Mary and Joseph “for the night” stood in the manger scene at the live nativity held by Mount Olivet on Dec. 21. Mary explained she was holding a plastic baby Jesus in the swaddling blanket because she said they couldn’t get a volunteer baby from the congregation on such a cold night.
It was lively in the yard outside Mount Olivet Methodist Church late afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 21. Mary and Joseph were in the manger alcove with their two young daughters. Children were patting the sheep and investigating the goat roaming around the yard. Some were clutching their warm cup of freshly made cocoa.
But the hit of the event was Moses who was posing for pictures with the children gathered around and fighting for a turn to get a cell phone photo with a real live camel.
As the sun went down, the crowd gathered around for the recitation of the Christmas story interspersed with sing-a-long carols. The electricity flicked off half way through the program but the crowd carried on singing without the keyboard accompaniment and the speakers just spoke a little louder.
Matthew 2:9-10 “And lo the star which they saw in the east went before them till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.”
