By CHRISTIE NORTHRUP
The Progress
The simple beauty of the original Christmas night will be on display this weekend at the Living Waters Fellowship Church located at 211 West 1st South, just behind Mesquite Ace Hardware. The community is invited to come and see a collection of nearly 50 different nativity scenes each taking a little different view of the renowned night in Bethlehem and its surrounding characters and events. The display is free to the public.
This multitude of nativity displays offer splendid variety to viewers. They range in complexity from a single, inside-lit, stained-glass structure to several intricately detailed multi-piece sets. There are hand-carved, wooden pieces; glossy, painted ceramic sets; fabric-based parts, and many more.
A variety of cultures are also represented. Some of the characters are wearing sombreros. Another display features a tepee in place of the traditional rustic, wooden creche housing the Holy Family.
Each nativity set has a unique story. One was owned by a collector’s grandmother and has deep sentimental significance. Another was a project of love as every piece was lovingly hand-painted over the period of an entire summer. Some were even purchased at big-box stores over the years.
But according to event organizer Melanie Sorensen of Mesquite, the commonality among all of these displays is the focus on the true meaning and origin of the Christmas holiday: the birth of Jesus Christ.
Sorensen said that the idea for this humble event had its beginnings more than a decade ago. She had attended a nativity display at a church in St. George and had been awestruck by it. She had a strong feeling at the time that this was an event that needed to be part of Christmas celebrations in her own hometown of Mesquite.
“The idea stayed in the back of my mind,” Sorensen said. “Then soon after Christmas last year – as 2021 began – I just felt the Lord telling me: ‘Now Melanie, this is the year.’”
“He warned me to do this for His glory and not mine; to get the true meaning of Christmas back,” Sorensen added
Of course, the primary concern was where she would get all the nativity sets needed for a full display. But she sent out a call in the community and has been amazed at the response and willingness of people to share their Christmas faith and memories by allowing their nativity scenes to be displayed in public.
Sorensen and all of those who have worked on this project, invite all to view and experience this festive nativity display on Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11 from 3-6 p.m. at Living Waters Fellowship Church.
