Willow Street Mennonite Church, 399 E. Penn Grant Road, Willow Street, will present a live Nativity on Saturday, Dec. 16; Sunday, Dec. 17; and Sunday, Dec. 24. The free holiday event will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m., and parking will be available at the church. Guests are encouraged to wear warm clothing, as the live Nativity will entail a walk from the church parking lot to a nearby farm. The church will provide transportation for those who may be unable to walk to and from the barn.

During the event, a new presentation will begin every half hour; attendees will receive a ticket for a specific time slot upon their arrival. Refreshments such as cookies and hot chocolate will be served in Willow Street Mennonite Church's gymnasium, where guests may enjoy Christmas music and socialize as they wait for their assigned re-enactment to begin.

Each presentation will begin with a depiction of the Annunciation inside the church; spectators will then follow the characters outside to a nearby farm. The journey will lead to a barn on the property that will portray the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. The presentation will conclude with a portrayal of the Nativity scene in the barn. "It's a unique way to bring the story of Christmas to life every year," said Eric Herr, pastor of Willow Street Mennonite Church. "I would encourage people to take the opportunity to see the greatest story ever told come to life and to experience it in person."

The live Nativity is a tradition that Willow Street Mennonite Church has carried on for over two decades, and the event is typically held biennially. Although the church was unable to host the Christmas celebration in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it returned in 2021 much to the pleasure of its longtime participants.

The live Nativity incorporates various community members; every two years, the owners of the farm included in the presentation offer their property for the event, and each character is depicted by a member of Willow Street Mennonite Church. Local owners of sheep, cows and donkeys also offer the church an opportunity to feature their animals in the production to grant the Nativity scene an authentic atmosphere. "It's enjoyable to have so much of the church involved," said Lora Wenger, a member of the committee that organizes the live Nativity. "I saw it for the first time before I even went to (Willow Street Mennonite Church); it made me start going."

Although the event is free to attend, Willow Street Mennonite Church will accept monetary donations for Haitians Helping Haitians. Haitians Helping Haitians is a nonprofit organization that provides food and services to those in Haiti who are in need. To learn more, visit http://www.haitianshelpinghaitians.org.

For more information about the Nativity, visit http://www.willowstreetmennonite.com.