Living Nativity at Faith Presbyterian Church
Look for a cast of more than 90, including live alpacas, goats and chickens, in the Live Nativity and A Walk to Bethlehem event at Faith Presbyterian Church. It will be held Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Characters include both youths and adults, said Nancy Exline, director of Christian Education for the church.
“We have probably close to 80 or 90 people involved, mostly from our youth group. It is an outreach to our community, and a number of parents are involved.”
The costumes are all biblical and very authentic.
Of the animals, she said, “We have alpacas – plural – a donkey, goats, sheep and chickens as part of our marketplace.”
There will be six stations or scenes.
“They include a Bethlehem Marketplace where there will be marketers selling everything, a blacksmith and a live weaving. From the marketplace they move on to the Inn, where of course, there is no place, and from there they move onto the fields where they will see shepherds tending their live livestock, listening to the multitude of angels singing to them,” Exline said.
“The ending scene is a live baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph.”
The event takes a lot of preparation, she added.
“We’ve been working on it for quite a number of weeks.”
She talked about the walk-through aspect.
“People really like that it is a walk-through, which can be more intimate and interactive, where people can get up close to the characters and animals. You can spend as much time as you like at each area; you are on your own time schedule,” Exline said.
There also will be a hospitality tent with hot chocolate and cookies.
This is the second year for the event.
“Last year was a wonderful success,” said the Rev. Dr. H Timothy Halverson. “Many people participated and attended, and we wanted to do it again to provide more people the chance to attend this year.”
It is also a great educational tool. “It allows the young people to visualize the sequence of events (the Nativity) and they really enjoy it.”
For the youths who participate, he said, “It is also really fun for them, and they really enjoy doing it.”
There is no charge for this event and parking is free.
Faith Presbyterian Church is at 4544 Coronado Parkway.
For additional information, visit FaithCapeCoral.org or call 542-2858.