The Annual Live Nativity is our congregation’s gift to the community. It is an activity in which all members of our congregation and visitors alike can participate. Your invited to attend our Live event December 10 & 11, 6pm-8pm.
Long ago when the Romans ruled the world, a priest named Zechariah lived with his wife, Elizabeth, in the land of Palestine. One day an angel named Gabriel visited Zechariah and told him that his wife would have a son, that they were to name their son John, and that this son’s work was to be very important. John would get the people ready for the Messiah. Zechariah was more than a little surprised since he and Elizabeth were old and had been unable to have children. But the Angel Gabriel said, “Not to worry. Nothing is impossible with God.”
A little later, the Angel Gabriel visited a young woman named Mary who lived in Nazareth. Mary was engaged to marry a carpenter named Joseph. Mary was a cousin of Elizabeth.
Gabriel told Mary that she, too, would have a son. His name would be Jesus and he would be called the Son of God, the Messiah. Mary then visited her cousin Elizabeth while they awaited the births of their sons.
Not long before Jesus was born, Emperor Augustus ordered all people to be registered.
Joseph and Mary had to travel to the city of David called Bethlehem to be registered because Joseph was part of the family of David.
The town was very crowded and all the inns were full. Joseph and Mary could only find lodging in a stable. Jesus was born there and Mary laid him in a manger for his crib.
Not far away in the hills surrounding Bethlehem, shepherds were in the fields watching their sheep. An angel appeared before the shepherds.
The angel said, “Do not be afraid; for see, I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day a Savior who is the Messiah, the Lord!” Then the sky was filled with an angel choir who sang, “Glory to God in the highest and peace and good will to all the people on earth.”
The shepherds journeyed quickly into town and found Mary and Joseph, and the child Jesus lying in the manger, just as the angel had said. They fell to their knees and praised the little Lord Jesus.
Far away in the East, some wise men saw a huge star in the sky. They thought the star meant that a very special person had been born, so they traveled to the west looking for this new-born person.
The wise men followed the star until it stopped over the place where the baby Jesus lay. They gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and gave God praise for this new born king.
