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Park To Host Live Nativity |
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Monday, 23 November 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Local churches are preparing for the annual Christmas
celebration to be held in Memorial Park at the end of this month.
Living Hope Assembly of God and other churches have combined efforts to present a living nativity at the annual Winterfest celebration. Winterfest is held in Memorial Park and will be Sunday. The event is sponsored by the St. Marys Optimist Club. Performances of the living nativity will be held at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and will portray the story of the first Christmas.
"This is the second year at Winterfest but we have done it at Living Hope for 15 or 16 years," the Rev. Randy McKinney said of the event.
McKinney said moving the living nativity to Winterfest gets more community members involved and reaches more people.
"We just wanted to network more with the other area churches as well as to be a part of what is going on in the community in hopes that we would have a better opportunity to share the real meaning of Christmas with the entire community," McKinney said.
He said last year's nativity went well but is looking forward to the increased involvement.
"I think it went pretty well," McKinney said. "I feel much better about this year because we have participation from other area churches, which is really what we were after."
McKinney said he was pleased with the crowd last year but hopes this year's crowd will be larger for the performances.
He emphasized bringing back the true meaning of Christmas for all of those who are involved and choose to attend the event.
"The community gets back to the real reason we celebrate the season," McKinney said. "The volunteers, it's just a really neat fun time of fellowship as well as they would enjoy participating and communicating and comprehending the message to a great degree because of their involvement."
There are approximately six local churches that help with the nativity scene. The nativity scene also features a number of animals being brought in to the park for the event.
"We will have five camels, a donkey and probably a half dozen sheep," McKinney said. "Maybe a couple of llamas, we will have plenty of animals."
Along with the animals, 35 to 50 volunteers have offered time to help with the event.
There will also be volunteers staffing a hospitality trailers, where free hot chocolate and cookies will be handed out to participants.
He said there are multiple benefits that come from the event both for the community members and those participating in the scene.
"Of course the community churches are united and we are trying to communicate the same thing," McKinney said. "The true meaning of Christmas, we are living in a day and time when the true meaning of Christmas is being misplaced among all of the commercialism."
Winterfest Chair Julia Haehn agreed with McKinney and said the event went well last year with a big crowd.
"Last year's was absolutely wonderful, we had the most wonderful array of performers and live nativity the fellowship of churches put on the performance was beautiful," Haehn said.
She said the Optimists will be ready with the hot chocolate and added that Santa and his elves will be there. Those in attendance will also be entertained by local talent.
"We have performers lined up, the Memorial High School show choir, Glitter n' Gold will perform and the live nativity with live animals," Haehn said.
Haehn said she hopes those who attend the event enjoy the evening and all that it has to offer.
"I hear from everyone how much they appreciate it and how much they enjoy the performances, nativity and everything we do for them," Haehn said. "I am hoping for some nice weather, the nice weather brings out the big crowd."
Santa will arrive at 6:30 p.m. and the elves will be available to twist balloons for the children. Millers Brothers will also be in attendance.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 December 2009 )
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