by Debora Dyess

We’ve all seen it – wise men, shepherds, sheep, a donkey, maybe some chickens, Mary and Joseph. Attention is on a single baby – Jesus, lying in a manger. It tells us one thing: Christmas is here!

By learning how to organize a live nativity, you could create an annual tradition, combining art, building, sewing and fun.

Start with a vision. Will you present the manger scene with basic characters, or expand to the whole Christmas story with many actors? This decision determines everything from your budget to preparation time. This reproduction requires actors, costumes, sets and scripts. Pray for a good group of volunteers!

Your volunteer pool determines your characters. You must have the Holy Family, but can expand from there. Live animals are great, but require planning. If they aren’t possible, clever wooden cut-outs can substitute.

If your church or community theater has a costume closet, raid it (permission, first!). Otherwise, these costumes are basically one-size-fits-almost-all, making an easy sewing project. They also hide layers of clothing, protecting actors from the cold.

Sets should be constructed with scenes and landscape in mind. Take advantage of trees, rocks and hills on site. Check load capacities of extension cords used to light sets. For more extensive lighting, consult an electrician. For set construction, borrow a garage. Pray for a ‘building manager’ with carpentry and people skills, since volunteers may not know a circular saw from a square. This individual must be able to plan the set, and organize purchasing, materials and workers.

Write your script to match your event. Sandy Pohlmann, organizer of live nativities at Zion Lutheran Church of Helotes, San Antonio, TX, decided on a shepherd- guide for their nativity. The shepherd narrated and quieted the crowd as needed. Each character had their portion of the story to tell, scripted well in advance.

Nobody told Sandy how to organize a live nativity. Success was measured in growing numbers of visitors each year, and donations made to defray expensea. She suggests planning begin in July for your first event. “It takes lots of time and commitment,” she explained, “and a lot of volunteers. But it is worth it.”