Fresh Ideas … by Diana Davis

Picture this: A simple stable stands visibly on your church lawn. A sign says “Turn here for free live nativity.” Music is playing and costumed characters create a captivating Christmas-card-like setting. Viewers are welcomed with steaming cups of cocoa. The atmosphere is worshipful yet joyfully celebrative. A live nativity can be an effective, unintimidating witness to your community and may attract hundreds — even thousands — to your church property. Add extra oomph to your church’s nativity with these fresh ideas:

 

Create interest

• A giant lighted star or searchlight. A roped viewing area to increase street visibility. Luminaries to mark the driving route.

• An invitation banner. Business card invitations. Hand-delivered invitations to neighbors, media, businesses, city leaders.

• A stable built to hold angels on its roof. Hay bales for seating.

• Stable animals — sheep, baby goat, donkey or camel. Take safety precautions, of course.

 

Teamwork works

• Delegate: costumes, props, music, construction, lighting, sound system, publicity, traffic plan, animals, literature, refreshments.

• Church members sign up for shifts as a greeter, mingler, helper, traffic director or nativity character. Characters’ shifts are 30 minutes.

• Two sets of costumes allow smooth shift transitions. Belts, safety pins, vests and draped fabric help size costumes to fit.

 

Point to Jesus

• Each shift of characters prays together. Costumed characters don’t take their eyes off Jesus. Singers sing to the Baby.

• Add bits of video, drama, live music or reverent choreography (i.e., kings rotate kneeling beside Jesus, angels with outstretched arms).

• Costumed instrumentalists serenade Jesus (i.e., flutist, guitarist).

• A child sings “Happy Birthday” to the Baby. A trio of kings sings to Jesus. A seeming onlooker in the crowd sings “Silent Night” a cappella. Your children’s choir, youth group, or adult choir wears biblical costumes to worshipfully sing to Him.

 

Welcome to ‘Christ-mas’

• Give guests a candy cane, Bible, handmade ornament or bookmark about God’s salvation plan. Every guest receives both verbal and printed invitations to Sunday worship.

• Allow individual children viewers to wear a robe and reverently join the nativity for a brief time. Snap a photo and invite parents to pick it up on Sunday.

• Assigned minglers chat with onlookers about the real meaning of Christmas.

Get the picture? A live nativity will stop traffic … and those cars are full of folks who need to meet the Christ of Christmas!

“So we tell others about Christ …” (Colossians 1:28a).

 

Davis is author of several church idea books (B&H Publishing). For more nativity ideas, see her blog at www.keeponshining.com.