CHRISTMAS EVENT
A tradition to honor the true meaning of Christmas is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend with the Live Drive Thru Nativity presented by Gray United Methodist Church.
The dates for the Nativity are Dec. 9-11 from 6-9 p.m., weather permitting. Those wishing to view the nativity should drive to the W.E. Knox Civic Center (the former Jones County High School building) and follow the signs.
The coordinator of the event, Richelle Hinson, said the theme of this year’s Nativity is “His Praise Goes On,” celebrating 20 years. She said the purpose of the Drive Thru Nativity is to bring to life the miracle of Jesus’s birth.
Hinson said to celebrate the anniversary, the church hosted a unique event this past Sunday, a luncheon inviting all the past baby Jesuses. She estimated that over the years there have been approximately 120 infants in the role.
“There is always a live baby in the manger, and it’s usually from the congregation,” she said.
The event draws thousands the three nights its open, from the Gray and Jones County community and beyond.
Hinson said at least 75 volunteers are needed to put on the Live Nativity every night that includes traffic control, meals and childcare, which is in addition to the actors in the scenes.
Hinson said preparation for the event begins in August. The buildings for the scenes are constructed the weekend before the Nativity.
Members of Gray United Methodist Church started the Live Nativity in 2002 to remind the community of the true meaning of Christmas. Volunteers construct a 120-foot wall at the front of the city of Bethlehem to add to the realism of the experience.
The scenes start at an entry gate to see Caesar Augustus issuing a decree that ‘all the world should be taxed.’ The journey takes spectators through scenes of Bethlehem as it would have looked during the time of Jesus’s birth.
In addition to the Christmas story, two scenes included in the live nativity are not normally associated with the Christmas story. The scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection were added in 2005.
Hinson said she recently found an article about the history of the first nativity scene and was interested in the similarities of that event and the Drive Thru Nativity, including asking for hay donations and borrowing people’s animals.
The article stated St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, began the Christmas tradition of nativity scene in 1223 in the town of Greccio, Italy, because he wanted to help people gain a fresh sense of wonder aboutthe miraclesthatthe Biblerecords from the first Christmas.
Before that, the event was celebrated by going to Mass that was mostly in Latin and not understood by most ordinary people. Francis asked a close friend to loan him some animals and straw to set up a scene there to representJesus Christ’sbirth inBethlehem. His idea was to help people in the area imagine what it may have been like to be present on the first Christmas.
