Hambden Congregational Church Features Live Nativity
One of our favorite compliments we have received is people who tell us on their way out, ‘You reminded me of the true spirit of Christmas.’ – Kyle Boone
The instrumental Christmas song, “The First Noel,” softly filled Hambden Congregational Church at dusk Dec. 9 as a flock of visitors celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ during the church’s 23rd annual Live Nativity at state routes 6 and 608.
“I can definitely say that is it truly one of the best live experiences of Christ’s birth and his life, and how God inspired so many writers of the Bible to give Christ all the names that the Bible has written for him,” said Isaac Long, of Middlefield Township, who came to the nativity along with his wife and two young children. “Being able to see that beautiful presentation of the nativity that Christ-centered people have put up for us to see, as well as having real animals to see and pet, brings much joy not just to the children, but adults, as well.”
What began simply as an outdoor feature with refreshments more than two decades before Hambden Congregational Church’s Kyle Boone became senior pastor, the holiday-inspired event has evolved into a celebration of the season.
As darkness fell, visitors journeyed from surrounding areas to view the outdoor live nativity scene in the manger amid pleasant temperatures, then filtered inside for an indoor nativity decoration display, three skit rooms, a gospel room, complimentary food and desserts, and Christmas arts and crafts.
“Our baby son plays Jesus,” Boone said, of his 11-month-old son, Graham.
The outdoor scene also included Boone portraying Joseph, his wife, Katie, as Mary, and the couple’s two girls, Jacelynn and Julia, as angels.
“So, it takes the pressure off any of us from having to play Jesus. We rotate each year, based on who has had a new baby in the congregation,” Kyle said. “I’m hoping someday to put up a picture of all the different people in our church who played baby Jesus at one time.”
Katie said she hadn’t, at that moment, really thought about the magnitude of playing Mary this year.
“She knows she’s just part of a larger story,” Kyle said. “However, last year, she was 11 months pregnant during the live nativity and that gave her a whole new paradigm for what it must have been like for Mary — the fears, the emotions, the pains and the joys she must have been going through.”
Visitors snapped photos of the live farm animals, including the popular camel, that gathered near a large pen by the manger and three wise men.
Dwayne Felger, of Felger Exotics of West Salem, brings the animals each year.
Felger does various live nativities and petting zoo events all around the state and is very busy during Christmastime.
The church has been partnering with Felger for more than a decade.
“And yes, everybody loves the camel,” Kyle said.
He added the skit rooms inside the church are really the heart and soul of their live nativity event.
“The live camel draws people in, but the skits tell the story,” Kyle said. “Each year, we change up the theme. We’ve done, ‘Meeting the Ancestors of Jesus,’ ‘The Angels of Christmas,’ ‘The Bad Guys of Christmas,’ ‘The Gifts of Christmas,’ etc. This year, we are doing ‘the Name of Jesus.’
“Even though the skits are different from year-to-year, they tell the same truths of why Christmas matters,” he added. “Jesus is the one true King. Jesus is God. Jesus is our savior. The greatest Christmas gift is not something we give to Him, but what He has given to us. It is God’s gift of life and love that we want every single person to walk away with.”
Kyle hopes visitors walk away from the event feeling “the hope of the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Everything we do points to this good news,” he said. “We want people to feel the good news, see the good news and hear the good news. It is the hope that God became a human in order to save people from their sins and so that they could find new life in Him. We believe that anyone who calls out to Jesus can find Him this Christmas season. So many politicians, philosophies and commercialized products are selling people a vision of hope. But, we believe that true hope is found in Jesus.”
The Longs were one of the first families to trickle into the event.
“It, for sure, uplifts the Christmas spirit and the idea of hope and remembrance of what Jesus has done for us,” Long said. “On top of that, being able to fellowship with our fellow neighbors brings an abundance of joy, not just to our family, but as well to others.”
In some ways, what they are doing is a small gesture, Kyle said.
“We’re just 21st century Americans dressed in ancient garb and reenacting a story,” he said. “But, on another level, it’s not just a story. It’s the story. We want to remind everyone of that story. Whether it’s being friendly at the door, serving people a warm meal or reading ancient scripture, we want to tell our friends and family of the great story. Everyone is looking for hope. Everyone is looking for peace. Everyone is looking for joy. We’ve found the answer, and His name is Jesus. One of our favorite compliments we have received is people who tell us on their way out, ‘You reminded me of the true spirit of Christmas.’”
