series that explores common threads of that world “far, far away” and long, long ago and the stable in Bethlehem.

“We want to draw on the excitement surrounding Star Wars in order to reach more people and teach them about Christ in a way they’ve never heard before,” Lucas explained.

That brings in a rogue emperor, evil rebellion, miraculous birth and cosmic war behind the stars.

It is also fun.

“There are no rules that say church needs to be dry and boring, “ he said. “It’s okay to laugh and celebrate together while talking about Christmas. If that means characters in costume and dancing Stormtroopers, I’m all for it.”

The Cosmic Christmas series culminates on Christmas Eve with what the church calls an “out of this world” 60-minute cosmic experience.

Among the attractions:

New Jersey’s only live Star Wars Nativity scene, with costumed characters familiar to every kid and every parent (and grandparent).

Chewy.

Darth Santa. Children can sit on his knee and take a selfie.

Jolly Ol’ Stormtrooper elves.

Star Wars giveaways.

Film clips and music.

Guests will be invited to line up for an opportunity to wield a lightsaber with Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewy and R2D2.

The service will conclude with a message from Tim Lucas, telling the story of Jesus in an unexpected way.

Members believe Christmas Eve services will be the largest in church history, drawing some 7,000 people to 14 services at five church campuses.

In Morristown, Christmas Eve services will be held at the Hyatt Hotel at noon, 2 p.m. 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Those interested in attending can sign up by logging on to www.CosmicChristmas.com.

Before Christmas, Tim Lucas will make sure he is current with the George Lucas legacy. He’s got tickets for The Force Awakens already — on the very day it opens.

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