Unity Through the Nativity

Friday, December 15

Private showings for small school or church groups can be arranged from 3:00-5:00pm. Opens to the public at 5:30 PM

Saturday December 16 

3:30 PM  Christmas Piano Concert

5:00 PM  Live Band “It Takes a Village”

Bonfire, Carols, Photo Ops, Hot Chocolate, Christmas Cookies

St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first live nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio, Italy. He wanted to place the emphasis of the season on Christ rather than on material things.

Live nativity scenes became hugely popular and their use spread throughout Christian denominations and countries. Eventually, statues replaced human and animal participants and static scenes grew in popularity. By the end of the 19th century, nativity scenes were widely displayed in churches and homes. They were made in various sizes and from various materials with different cultural traditions.

Almost always the scene included an image of the Christ Child in a manger, his Mother, Mary, and her husband, Joseph. Other characters may have included shepherds, sheep, angels, the star of Bethlehem, a donkey and an ox and the wise men and their camels. Some cultures do not place the Christ Child in the manger until Christmas morning and some do not add the wise men, Magi, until the week after Christmas Day.

The ox traditionally represented patience, the nation of Israel, and the Old Testament. The donkey represented humility, readiness to serve, and the Gentiles.