How to go:
What: One Starry Night: Stations of the Nativity
Where: Centerville United Methodist Church, 63 E. Frankin St., Centerville
When: 1 to 4 p.m. today
Cost: Free
More info: (937) 433-0880 or www.4cumc.org
Other Nativities in the Dayton area:
Christian Life Center
3489 Little York Road, Dayton
Live Nativity during services/
5 and 7 p.m. today , Dec. 10
10 a.m., 11:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11
(937) 898-8811
www.clcdayton.com
Epiphany Lutheran Church
6430 Far Hills Ave.
Celebration of Christmas Story
6 to 9 p.m. next Saturday, Dec. 17
(937) 433-1449
www.epiphanylutheran.us
The Greene
Plum Street Park, Beavercreek
Live Nativity
Groundz4living/other churches
7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays
4 to 8 p.m. Sundays
also 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 20-23
(937) 490-4990
www.thegreene.com
Living Hope Church
1150 W. Spring Valley Pike, Centerville
Live Nativity Petting Zoo
3 to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 24
(937) 433-2773
www.elivinghope.com
Tylersville Road Christian Church
6771 Tylersville Road, Mason
Watch the Night Sky: Live Nativity
6 to 9 p.m. today and Sunday, Dec. 10-11
(513) 754-0777
http://livenativity.trcchurch.org
It’s one thing to gaze upon a live Nativity scene outdoors; it’s quite another to stroll down Bethlehem’s streets and interact with the townspeople.
Centerville United Methodist Church is having a Christmas experience today that would be educational for the entire family. “One Starry Night” will be held indoors, and encompass a mock-up of the site where Jesus was born, as well as some activities people of that town would have done more than 2,000 years ago.
As people enter the church on East Franklin Street, the children will be given coins used during that time period. They can then spend their money under six separate canopies, or markets, that will be set up.
Josie Wood, the children’s ministry coordinator of CUMC, said they are not using live animals, so the church is holding the event indoors.
“This is the first year our church is doing this event,” Wood said. “It hasn’t been too hard to set up; I have 18 volunteers helping me. Luckily, I found a program based on VBS curriculum by Group Publishing.”
Patrons will visit the palace and decorate crowns, sample flat bread and hummus from the inn, and play a game of double catch-it with a wooden ball. They will learn to write their names in Hebrew letters at the census office by dipping calligraphy pens into inkwells, and make a constellation viewer on stargazer hill. Finally, they will have the materials to create a lamb ornament at the stable where the baby Jesus sleeps.
“This presentation of the interactive Nativity story helps all who come to hear the good news of a God who loves us,” said Pastor Wes Steele, lead pastor for the 500-plus member church.
Family portraits will be taken either on the way in or upon leaving. Families may dress in period costumes, if they wish.
John Puckett and his daughter, Hannah, 11, will be dressed as two of the visiting Magi. Puckett, of Springboro, has been a member of CUMC for the past 20 years. They are two of the volunteers, from fourth grade to adult, who cheerfully signed up for the project.
“I’ll be in costume playing a character. I’ll talk to visitors about the stars and how sailors used them to navigate, and the Magi used the stars to locate Bethlehem,” Puckett said. “It should be fun. Hopefully, people will come and check it out.”
Contact contributing faith/traditions writer Pamela Dillon at pamdillon@woh.rr.com.
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