The Holiday Season, extending from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, is a time of joy and celebration for Christians and Jews. Both thank God for his protection and many blessings on Thanksgiving. Jews celebrate the cleansing and rededication of the Temple on Hanukkah. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas. Ancients in northern lands celebrated the turn of seasons when days begin to grow longer.

Even in times of joy, there are things which can bring pain and sorrow, even in a church and among its members. Some are seasonal, weather-related. Some are everyday threats to our well-being. The activities of celebration can bring their own hazards. Then there are those who come to steal our possessions, our joy, or even our lives.

Today, houses of worship face a unique set of safety and security challenges that weren't there just a few years ago. This video offers a look at those challenges and demonstrates how law enforcement, houses of worship, and other partners can work together to report suspicious behavior and raise security awareness, while forging positive relationships within the community.