By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
An event that started as an outreach to welcome neighbors and friends to the Bowling Green Alliance Church around the holidays has become an annual tradition.
Each year since 2001, the church has filled its sanctuary at 1161 Napoleon Road with hundreds and hundreds of nativities and opened its doors to the community to experience the grand display. “We wanted to be a welcoming presence in the community,” explained Jane Shively, who has helped plan the event since it started.
When the committee decided to try a display of nativity scenes, they reached out to parishioners, family and friends who might have nativities that could be included in display.
“We prayed that we would get 50 nativities that first year, and we had 192,” Shively said. “We were overwhelmed, but we were just so pleased and excited that people jumped on board right away.”
BG Alliance started as a Bible study group in 1912 and had its first building in 1915 on Court Street, which still exists. The church moved to its current building in 1964.
Though they never know from year to year how many nativity sets will come in for the event, the numbers have expanded to more than 800.
The space that is usually set up with wall-to-wall chairs for services each week transforms into a showcase of diverse interpretations of the Nativity.
The nativities can come in all shapes and sizes. Outside the church are larger versions that are too big for the inside display area.
Some scenes include all the wise men, camels and all the animals in the stables. Others are very simple that include only Mary, Joseph and Jesus. “The one constant in all of them is that baby Jesus is there,” said Sarah Leis, another member of the planning committee.
The sanctuary lights are turned down and the tables are draped and lighted to add to the serenity of the setting. They use twinkle lights and fairy lights to make the space inviting.
Some of the scenes will have descriptions of the nativity set, including if it is from another country or if was a child’s popsicle craft project or made out of toilet paper rolls, Leis said. Flashlights are available for the children to explore or to provide additional light in the sanctuary.
“You can’t really explain to people what it’s like, but often, first-time visitors say, ‘I had no idea,’” Shively said. “People are amazed at how much thought has been put into the creation by the artist.”
Many of the scenes were mass-produced, yet some artists took the time to sit down and think about what they were creating, she added. “And even if you’re not a churchgoer, you can still find interest in the creativity aspect of the nativities.”
Visitors can walk at their own pace and spend as much time as they want. There are also a few chairs set up inside the sanctuary if people want to rest or sit and reflect.
In addition to the nativity displays, music is playing in the background, stars are hung from the light fixtures and the church is decorated with a dozen or more lighted Christmas trees to add to the holiday spirit. A kid’s area is set up inside the lobby area with activity sheets to keep them learning and engaged, and a scavenger hunt to find objects within the nativity display.
The church also offers an area for refreshments and socializing outside the sanctuary. One of the newer activities is a photo booth. When visitors come into the building they will be greeted by volunteers who will explain where everything is located.
“We welcome school groups, nursing homes, churches and senior citizens groups in the county,” Shively said.
Hours this year are Thursday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday (Dec. 13-14) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday (Dec. 15) from noon to 5 p.m. There is no cost to attend, though they have a donation area set up to collect nonperishable food items for the BG Christian Food Pantry, and a place to accept monetary donations. The church is accessible.
Everyone who visits is encouraged to enter a drawing for one of four different nativity sets.
There are many hands helping to make this happen each year, Shively said. “It’s a chance to take time out from all the busyness that goes on at Christmas or at the holidays in general. And it’s a low-key family-friendly activity at the holidays.”
