By Angela S. Hale
First United Methodist Church of Hartselle will host it’s first annual “Live Nativity” on December 9-10 from 4-7 p.m. Costumed actors posted in fixed positions will represent the characters in the Nativity stories from the Gospels allowing passersby to “Experience the Story of Jesus.”
A camel with at least one Wise Man will be on hand as a guide to local residents as they enjoy the different planned activities set up all over the church. There will be a petting zoo, refreshments, and even a collection of photographs of angels and nativitys on display enhanced by old, yet familiar carols as they play.
The Rev. Robert Sparkman, pastor at First United Methodist of Hartselle, said he collected every photo of angels he could find over the past few months. My prayer is: “If the Lord is willing, these pictures will give a sense of the way angels have been pictured over the years.
“I am reminded of a story told of a little girl who was drawing a picture of an angel,” Sparkman said. “Her mother said, “You know, they don’t really know what angels look like”. The little girl said, “Well they will when I am finished with this picture.”
Sparkman said, “We hope people will come and let us make them feel welcome.”
There are many other activities set for the two-day event. The list includes the singing of carols by the adult choir; performances by the adult and children’s bell choirs; and bands and other groups will also be on hand to entertain visitors with music of the season. There will be reverent and prayerful music in the sanctuary, and beautiful music in the ministry center to accompany the refreshments.
“We will have all of this and more,” Sparkman added.
The idea for the Live Nativity came from church members who were wanting to enrich the real experience of Christmas in the whole area, said Sparkman. “They especially wanted to touch the lives of children giving them something to remember besides Santa Claus and presents, as nice as those memories are!”
Sparkman said early on, the plan was to have a petting zoo with animals which might have been at the birth of Jesus such as sheep, camels, donkeys and others. Then the decision came to do a live nativity with people and animals. Next came the idea to give the people who came hot chocolate and a cookie while Christmas music was being played. The ideas just kept flowing from there, he continued.
“Some church members are beginning to wonder if the whole thing has gotten out of hand,” he chuckled. “But plans are being made, refined, and the church is still planning for a tremendous experience.”
Guests are invited to park in either of the parking lots or downtown, and walk around the church to “Experience the Story of Jesus”. Each night starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. There is no charge for the event and everyone is invited to participate.
The church is located on 210 Hickory Street SE in downtown Hartselle. For more information iabout the Live Nativity, call the church office at 256.773.6952.
“We truly are trying to deepen the experience of Christmas, especially for children and families,” Sparkman concluded. “Maybe we can experience and learn more about the events of the birth of Jesus in our own way, here in Hartselle.”