Volunteers from Honey Creek United Methodist Church in Greenwood portray the different characters from the Christmas story.
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Just as the star guided the Wise Men to Bethlehem to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, a celestial light will hopefully bring people to a Greenwood church this weekend.
The bluish beam, shooting straight up into the sky, marks the return of the live Nativity at Honey Creek United Methodist Church.
The church, located at 2722 S. Honey Creek Road, Greenwood, will host the annual live Nativity from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visitors can drive through and see live animals and local residents portraying the first manger scene outdoors, before moving inside the church to warm up with cookies, cocoa and other sweet treats.
A display of Nativity scenes will also be set up for people to enjoy.
“It’s one way we can put a little balance into the season, with the commercial side. This is a dedicated moment where people can come and reflect on the Nativity story,” said Doug Bohall, pastor at Honey Creek. “People tend to stand there and soak in it a little bit. It gives a reset to the commercialism of Christmas.”
The image of Jesus Christ lying in the manger, surrounded by Mary and Joseph among the cows, sheep, lambs and other barnyard animals, is one of the core images of Christmastime.
For nearly 15 years, the Honey Creek congregation has put hours into bringing that scene to life each December.
The church’s live Nativity tradition started in 2010, as church members have volunteered to play the role of the Holy Family, the Wise Men, shepherds and an angel each holiday season. Live animals have always been a part of the display, helping to make the scene more authentic, Bohall said.
Between 40 to 50 people volunteer for the Nativity, not only playing roles in the live scene but passing out cookies and candy to people in attendance, Bohall said.
Preparing the Nativity scene starts in mid-October, as organizers work to find volunteers and organize shifts to guide visitors through the display during the two-night event. People give their time to put the manger together and making costumes.
A few years ago, the church also debuted the powerful floodlight, which is set up behind the Nativity and adds to the atmosphere of the extraordinary that surrounds the Christmas story.
“It looks like lights are coming down from the sky to the manger,” Bohall said.
