The debut and blessing of a new outdoor Nativity scene Sunday will mark the beginning of a yearlong celebration of St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church's 200th anniversary.

The pastor of the church at 201 W. Jefferson St. for the past six years, the Rev. Dr. Alden Towberman, said the blessing of the 12-piece scene will take place at the end of the 10:15 a.m. service.

He said the pieces will be carried outside by members of the church's 2013 confirmation class after the last hymn of the service. The class will follow a processional cross to where the scene will be installed at the intersection of Jefferson and Washington streets in front of the church's main directory board.

“The new outdoor Nativity scene will be placed outside the church to announce the meaning of Christmas to the community, and that's part of St. Mark's heritage: to spread God's word and share the gift of God's son with the Butler community as we have for 200 years,” said Towberman.

“Members have volunteered labor and materials to build a creche,” said Vonnie Neigh, co-chairman of the 18-member 200th anniversary committee which has been planning the celebration since June.

Towberman said the figures from A.T. Merhaut Church Restoration and Supply of Allison Park cost $5,000 and were paid for by congregation donations.

The old Nativity scene had various pieces that had been damaged by weather or vandals or had been stolen, said Towberman.

“I took one of the camels home in my station wagon once,” said Neigh. “I had done some of the repair work on several of the pieces.”

Neigh is a lifelong member of the church whose father, Filbert G. Yost, was treasurer for St. Mark's for 48 years

“She is part of the generation that felt family and church was your life,” said Towberman.

She is one of St. Mark's 1,450 baptized members, said Towberman, a vast increase over the original 13 families who formed the church in 1813.

Neigh said the church began in 1813 in Butler, and its original location was on McKean Street behind the present day post office. Towberman said the congregation had its first service on Aug. 29, 1813.

Neigh said the English Lutheran Church was created when St. Mark members split off because they wanted church services conducted in English.

Towberman said the church moved to its present location in 1878.

Schramm Hall, named after St. Mark's pastor William Schramm, was dedicated in 1927. Ground was broken for the present sanctuary on April 13, 1952. It was dedicated on April 4, 1954, an event that drew between 5,000 and 10,000 visitors to an open house.

“We are about much more than buildings,” said Towberman. “Buildings allow us to accomplish the mission of the church, which is to spread the Gospel.”

A second December event commemorating the anniversary will be Dec. 16, when a play, “Chris-Myth Busters” will be performed during the 10:15 a.m. service.

“There's a lot of really neat things happening,” said Neigh. “One of the Christmas Eve services will have hymns sung in German.”

“At the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service,” said Towberman. “We will follow the German order of worship, as well as have special music sung in German similar to what would have been held at St. Mark's in the mid-1800s.”

“The doors are open all year round to the community,” said Neigh, noting that as a downtown church St. Mark gets a lot of drop-in visitors to services and many members began coming to Sunday school classes without parental affiliation. “I've seen the kids grow up and keep coming,” she said.

Towberman said some of the events, such as an upcoming soup sale or bell ringers concert, will raise money for church projects: Katie's Kitchen, started in 1994, feeds an average of 165 every Thursday night; Lutheran Senior Life, which runs residential and retirement homes in Mars and Zelienople; and Glade Run Youth Services, which provides counseling and residential care for troubled adolescents.

In honor of the 200th year of the church, Towberman said, “We are starting a scholarship fund for men and women of the congregation who will be preparing to enter the ministry. We are raising up pastors.”

“It is not ultimately about us,” said Towberman. “It is the opportunity and responsibility that God has given us to share his blessings with others.”

■ Jan. 20, — “Youth Sunday Bash” Love offering to benefi t Glade Run Youth Services■ Feb. 9-10 — “Souper Bowl Sunday” soup sale with proceeds going to Lutheran Senior Life■ March 15 — 7 p.m. organ recital and program by Mark Pacoe■ April 21 — 4 p.m. Tri Rivers Bell Ringers concert■ May 5 — “Circle of Friends” Chorale concert; proceeds benefit Katie’s Kitchen■ June 14 — 7 p.m. Trinity Jazz Group concert with music to honor veterans and the armed forces■ July 21 — Craft, talent and hobby show and ice cream social■ Aug. 24 — Church picnic■ Sept. 22 — “Window walk/organ concert”■ Oct. 12-13 — David Barnhart program: “Lutheranism in America — Peter Muhlenberg”■ Nov. 2-3 — Anniversary festival services with Bishop John Bradosky.Closing banquet with former pastors on Saturday evening.