December 29, 2004
Christmas tradition
Bayview Wesleyan Church stages live nativity scene for the past 30 years
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
It was Kathy Finch's first time as an angel.
Donning a flowing white dress and feathery wings, holding a golden trumpet, Finch made her debut on a raised wooden platform outside of the Bayview Wesleyan Church. For two half-hour shifts Thursday evening, Finch was part of a cast from the church who presented a live nativity for the community.
While smiling angelically on baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Finch was caught up in the spirit of Christmas.
"It was really moving just to hear the pastor speaking about the birth of Jesus," said the Empire resident of the recorded Christmas story by the church's pastor Jack Steenbergh.
"I think they [the audience] were really enjoying the true meaning of Christmas," Finch noted. "In all the busyness of the season sometimes it is so easy to forget what it's all about."
For the past 30 years, members of the Bayview Wesleyan Church have performed a live nativity to share their faith and the joy of the season. This year the church presented the live nativity over three consecutive nights, concluding on Christmas Eve.
Crowds ebbed and flowed throughout the evenings, providing a respectful hush while watching. Some people watch from their cars, pulling over for a few minutes. Others walked or drove to the church, which is situated near the corner of Division and Grandview Parkway. They watched respectfully or visited quietly with others, many enjoying cocoa and cookies offered by church volunteers.
"It gives us the opportunity to serve the community and again remind the community of the true reason for Christmas, which is that Christ was born," said Steenbergh, pastor of the church for nine years. "Many people are going to their own church for Christmas service, but they stop here and get into the spirit."
Every year, an eager crew of volunteers signs up to help with everything from playing a part to bringing food for the cast or cookies to handing out refreshments and information about the church.
Over the decades, the church has amassed enough costumes for the two casts each night. Volunteers designed and sewed the costumes to go over winter coats because the temperatures and wind chills are usually bitter. The angel costume includes special white mittens and white ear muffs, to keep the wearer thematically warm.
"Everything is plenty big enough so they can have a lot of layers underneath," said Terri DeJong, who along with her husband, Bruce, coordinated the event.
Larry Speakes has been involved in the live nativity almost every year since it began. As he waited his turn to play one of the shepherds, he recalled how the cold and winds often impact the performance. This year, for example, it was too cold to bring in live goats and sheep; Pedro, a donkey, was the sole live animal in the manger.
He also shared a few donkey stories.
"One year, the donkey attacked the sheep and the goat died of a heart attack," said Speakes, explaining that goats are high-strung animals and that this one had been very upset by the fight. "And other years the donkeys are stubborn and don't want to come out [from the tent where the animals stay between appearances.]"
"Another year the donkey got out and we had to track it down," he added. "It didn't get very far."
He also said that other years, with the older manger scene, the elevated angel platform made it unsafe for the angel during high winds.
"The angel used to stand ten or twelve feet in the air and if the wind got too bad they had to bring them down," he said, adding that the new three-foot-high platform inside the manger is much more practical.
Many children and teens participate in the live nativity scene every year, with the church's teen group usually taking one night. Steenbergh said that the high interest in participating is a bright sign for the church and community.
"It gives me a lot of assurance and hope that there's a future for the gospel and the message of Christ because the youth are participating in the message," he noted.