Local church prepares for annual living nativity
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on December 19, 2014 1:46 PM
The First Pentecostal Holiness Church is transporting visitors to Bethlehem this Sunday. The church will host a living nativity scene on the front lawn in celebration of the season.
The nativity is a tableau of the manger with living actors and animals.
This is the first year the church is doing a living nativity. From 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., visitors can observe the scene outside the church.
However, during the 9 a.m. and 10:45 services, the nativity is going indoors to become part of the worship.
"The service is woven together, like a show," said Pastor Bill Rose. "We're always adding new things."
Camels, sheep, donkeys, baby goats, miniature cows and a llama will join Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds and wise men outside the church. Rose said it is not a show so much as a living photograph.
Rose urges the public to join the celebration. He says photography is welcome at the living nativity. He expects 1,400 people between the two services.
"It's a big celebration," he said.
The manger was built by the Kingdom Builders, a group of retired men. The manger was constructed by Jack Ezzell, Jim Daughtry and Herb Anderson. The building was built from a picture on the Internet.
"Everybody has a talent," Ezzell said. "The choir girls sound beautiful. This is what we do."
The group often builds ceiling-to-floor sets for the choir musicals or 15-food hand-painted crosses.
"If you're going to do it, do it right," Anderson said.
"Last year, Mary rode down the aisle on a donkey," Daughtry said.
The church is continuing its Christmas celebrations on Tuesday with a turkey giveaway to families in need.
"We're giving away 350 meals to anybody that needs it," Rose said.
The giveaway starts at 8 a.m. and includes a turkey and side dishes.