One of the most magical signs of Christmas as well as the reason for the season can be found in the image of the scene of the birth of Jesus.
“The Live Nativity is our gift to the community, reminding ourselves and others of the true meaning of Christmas,” said Rev. John Dove, senior pastor of Hambden Congregational Church.
The 14th annual Live Nativity Scene will be presented from 58 p.m. Dec. 12 at Hambden Congregational Church at 13840 GAR Highway, across the street from Hambden Elementary School.
“The event is special and embodies the spirit of Christmas because Jesus Christ is the Spirit of Christmas,” said Sharon Pilarczyk, church organizer of the event. “It’s the way we celebrate the birth of our savior, the reason all Christians have hope for eternal life.”
Each year, the church attempts to make the Christmas story “new, clear and relevant to our visitors’ needs,” Dove said.
“We hope to touch each heart in a truly meaningful way,” he said. “This year, our theme centers on the gifts of the wise men to the Christ child.”
The event is not only outside, but inside, as well.
“Free refreshments and a craft table for kids will be in our Community Hall and beautifully displayed nativity sets will be displayed in the sanctuary,” Pilarczyk added.
The live nativity presents the imagery outside in the elements, with animals in a situation similar to Christ’s birthplace.
“Everyone gets excited to see a huge, live, beautiful camel and other animals,” church member Gloria Koritansky said. “Many folks are drawn to the event when they see the camel.”
Saint Francis of Assisi staged the first nativity scene and has been said to have appeared about 800 years ago and more than 1,200 years after the birth of Christ in a cave outside of the town of Greccio, Italy on Christmas Eve.
It is documented Saint Francis was inspired to re-create the nativity scene because he was disgusted with the greed and materialism in Italy at the time, and felt people had forgotten Jesus came to people not as a rich king, but as a poor child.
“I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by,” Saint Francis wrote to his friend Giovanni.
And so the tradition continues in Hambden, with church members signing up to volunteer year after year, making the live nativity a popular event.
“My family and I are among the first to sign up every year,” Michelle Rodriquez said. “We like helping out because it is a ministry of our church, but even more than that, it helps us get into the spirit of the holiday.
“On the night of the event, my oldest son, Tyler, is usually a wise man; my second son, Joel, is a shepherd along with my youngest son, Evan. My daughter, Julia, takes a shift as an angel. Sometimes my husband, Rob, can be seen donning a shepherd’s robe as well.”
She added, “It’s a nice chance for my family and I to give back to others and help spread holiday cheer.”
Inside the church this year, the Magi will tell why they brought gifts to the Christ child and why God gave mankind the gift of His Son.
Koritansky added that although they do not have an exact attendance for last year’s event, they served 400 hot dogs, and many gallons of chili and chicken soup, even though many visitors do not stop in to eat.
“I hope visitors learn there is more to Christmas than shopping and baking cookies,” Pilarczyk said. “Christmas should not be a time to stress, but a time to reflect on the most holy of nights. I would love to know that visitors leave our live nativity having felt welcomed and assured of hope in Jesus Christ.”