North Point's staff clapped as Charles walked up to the stage. He wore a suit coat, but no tie.

Andy gently placed his hand on his father's shoulder and helped him adjust a microphone.

"You got it?" he said.

His father nodded. "OK. Thank you."

Charles sat down before his new congregation with a huge grin. Fat gift boxes wrapped with red and green ribbons were stacked behind him. Charles' velvet baritone echoed through the hushed sanctuary.

Christmas is about memories, he said, and one of his best memories came when he was 5 years old. That was when he got his first electric train set, which he kept until he finished college.

"I couldn't wait for Andy to grow up a little bit so I could buy him one," Charles said.

That moment arrived on Andy's fourth Christmas. As Charles assembled the train set, he explained to his son how the engine worked.

"We were putting the tracks together and Andy said, 'Daddy, did Santa Claus bring you this train or did he bring it to me?' "

The congregation erupted in laughter, and Charles laughed so hard that he momentarily choked over his next words.

"So, we're both enjoying it immensely, believe me," he finally added.

Charles finished his story, then asked the congregation to bow their heads and close their eyes as he led them in prayer. He quoted a passage from the Gospel account of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples.

It's a familiar passage for many Christians: Jesus opened his Last Supper with a warning that someone close would betray him, and ended it by extending his forgiveness.

Charles and Andy bowed their heads to pray, and then father and son broke bread together.