Trinity Lutheran to host 3-day nativity festival

Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church is offering visitors a chance to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through nativities this weekend. The "Journey to Bethlehem" experience begins on Friday and features a Festival of Nativities, with over 100 nativities on display throughout the church, 935 W. Bigelow Ave. Hours are 5-9 p.m. This is a new event for the church, said Ryan Neal, director of music. Previously, a living nativity was held as the afternoon service on Christmas Eve. But this year, he said, they were looking for a new family event that is free to the public. Neal wanted to do a Christmas concert. "And, because we had been working with the Patterson family with their camels and all of the Bethlehem animals that they would bring for the living nativity, we wanted to find a way they could continue that relationship," he said. Neal has also been collecting nativities for about 20 years and has close to 80 sets. "Everything from an inch tall to half life-size," he said. Included is a large 5-inch scale Fontanini collection with almost 50 buildings and 200 characters that will be displayed in the narthex of the church. Neal said it takes four tables to display this nativity which will be left up through Advent and Christmas. Then he found out that the church's retired pastor, the Rev. Dennis Maurer, also collects nativities. "He was missionary for years and has nativities from all around the world," said Neal. Current pastor, the Rev. Will Stenke, has a decent collection, too, he said, as does the Rev. Andrea Starn, who is also associated with the church. "So all of a sudden, we have plenty to start this," he said. In addition, families from the church are bringing in nativities, said Neal. There will be story cards with the sets explaining where they're from and why they're special. One woman has her great-great-grandmother's nativity that she brought from Germany when the family immigrated, he said, while another family brought in a nativity made by the toy company, Fisher Price. The couple bought the set when their daughter was born, said Neal. "So I'm really excited to see all of the different (sets), the sentimentality attached to the nativities," he said. The nativities will be set up around the walking track in the church's gym and the public is invited to walk through the display. Meanwhile, a petting zoo will also be available from 5-9 p.m. Friday. "We're expecting all three camels and a cow and a donkey and sheep and goats, you know, the animals you would think that would have been at the nativity will be here with us," said Neal. Families are welcome to come and have their pictures taken with the animals. An immersive concert with theatrical lighting and professional musicians will begin at 7 p.m. Friday and last about 75 minutes. The presentation will feature Neal on piano, along with cellist Anthony Marchese, soprano Shay Bolton, violinist Sophie Wohl, and narrator Mark Mueller as they present the Christmas story through the eyes of the shepherds. A reception will follow the concert for those in attendance and for those who are displaying nativities. There is no charge to attend and the public is welcome. A freewill offering will be collected to assist in offsetting the project, as well as to benefit the City Mission of Findlay. A raffle will be held to win a hand-painted porcelain nativity made by Richard Hopkins, Findlay. The Festival of Nativities will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Neal said he hopes this becomes an annual event with members of the public sharing their nativities. If anyone is interested in sharing a nativity, contact the church at 419-422-2641 or office@trinityfindlay.org