For several years, the impact team at Living Light Mennonite Church has hosted community outreach events, one of which has been a clothing giveaway around the holidays where clothing and shoes for infants through adults are available for free. However, the team decided to switch things up a bit this year and plan a Christmas event. After the team brainstormed ideas, the Outdoor Nativity Experience was born.

For the first time, members of Living Light Mennonite Church invite the public to join them as they celebrate Christmas in a new way. The Outdoor Nativity Experience, suitable for people of all ages, will take place at the church, 2625 Safe Harbor Road, Washington Boro, on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. Typically, live Nativities consist of walkthrough experiences with different scenes and actors. The Outdoor Nativity Experience, however, will feature a petting zoo station, a craft station where children will make a Christmas tree ornament, a story-telling station about the legend of the candy cane, and a live Nativity.

There will be a donkey, sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits from Sunset Boarding Stables in the petting zoo station, and some of these animals will make an appearance in the live Nativity.

The live Nativity, which will tell the story of the birth of Jesus, will feature Christmas carols. Children from the church will act in the two showings at 6:45 and 7:45 p.m. There will also be snacks, hot chocolate, cookies, and a bonfire.

Debbie Stoner, who is in charge of planning the live Nativity, said she hopes the event will provide the public with a different kind of Nativity experience. "People should come see the joy in Christmas and the love of Christ shown in different ways," stated Stoner. "I'm most looking forward to celebrating Christmas together again."

For more information about the Outdoor Nativity Experience, contact Living Light Mennonite Church at 717-872-2222 or livinglightmchurch@gmail.com. To learn more about the church, visit http://www.livinglightmc.com.