Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, 1392 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, will host its fourth annual Journey to the Nativity re-enactment on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

As guests arrive, they will be greeted by a church member, who will give an introduction to the re-enactment. After the introduction, guests will be directed to a gathering area to wait for the start of the journey. After guests are assigned to a group, they will have an opportunity to share cider, hot chocolate, cookies and Christmas stories indoors. A new group will travel down the path every 18 minutes.

Each group will be lead through the re-enactment by a guide. The first stop on the path will depict the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary and Joseph that they will bear a child. After the Annunciation, Mary, Joseph and their donkey will embark on their journey to Bethlehem. Spectators will follow the Holy Family through their subsequent travels, which will conclude with the portrayal of the Nativity.

The annual Journey to the Nativity was started by church member Diane Herr, who created the event as a way to engage the congregation. At the time, many churches were closed or had limited space due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive journey immediately received a positive reception from community members, many of whom offered to fill acting roles or provide livestock to give the production a realistic atmosphere.

Although the Journey to the Nativity will still portray the same timeless tale, certain adjustments have been made to the holiday tradition. The size of each group will be larger than in previous years to allow for more guests to experience the re-enactment at once, and participants will be invited to sing Christmas carols together between some scenes.

"I think it's so easy to get caught up in the materialism of Christmas or worries about getting a perfect gift," Herr said. "But the real gift and the reason we celebrate is the birth of Jesus. You see it all come together on the journey, and it helps us realize why we have Christmas."

As guests leave the final scene, they will have an opportunity to follow an illuminated path to the church sanctuary. Pastors Kevin Richardson and Rita Carter will be stationed in the sanctuary to offer more information on the Nativity and prayer services.

There will be no cost for admittance, but guests are encouraged to bring donations of canned goods or gift cards for Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, which the church will deliver to the organization's food bank in Quarryville. Although the church collects donations for the food bank during each Journey to the Nativity, a display table will be added this year to offer guests information on the many services Solanco Neighborhood Ministries provides in the Southern End.