Trinity Lutheran seeks more nativities for seasonal festival

FINDLAY — Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church would like the public's help with this year's Festival of Nativities. The debut event last year featured over 100 nativity sets. Ryan Neal, Trinity's director of music who came up with the idea, said he would like to have 300 scenes to display this year. The festival will be held Dec. 6-8 at the church, 935 W. Bigelow Ave. "So we are inviting anyone who would like to share to bring a nativity," he said. "We would encourage other churches, we would encourage the public to share their nativity." Neal said most of the sets will include a card telling who the owner is and the significance of the nativity. "I just love hearing the stories of, oh, it's been passed down through generations," he said. One family, he said, brought in a nativity made by the toy company, Fisher Price. The couple bought the set when their daughter was born, said Neal. "That was the first nativity they bought. And it means more to them then some big elaborate thing because they bought that for their daughter for their first Christmas," he said. Neal himself has been collecting nativities for about 20 years and owns over 75 sets ranging from an inch tall to half life-size. Other pastors in town said they will bring their nativity for display. There will be sets from around the world. "It's great to be able to share these things," said Neal. "We had one couple that spent two hours last year, and they just kept circling the track because every time they would look at them, they'd see something different." In addition to the nativity display, a number of Bethlehem animals - camels, a cow, a donkey, sheep and goats provided by the Patterson family - will visit from 5-9 p.m. Dec. 6. Families are welcome to come and take pictures. A concert titled "And the Angels Sing" starts at 7 p.m. that same night. The presentation will feature Neal on piano, along with soprano Carol Dusdieker, harpist Mikaela Umbs, cellist Anthony Marchese, and narrator Mark Mueller as they offer the angel's take on Christmas. The concert will last about an hour. Neal said about 800 people visited last year during the weekend - with 275 at the concert. "We would love to double or triple that this year," he said. There is no charge to attend and the public is welcome. A freewill offering will be collected to help offset costs, and a raffle for a nativity set will be held. The church has also partnered with VisitFindlay to help with advertising. The Festival of Nativities continues from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 8. If anyone would like to display their nativity set, email Neal at music@trinityfindlay.org by Nov. 29.