Tradition of living Nativity continues

Last year, a sheep and shepherds hear from an angel the good news -- the Christ child is born in Bethlehem, before a wilderness scene painted by Alice Stevenson, that's been used each year as part of a living Nativity presented by the First Christian Church of Nevada. This year's event will be on Saturday, Dec. 2, 6:30-8 p.m.

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

For several years, now, one night a year a light has shown through the dark, cold, dreary night on a humble scene, where people in robes huddle with animals before a manger where lies a baby -- it's a live recreation of the Nativity, conducted each year by the First Christian Church of Nevada.

This scene, shown here unobstructed by actors, is the only one of several prepared more than 10 years ago that will be reused this year. The calligraphy was written by Ernie Bernhardt.

Church secretary Ellen Balk laughingly jokes, "We always choose the coldest night of the year to do it."

Historically, the weather has been cold and dreary.

"We've been rained out a few times, and we've had to call it a night early a few times," Balk said, but dedicated congregationists brave the cold and elements to act out a message of joy, love and salvation for anyone who passes by the drive-through display.

"It's our gift to the community," Balk said. It's free, and donations aren't requested.

The church's evangelism committee coordinates the efforts of several members of the congregation, who work together to make it happen.

Many participate, in one way or another, year after year, Balk said.

Local artist Alice Stevenson is one of them. She painted the scenery for the backdrops in October 1995, after her husband died.

"I painted these on my knees, in the floor of an upstairs room," at the First Christian Church of Nevada. The effort took six weeks. Painted-on shelving, pots, sand dunes and building diminishing into the distance create an impressive 3-D effect on the panels. "How I got that effect without standing up on a ladder and looking down on it, I don't know," Stevenson said.

Side panels are 5 feet long, and the main panels are 15 feet long, making individual scenes 25 feet in all. There's a "no room at the inn" exterior view of the inn where the biblical Joseph and Mary were turned away, a wilderness scene where shepherds seek Jesus, a Bethlehem scene and more. The manger scene is constructed from square straw bales.

Just one of the backdrops will be used this year, and Stevenson said there'd be a small amount of movement choreographed into the presentation, which will be done in a "flowing, worshipful, respectful way," as viewers drive past the display.

A sheep and a donkey will play supporting roles alongside the human actors.

Volunteers from the congregation create the costumes, recruit actors and help set up the event.

"Our children really enjoy doing this. It's a fun way to get them involved," Balk said. Volunteers also provide supper for the actors and hot chocolate if it's cold -- which, if the forecast is correct, the weather will once again be formidable. So, to make sure no one's exposed to the cold for too long, actors rotate in and out of the scene at 30 minute intervals.

"Our angels, who get up there and shine the light on the baby Jesus are in the wind. It's bitterly cold up there," Balk said.

The tradition continues this year, on Dec. 2 when the church will host the drive-through live Nativity, 6:30-8:30 p.m., in the lot just off Cedar and Austin, behind the former Aldi building, Nevada.

Admission is free.