Reason for the Season Live Nativities inspire community, presenters
There's just something about a sweet, pink-cheeked baby portraying baby Jesus.
“It reinforces what the season is all about,” said Janet Black of Nixon United Methodist Church in Penn Township.
“The children really enjoy coming through to see all the stories they read and hear. This shows visually what it might have been like.”
Black has been working the church's living Nativity for all of its 21 years.
She said the church's Nativity is different because viewers watch the performance from the comfort of their vehicles. But this is not a drive-in movie.
Those visiting the Nativity on Dec. 14 and 15 will start at the entrance to the lower parking lot, then travel through six scenes depicting events leading up to the birth of Christ.
The scenes show biblical moments such as Mary and Joseph's conversation with the innkeeper and the three wise men, among others.
Black said lights are placed along the path drivers should take, leading the way to seventh and final scene, the Nativity.
“Sometimes you see families come through and the kids are in their pajamas because they don't get out of the car,” Black said.
The production takes a lot of work to prepare. She said church members, volunteers and Boy Scouts who call the church home, all assist in set up and break down of the event.
“It is definitely a church-wide activity,” she said.
The production also has help from Reichhold Farms in Penn Township, which lets the church borrow some animals to help set the scene.
Black said the church's unique drive-by Nativity has garnered more than 17,000 views on their Facebook advertisements so far this year. Some people come from an hour away to see the Nativity, she said.“I know there are families who have made it a tradition here in Penn Township and around. It sort of starts their Christmas,” Black said. “There have been times where people have driven through numerous times. They'll just get back in line and come around again.”Walking the storyA group of senior citizens in the county traditionally helps put on their own live Nativity that lets warmly dressed community members experience the story on foot.“It adds a new dimension to the story, to bring to life what is written in the Bible,” said Connor Hagey, organizer of the live Nativity at Concordia Lutheran Ministries.Hagey, who is also director of retirement living for Concordia, said a live Nativity is a great way to experience the story. The group puts on three, 15-minute performances that patrons walk through and then join inside for Christmas music and refreshments.“People can actually see Mary and Joseph,” he said.Concordia's production, which will be Dec. 15 in front of Haven II on the Concordia at Cabot campus, has a lot of staff involvement with some returning for multiple years.“We're very fortunate that a lot of our staff volunteer for this Nativity,” Hagey said. “They have a good idea of what their parts are and what they're expected to do.”
Hagey said residents also will find ways to support the Nativity, even if it doesn't include acting.“I really have residents who help out with any number of things,” Hagey said. “Anytime we can incorporate residents into the Nativity, it really just adds to the value of the event here at Concordia.”Usually for Concordia's Nativity, the actors are silent as a narrator guides the action verse by verse.“Our script is pretty much taken directly from scripture,” Hagey said.The actors along with live animals, which typically come from Barnyard Petting Zoo of Eighty-Four, Washington County, huddle around a handmade wooden manger, crafted by volunteers.“We have a lot of staff and a lot of residents who are handy in the wood shop,” he said.Hagey said Concordia owns two mangers, one for the Nativity and another filled with a traditional Nativity scene that sits on the corner of the property along Route 356.“Any time we have an opportunity to put on our property in a visual way of depicting the Bible is a positive thing,” Hagey said.
WHAT: Concordia at Cabot Live NativityWHEN: 15-minute, walk- through shows at 4:30 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 15WHERE: In front of Haven II on the Concordia at Cabot campusNOTES: Between performances, there will be live Christmas music, hot chocolate and refreshments inside the Haven II building. Children 12 and younger will receive a free gift and have a chance to interact with some of the animals. Santa will also attend and be available for photographs.
WHAT: Drive-through live NativityWHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15WHERE: Nixon United Methodist Church, 334 Airport RoadNOTES: Donations of canned goods to benefit the South Butler Community Food Bank and monetary donations to defray costs of putting on the display will be accepted.
