<\/p>\n
A life-size Nativity sprang up over the weekend at Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church, and though it may seem it happened overnight, the handmade Nativity represents a year\u2019s worth of work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been working on this as a church for over a year,\u201d said Steve Nofel, pastor at the Montezuma Valley Presbyterian Church.<\/p>\n
The idea for the life-size Nativity was born when a church member saw a similar one in Arizona. Each figure was made out of plywood and hand-painted.<\/p>\n
The church invites the community to visit the life-size Nativity, which will be lit up every night through Christmas. It will be open for walkthroughs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
Those who tour the Nativity can tune in to hear the Christmas story on the radio, and children will get the book \u201cAnawim, The Christmas Lamb,\u201d which was written and illustrated by church members about a lamb given to Jesus. Adults will get prayer books. Cookies and hot chocolate also will be available.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe set this up as a gift for the whole community,\u201d Nofel said.<\/p>\n
The yearlong project has been a challenging one for the church members, but they rose to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really has revitalized the whole church,\u201d Nofel said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very cool year for us, a very growing year.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are 30 hand-painted figures in all.<\/p>\n
\u201cHundreds of hours went into this Nativity,\u201d Nofel said. \u201cThere has been a group constantly working on it all year.\u201d<\/p>\n
And those who weren\u2019t working on it were asked to pray.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur prayer warriors prayed for those working on the Nativity and prayed for the community to come see it,\u201d Nofel said.<\/p>\n
When the Nativity finally went up on Sunday, it was an emotional time, Nofel said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks so beautiful at night. It was just so emotional, some members were brought to tears,\u201d Nofel said.<\/p>\n
Some of the Nativity will be featured in the Parade of Lights Saturday night, Nofel said.<\/p>\n
People are invited to drive by the Nativity at any time, at 350 S. Washington St. It is set up in the backyard of the church house.<\/p>\n
But to fully experience the Nativity and its craftsmanship, you must walk through the scene.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn order to deepen the experience, we are inviting everyone to walk thought the Nativity any Friday, Saturday and Sunday night,\u201d Nofel said.<\/p>\n
Everyone walking through the display will be able to listen to the Christmas story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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