Every few years since 2001, members of Willow Street Mennonite Church (WSMC) have invited the public to attend their live Nativity. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WSMC was unable to host the event last year. The church's live Nativity will return this month for people of all ages to enjoy.

WSMC's ninth live Nativity will take place at the church, 399 E. Penn Grant Road, Willow Street, on Saturday, Dec. 18; Sunday, Dec. 19; and Friday, Dec. 24, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. About 50 church members are involved in the production, and there will be live animals, including a cow, a donkey, sheep, and goats. Attendees will enter the church, go to the gymnasium, receive a ticket with a designated time slot, and then walk through the live Nativity. Before and after the live Nativity, attendees can help themselves to cookies and hot chocolate while listening to live instrumental music. There will also be a children's activity corner.

The woman who writes the script changes the point of view each time. This year's live Nativity will be told from the perspective of Nicodemus. There will be five scenes: background on Nicodemus, the angel's visits to Mary and Joseph, the angels revealing themselves to the shepherds, the innkeeper, and the manger scene. The first two scenes will be located inside the church, and the remaining three will be outside. A golf cart will be available for those with mobility challenges.

"Now more than ever is the time to share the hope of Jesus in the midst of everything going on," said Eric Herr, associate pastor at WSMC. "There's also an excitement as a church to continue to pursue ministry and engage with the community."

The event is free to the public, but WSMC will collect monetary donations for Homes of Hope. Homes of Hope is a transitional housing ministry of Love INC of Lancaster County that supports homeless families through the collective efforts of churches in each familiy's school district. While families are enrolled in the program, they meet with budget coaches and mentors on a weekly basis to help them achieve the goals that are set for them. The overall goal is for each family to move out of Homes of Hope's property and find affordable, permanent housing, with increased skills to budget and remain successful.

In the event of a cancellation, an announcement will be posted at http://www.willowstreetmennonite.com.