County church officials hope local residents rediscover the meaning of Christmas by attending live nativities this weekend and next.
Honey Creek United Methodist Church in the Center Grove area and Providence Christian Church in Bargersville will kick things off with live nativities, featuring dozens of volunteers, today. First Baptist Church in Greenwood will put on a show next weekend.
Live nativities take months and months of planning. At Honey Creek church, it takes even more planning because it includes live animals.
Along with churchgoing volunteers dressing as Mary, Joseph, the three wise men and two angels next to the manger, Honey Creek will also have two or three goats and a pony, said Don Bunch, the church’s lay leader.
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“They love it; the little kids love seeing the animals,” Bunch said.
This year’s nativity at Honey Creek will be its seventh, and although past events have covered two nights, the church has decided to limit the nativity to one night this year because December often brings inclement weather, Bunch said.
Honey Creek’s live nativities have been visited by as many as 300 people in one year. As is the case at other Johnson County nativities, people can drive slowly past the scene or get out of their cars and take pictures. The 20 volunteers include about five churchgoers, greeting people who come inside the church for hot chocolate and cookies, a rotation of people who will dress up for the nativity, and someone who will tell the story of Jesus through loud speakers, Bunch said.
Seeing children at a nativity for the first time makes organizing the shows rewarding, Bunch said.
“Watching the children, it does something to you when you see it. It brings out what the season’s for. One year, we had a grandparent and grandchildren who lived in California. The children had never seen a nativity. The little girl was scared to death and her grandfather was trying to tell her the story of Jesus in the manger,” Bunch said.
“When they came back, the little girl was carrying a baby doll and she wanted to show baby Jesus her baby doll. That’s why we do what we do.”
At Providence Christian Church, about 30 volunteers will help put on the live nativity, which will include not only people dressed as Joseph, Mary, angels, the three wise men and shepherds, but a choir will sing Christmas carols as passers-by visit the nativity. Like Honey Creek, people who venture inside can treat themselves to hot cocoa and cookies, said Julie Burton, who is part of the church’s worship committee.
“We welcome people coming out of their cars and taking pictures,” Burton said. “I enjoy seeing the children dress up (in the nativity scene). It helps them know the reason we celebrate Christmas. As much for the people who take part as for the people who drive through and see it, this has a meaning for us.”
Church officials at First Baptist Church of Greenwood have been preparing for their live nativity since September. The church, which has produced nativities each year for the past decade, is the busiest of the three, with as many as 500 cars visiting, church volunteer Ron Bray said.
A core group of 10 to 12 volunteers help with the nativity, along with people who are able to lend a hand when help is needed, he said.
“We want to make it look as authentic as we can,” Bray said. “A couple years ago, I said, ‘If one person comes through, that’ll do it for me.’ A lot of people don’t stop to think about what Christmas is really about.”
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If holiday lights are more your speed, check out these local light shows:
1. 1050 Canary Creek Drive, Franklin
2. 1223 Easton Point Drive, Greenwood
3. 1250 Niagara Lane, Franklin
4. 1000 block of Royal Oaks Court, Greenwood
5. 3199 Tecumseh Way, Bargersville
6. 485 Grey Oak Lane, Greenwood
7. 51 South Middle Street, Greenwood
8. 597 Mallory Parkway, Franklin
9. 5993 Darlene Drive, Greenwood
10. 786 South Runyon Road, Greenwood
11. 1247 S. Runyon Road, Greenwood
12. 1663 Morgantown Road, Greenwood
13. 6211 N. 500 E., Franklin
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‘Tis the season for live nativities. Here is a rundown of some local churches that are putting them on:
Providence Christian Church, 4080 W Rd 100 N, Bargersville, today, 5 to 7 p.m. today;
Honey Creek United Methodist Church, 2722 S. Honey Creek Rd., Greenwood, 6 to 9 p.m. today;
First Baptist Church of Greenwood, 99 West Main Street, Greenwood, 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 20.
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