St. Stephen Lutheran Church offers a Living, Breathing Bethlehem

Nativity sets and manger scenes may be common sights at this time of year, but imagine being able to step into one. At the annual living nativity at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, it becomes possible. “We want people to go through and interact with the scene and the characters,” says Matt Millard, performing arts director at St. Stephen. “It’s not so much a performance as an experience. It’s very family-based.”
   
And it certainly is an experience: The audience can walk through the scene, pet manger animals, which hail from Cock-A-Doodle Zoo in Scandia, and speak directly with the characters. The actors are church volunteers of all ages, and performing requires dedication: They rotate through four 45-minute shifts each night, in costumes designed to be worn over heavy winter clothing to ensure that they stay warm. “We don’t usually use a real baby Jesus,” Millard says, citing safety concerns.
   
This two-Saturday performance has grown significantly since its inception. Originally conceived as a one-off community outreach program for the church in 1993, the popular event has expanded steadily each year: Animals were added in 1994, the sets and stage were given a facelift in 2003, and additional performances and activities have been added throughout the years. While the nativity takes place on the church’s front lawn, inside the church refreshments, live music and children’s crafts await those seeking to escape the cold and indulge in a little extra holiday cheer.