No Ordinary Noel

The feisty members of the Crossing Over Sanctuary church are stunned when the Cheater Brothers and the Piece of Savings Bank call in a loan. Unless Rev. Leotis Tom finds several million dollars, the church loses the land that would have housed several facilities. In a Christmas miracle, Freddie Noel offers $25 million from his lottery winnings, but the antigambling minister rejects the gift. The characters (with names like Sasha Pray Onn and Knott Enuff Money) are slapstick funny in this otherwise heavy-handed meditation on Acts 10:9–15, and the sermon on good neighbors and blessings in disguise comes just in time for Christmas. (Oct.)