I received a number of pictures of nativity scenes. I will let them, and their stories, speak for themselves.
I will tell you that from the research I did (on the internet of course … and there’s lots of stuff there about the history of nativity scenes), I re-learned, because I had heard this before, that St. Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first living nativity scene on Christmas Eve in 1223 in Greccio, Italy. The scene was set in a cave and included a wax figure of baby Jesus, animals, and people dressed as Mary and Joseph.
Of course, before that, there were depictions of nativity scenes in paintings, frescos, and other art forms.
Our Moderator posted today about a “Nativity Expo” at Grace United Church in Burlington, Ontario, where they will display over 200 nativity scenes from members of the congregation. Looks like it is a yearly event. (Nativity Expo)
So, it is safe to say that nativity scenes are popular around the world. They are a way of telling the story of the birth of Jesus. And each one has a story within a story. Where it was purchased, a memory of Christmases past or a family member, a story about how it has survived over many years …
For your viewing pleasure, here are a couple more videos for you to enjoy.
This one is from an American church with folks of all ages telling the story.
https://youtu.be/DMA5gZ7mF8s?si=Hn0m9WEuuuO8vXgg
And, this is from Canadian artist William Kurelak’s 1976 children’s book, A Northern Nativity, with Chris DeBurgh’s music.
https://youtu.be/aKK_uvnph08?si=bCPg8m4Kw-80-_4Y
We look forward to seeing you at Bethany this Sunday, when we will celebrate Advent 2. It is the Sunday of Peace. On our journey to Bethlehem we will be thinking about Jerusalem, the site of the Temple, where Zechariah, a priest in the Temple, receives an angel visitor who tells him that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son. The encounter leaves Zechariah speechless because he and his wife are in their senior years. Zechariah and Elizabeth are John the Baptist’s parents. This is an important moment in the origin story of Jesus, but I doubt you will find Zechariah, Elizabeth, or John the Baptist in a nativity scene. At least, I have never seen them in the picture …
Here are some pictures from members of our congregation …
Kathy Brown: It is fired terracotta clay, painted. Made in Bangladesh and bought at a Ten Thousand Villages sale at St. Andrew's many years ago. It is very small just 13 centimeters across the base in front, but very detailed.
Kathy Grant: My treasured collectibles are my blocks that spell out the Sundays in advent.
Ruth Devenne: My late husband came into my workplace about 30 years ago very excited because he had found it at the Bible Store downtown. It was the same one his family had when he was a child.
Maryth Maxner
Barb Black: Mom and Dad had it the year before I came along. One year we broke Joseph’s staff so Dad put a chicken skewer in his hand. After I got it, a camel’s hoof broke off so I used a pencil eraser to give him a prosthetic hoof. Even the straw is 74 years old. This nativity scene could tell many stories.
Betty Tozer: This is the nativity scene that Jim and I had out for our nieces and nephews (when they were little ones). They always liked that it was children and not adults.
Julie Johnson: The wooden one I purchased at the last spring fair hosted by the Sunday School. Baby Jesus was missing but for $1, got it anyway....lol.. Les Russell carved a new Baby Jesus for me.
I will post others from Julie’s collection next week.