Impact Church, 101 E. First Ave., Parkesburg, will present a live Nativity drive-through on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. In addition to transporting visitors back to the first Christmas, there will be other scenes that depict the life of Christ.

Participants, who will be able to enjoy the free event from the warmth of their cars, will be invited to listen to a narrative via a phone or computer tablet using a QR code. "There is a recording that people will listen to on their device, or we give them a device if they don't have one," explained Linda Wendling, administrative assistant at Impact Church.

There will be five scenes this year depicting Jesus Christ's birth, death and resurrection. Costumed characters will be portrayed by congregation members. "It's more than the Christmas story. It takes a solid 10 minutes to drive through," noted Wendling.

Scene one is titled "Traveling to the Inn." It depicts Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. When they arrive, it is time for Mary's baby to be born, but there is no room available for them at the inn.

Scene two is titled "The Birth of Christ," and it features baby Jesus in the manger with Mary and Joseph and surrounded by live animals, shepherds and the three wise men.

"The Life and Ministry of Jesus" is depicted in scene three. The narrative at this scene talks about Jesus' public ministry when He taught regularly in the synagogue and healed those who were ill.

Scene four is "The Crucifixion" with Jesus on the cross, and scene five is "The Resurrection," when Jesus emerges from the tomb, having been raised from the dead.

In addition to the live Nativity, Impact Church has announced its holiday services.

Christmas will be celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 25, during the 10:30 a.m. gathering. The service will include Christmas music and a Christmas message, "The Prince of Peace," which is the final message in the December sermon series, titled "Unwrapping the Names of Jesus."

A Christmas Eve candlelight gathering will take place on Friday, Dec. 23, at 5 p.m. After music and a short message, attendees will gather around the outdoor Christmas tree to take part in a traditional candle lighting. Hot cocoa will be served.

A combined Sunday gathering will be held on New Year's Day, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. The service will mark the beginning of a new sermon series, "The Walking Dead."

Church members took part in an "ugly sweater" decorating party on Dec. 3, during which they decorated the interior and exterior of the church, prepared for the holiday activities and strung lights on outdoor trees surrounding the church building. The exterior of the church and the outdoor Christmas tree will remain lit throughout the holiday season.

For more information about the church and any of the events listed, call 610-857-3887 or visit http://www.impactpa.church or http://www.facebook.com/impactchurchparkesburg. Gatherings are typically held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. every Sunday and are livestreamed on the Facebook page.