Nashville CC makes sure Christ stays in Christmas with live nativity

In the darkness of night, a man and woman stood over an infant, gazing down on him with adoration and love.

Surrounded by shepherds and a stable full of farm animals, this scene, played out centuries ago in Bethlehem, is still very meaningful to many today.

Thanks to the church family at Nashville Church of Christ, that scene is more vivid than ever each Christmas.

This past Christmas season, for four days, the church members used their gifts and talents to portray that scene with a live nativity, which has captured the hearts of many during the Christmas season.

For more than three decades, Nashville Church of Christ has presented this touching scene, and it takes the efforts of many to make it happen.

With church members rotating as the nativity participants every half hour, the serene scene steps right out of the Bible.

"It looks a bit like a Christmas card, only every now and then it blinks and breaths," said Dennis Day, who has been working on the manger scene for many years.

While conjuring up images of the nativity scene, it may not seem like it would take a lot of people to make a live nativity happen.

Nothing could be further from the truth, according to Day.

"One of the neatest things about this, is that there are so many people involved," said Day. "By the time we are finished setting up and tearing down, we probably have close to 100 people involved."

The nativity began Dec. 21, and the church members portrayed the scene from 6-9 p.m. for the next four days.

Between 16 and 20 people served 30 minute shifts each night, and when they weren't at the scene they were bringing food to the church for those participating on any given evening.

The ministry began 31 years ago, and has been going on ever since. The scene was initially at the roadside, but when the church built anew, it could no longer keep the nativity where it began. In addition, the nativity had garnered such a following that it was becoming a road hazard.

The members incorporated the church's swing set into the framework for the nativity scene, and now makes signs guiding people back the driveway to the church, where the nativity scene now resides.

With Wachtel Farm's gigantic Christmas light display just up the road, many local families had made a habit of seeing both on one trip, making a family night of entertainment during the Christmas season.

Dye said the whole idea, from the moment it was hatched, was to serve as a way to minister to the community.

He said what they found was it did as much good for their hearts as it did for those visiting.

"You stay there, and suddenly you find yourself staring down at Baby Jesus, and you really begin focusing on what Christmas truly is all about," said Day.

"We just want to honor Christ through this. People can make their own decision as to whether they want to come down the driveway or not. We are simply inviting people to come and see a portrayal with a message which we believe with all of our heart."

And so it was, that for the 31st year, travelers could stop and relive a special moment.

Day said that this year there were more cars than ever stopping to see the live nativity, including parents, who were once kids gazing upon the nativity scene, bringing their children.

"We're grateful to the community for supporting it," said Day of the nativity. "We have experienced so much encouragement over the years, and we do it because we believe the story, and want to share that message with everyone we can."