For the past five years the young people of Valley Christian Reformed Church in Binghamton, N.Y., have staged a live nativity for the community.
The church is built into a hillside, which creates a natural amphitheater. Props include a full-size manger, a Christmas star, a large bank of lights, live cows, goats, and sheep, and a “heavenly host” of brightly lit angels.
After each of the shows, the decorated church building is open for refreshments, music, and fellowship. A large portion of the congregation is involved in this event.
The first year the church staged this presentation, about 160 people came to see the three shows. In 2006 attendance grew to more than 500.
One of the neighbors commented, “I don’t like cold and snow, but I look forward to the nativity at Valley every year.”
