In July, when most people were thinking about vacations, sunshine, and barbecues, a core group of volunteers at First Baptist Church was thinking about Christmas. Their many months of work will culminate in a presentation of a living nativity featuring more than 200 actors and nearly 100 animals.
“Last year was the inaugural event, and I think we knew from the very first night that this was something that we’d have to bring back next year,” said First Baptist Church youth and music pastor Paul Shepler.
Last year’s living nativity brought more than 4,000 individuals through the scenes scattered throughout the church’s 26-acre campus. At one point, cars were backed up several blocks.
Pastor Jim Schettler said nearly half of the church’s congregation is involved in the production, putting in months of work, either acting in a scene, building sets, or promoting the event. He also gave credit to Shepler for taking the idea Schettler envisioned and running with it.
“The Lord has just given him the creativity and everything with it,” Schettler said.
Visitors will drive through the nativity. They’ll be greeted at the start with hot chocolate, Roman “money,” and a CD of narration. Signs along the road will indicate when a certain section on the CD should be played. At one point, Roman guards will demand taxes from each car’s occupants—that’s when the faux currency comes in handy. Offer real bills, and they’ll be refused.
“We will not accept any donations at all. We want to provide a free event for the community,” Schettler said. “One of our major goals with all the commercialization of Christmas is to put Christ back in Christmas.”
This year’s production has grown, partly due to the fact that some of the costumes and sets are being reused from last year. But also because Shepler envisions an even better production.
“We were just thrilled with it last year, but like with anything you do, you want to tweak it and change it,” he said.
The story has changed from last year, and there are added scenes—but Shepler won’t give away the details. Nor will he divulge the cost of the production, saying simply, “It’s our gift to the community, and we’re happy to do it.”
Nearly all of the animals used last year were loaned by Santa Maria and Nipomo residents who’ve agreed to bring them back this year. Finding the beasts was initially a challenge. Organizers put out a call for animals last year, but a lot of the results came from cold-calling.
The animals put a realistic touch on the production, but so do the characters. Shepler said he encouraged each person to have a detailed backstory.
“I didn’t want it to be, ‘Hey, Mr. Smith, who works over at the airport,’” he said.
The production will be set up as the live, bustling town of Bethlehem. Travelers will walk alongside cars, each making his or her way home for the census dictated by the Romans, as the story goes. Bethlehem will feature scenes of everyday life, with people paying their census tax and interacting with shopkeepers and each other. Of course, there will also be other familiar scenes, like Mary and Joseph finding no room at the inn, Wise Men, and the manger.
Because of the long lines last year, Shepler advised people to carpool as much as possible so there will be fewer vehicles. They’ve also learned a thing or two from last year about directing cars through the scenes. This year, a new route was created that will allow cars to more efficiently navigate the production.
Though the nativity was meant to give something to the community, as with all gifts the church has also benefited from giving. Schettler said it’s brought a lot of families to the congregation. It’s also generated a lot of talk. He said people were still talking about the first production in July. For weeks now, church members have had people asking them if there would be a production this year.
“What it’s done for our church has just been amazing,” Schettler said.
There was no room in the office, so Arts Editor Shelly Cone had to write this in the stable. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 16-23, 2010.