The Garden City Telegram
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Church acts out Christmas story
Published 12/21/2009 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
The star shined bright above a makeshift stable Sunday night in the front of First United Methodist Church, 1106 N. Main St., where young actors playing shepherds, three wise men, a group of angels, and Mary and Joseph came together to represent the story of the baby Jesus.
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Laurie Sisk/Telegram Members of the First United Methodist Church act out the Living Nativity on Sunday night at the church.
The live nativity, in its 52nd year, was started by Bernadine Sitts.
Congregation members rotated the roles of Mary and Joseph, three wise men, a few shepherds, a stable boy and the angels throughout the night. The performances told the account of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth as a live nativity, a story central to the Christian celebration of Christmas.
Saturday and Sunday featured five performances from 6:30 to 7:50 p.m.
A choir from inside of the church sang carols to help tell the story, along with a narrator. A crowd of about 50 people, who drank hot chocolate and ate warm cookies sat on hay bales in front or stood behind to watch the show.
Dave Brust, his wife, Megan, and son Jeremiah, 6, sat on hay bales and sipped hot chocolate. During "Silent Night," Jeremiah took a break from the cookie he was eating and gave both of his parents a hug.
After the performance Jeremiah said his favorite part of the evening was the hot chocolate and cookies.
Megan said she enjoyed watching the young actors tell the story of Jesus.
"The angels and shepherds were adorable," she said.
Ann Myers, the Christian education director, stood just inside the side door to the church before the last performance Sunday evening, making sure she had all the performers needed for the next performance.
Myers has been involved in the living nativity, she said, in some way, since 1980.
She said she enjoys being a part of the organizing of the event, and when it all comes together, it's a great tradition to enjoy.
Myers said a lot of times each performance doesn't go exactly as planned, or events come up and performers in the choir or in the nativity scene have to leave or don't make it.
"After this many years, you just learn to be flexible," she said.
Inside the church, Alie Hernandez, 2, took off her angel wings and enjoyed a cookie.
Her mother, Mallory Hernandez, a Garden City native, was involved in the live nativity when she was young. She enjoyed watching Alie and her son Reese, 4, participate in the live nativity. Reese acted out the part of a shepherd. Her youngest, Troy, 1, was in a stroller during the performance. Hernandez said she would "enlist" Troy when he was old enough.
"It's a family affair," Hernandez said.
She said the live nativity helps her get into the holiday spirit, and brings back memories of her youth. Hernandez said she participated every year since "about Alie's age."
"It definitely feels like Christmas," she said.
Hernandez said the live nativity reminds children that there's something to look forward to during the holidays, not just the gifts.
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