Page 12 - Robeson Living

The Wonder of the Nativity

Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 11 am - 8:30 pm

Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 11 am - 2 pm

Chestnut Street United Methodist Church presents its United Methodist Church. Each year 25-30 Nativities are
fourth annual Nativity exhibit on December 15 and 16, on display in the church sanctuary for the public to enjoy.
2017. This display is a gift to the community with no Individuals and churches from Lumberton and surrounding
tickets required and no admission charged. All are invit- towns share their collections for this event. The Nativities
ed to come and spend time reflecting on the Christmas are unique and come with fascinating stories. Whether it was
season. passed down through the family, purchased on trips abroad,
purchased one piece each year, or handmade by the owner,
Representing the Nativity is a seasonal tradition that each Nativity reflects its own beauty and meaning.
spans centuries. St. Francis of Assisi is credited with
creating the first Nativity scene in 1223 in Greccio, It- In past years, Nativities on display have been made of mar-
aly. His goal was to emphasize the worship of Christ ble, ebony, stained glass, Paper Mache, seashells, empty dish-
at Christmas rather than the secular materialism and gift washing detergent bottles, feathers, nails, punched tin, and
giving. In the biography Life of St. Francis of Assisi, cir- ceramics. This year there will be a Nativity made from blown
ca 1260, St. Bonaventure described the Nativity scene eggs. Some sets are small enough to hold in the palm of your
created by St. Francis. Staged in a cave near Greccio, St. hand, and one set has 150 pieces.
Francis’s Nativity was a living display with humans and
animals cast in Biblical roles. Pope Honorius III gave his On Friday night, the woodwind ensemble, Belle Venti, will
blessing to the exhibit. provide music. Additionally, the Purple Door Carolers plan to
return this year to share songs of the season.
These Christmas productions became hugely popular
and spread throughout Christendom. Over the next 100 From the humblest to the most elaborate, each Nativity sepa-
years, every church in Italy was expected to have a Nativ- rately, and all collected together, remind us of the true glory
ity scene at Christmastime. Eventually, statues replaced of the season.
human and animal participants, and static scenes grew
to elaborate affairs with richly robed figurines placed in Chestnut Street United Methodist Church is known locally as
intricate landscape settings. Charles III, King of the Two “the Mother Church of Lumberton” because of its long his-
Sicilies, collected such elaborate scenes, and his enthusi- tory in Lumberton. From a small cabin on Water Street in
asm encouraged others to do the same. the 1800’s to its present location at Eighth and Chestnut, the
church has served. Once again, Chestnut Street United Meth-
Many centuries have passed, and Christian churches con- odist Church is delighted to draw the community together for
tinue to honor this tradition, including Chestnut Street this Christmas event.