New-look Nativity
PORTERSVILLE — The Presbyterian Church of Portersville's eighth annual live Nativity was different from the previous seven.
Although religious gatherings are exempt from the latest business closings, capacity and public gathering restrictions ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf, the church decided to play it safe this year and hold a drive-through live Nativity instead of the live Nativity usually held at the church.
The drive-through was held at Hinds Auto Repair to take advantage of the circular driveway at the business that allows vehicles to pull in, look at the actors re-creating the manger scene and then exit back onto Route 19.
The Rev. Dana Opp said the church considered proceeding with the usual live scene at the church until Wolf ordered the new restrictions Thursday. The message of the Nativity is the same regardless of where it is held, he said.“We hope to give the community a little glimmer of hope in the birthday of Jesus Christ,” Opp said.He said eight church members volunteered to be actors for the Nativity and other volunteers helped direct traffic and handed out snacks.The live Nativity was open from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday. Two sessions were scheduled for Sunday. A children's Nativity with children from the church serving as actors was held from 5 to 6 p.m. and the adults held another from 6 to 7 p.m.Opp said it is important to include children in church events and activities.“They're not the Christians of tomorrow, They are the Christians of today. They should take that to heart,” he said.
A church elder suggested holding the Nativity somewhere convenient so the church reached out to shop owner Susan Hinds.“They asked because I have a big lot right on the highway,” Hinds said.She quickly agreed to host the Nativity as a small token of gratitude for the help and support the community showed for her business when it needed it the most.Susan and her late husband, Dale Hinds, had a small garage “out in the country” before they opened the shop in 1988.A fire destroyed the building and a benefit dinner organized by the community raised more than $7,000 to help the Hinds rebuild.They built and opened a new four-bay garage, which Susan kept running after her husband's death.Residents help them with some of the work and donated building materials, she said.“The community came together for us. It was really nice,” Hinds said. “The community has been real good to us, and I'm a Christian lady. I thought it was a Christian thing to do. I said 'sure'” Hinds said.Among the people who came to see the Nativity were John and Darlene Beachem of Portersville.“It's nice to have it in the community,” Darlene Beachem said.“It's nice. We had a good time. I enjoyed it,” John Beachem said.
