The First United Methodist Church will begin its celebration of the Christmas season through song and theater.

The church will present the multi-generational musical A Rockin’ Royal Christmas on Friday and the performance is free to the public.

“It’s a story about King Herod believing that he is the king of everyone and he can’t understand why the three wise men have not come back to report to him,” said Trish McVay, children’s director at FUMC.

The story is appropriate for all ages and mixes in rock and jazz music with a unique way of telling the story of Jesus’ birth.

“Herod gets Sherlock Watson to help him figure out what is happening,” McVay explained. “The story combines the traditional tale with the future because Sherlock is able to go to his computer and do research.

McVay said the story and music are upbeat and the performance is “fun.” This is the fifth year FUMC has shared a Christmastime performance with the community.

“We’ve had people who have come to it for years who say this is what starts their Christmas,” McVay said. “It’s our service to the community.”

A Rockin’ Royal Christmas will be Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary at 213 North Three Notch Street.