Concordia live Nativity celebrates the season
WINFIELD TWP — Concordia Lutheran Ministries’ live Nativity went above and beyond with performances filled with singing and live animals at the Cabot retirement home.
Concordia hosted its 11th annual live Nativity Sunday, Dec. 8, with a range of Christmas celebrations, such as multiple Nativity performances with live animals, chorus performances in between shows, and pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The live Nativity event, in addition from entertaining community members, was held to support food pantry needs of the Lighthouse Foundation.
“Concordia is a faith-based organization. To us, this is an important part of our mission. Part of our mission is not just to care for people in their homes or in our buildings, but it’s to care for people spiritually. This is something that we think is important to do for the community, and it’s a great way to share the reason for the season,” said Frank Skrip, Concordia’s director of public relations.
The Nativity held three shows, coincidentally one each for the evening, dusk and nighttime. While a narrator read Bible chapters and verses about the birth of Jesus Christ, a group of men dressed as the three wise men walked toward the Nativity with a live camel. At the Nativity they greeted Mary and Joseph.
The crowd of community members, Concordia residents and their families were encouraged to sing along to recordings over the speaker system of “O’ Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Joy to the World,” as they celebrated the story of Jesus’ birth.
Following the performance, children were able to pet the animals at the petting zoo; several lambs, an alpaca and a donkey were present along with the camel for the children.
In between the Nativity performances, while guests went inside and enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate, multiple choruses performed. The first two shows were performed by the third- and fourth-graders of St. Luke’s Lutheran School in Cabot and students from Redeemer Lutheran School in Oakmont. In the third show, the Pittsburgh Lutheran Chorus, made up of members from various Lutheran churches in Western Pennsylvania, sang songs such as “Hark the Herald Angel Sings,” and “Silent Night.”
Ruth Miller, director of the Pittsburgh Lutheran Chorus, said the group used to do more performances, and after becoming inactive, has been revamped in recent years. It does multiple events with Concordia Lutheran Ministries.
“It’s really great when we come here,” Miller said. “We have done different Concordia events and they always seem to like it here when we sing.”
Concordia’s Cabot location is split up into multiple “havens” where residents live with a dining hall, library, chapel and other resources. With the live Nativity in the central parking lot, family member and members of the community were able to join them in celebration.
“Since it’s happening in a nursing home, it’s really easy for the people where it’s hard to get out, they can come down for all of these events. And watching them smile when they see everything. Some of them are part of the Nativity. And they’re the people we interact with on a daily basis,” said Amelia Smith, an employee at Concordia.
Skrip noted the event was a “family affair,” with Concordia staff, residents and family members participating, either dressing in character as cast for the Nativity performance or assisting guests around the event, all while dressed as shepherds and angels.
“We’re so happy to have the community involved. We love to get the residents involved.” Skrip said.
This live Nativity was not the first time Concordia has worked with the Lighthouse Foundation to help collect for its food pantry. The foundation is a Christian outreach organization that aids impoverished individuals and families in Butler and northern Allegheny Counties. Food donations were accepted at the event.
The event, while bringing community together, let residents enjoy themselves while celebrating the holiday.
“One of my favorite parts was not only seeing people from all of the havens, but seeing the petting zoo with the animals, and seeing the little kids singing and running around, everybody is enjoying themselves,” Mia Grolemund, another Concordia employee, said.
