I’m excited to share with you today the project I’ve been working on for the last 4 months. It’s the reason behind all the guest posts this month and total lack of Christmas projects on this blog!
This is the 2nd year that I was involved in our church’s Festival of Nativities, this year I was the chairman. Most of the time I kept thinking “am I even old enough to be in charge of something like this? They must have the wrong person”. It was a giant undertaking with lots of moving parts to keep track of. This year I had a wonderful committee. I felt like the entire event was a true collaboration of everyone’s ideas. I did not do this with out help, and these are NOT all my ideas, I just happen to be the one that is blogging about it.
The event consisted of people from our area that we got to church with, bringing nativity sets from their homes and lending them to us for the week to display. Everyone was then invited to come view the nativity sets, eat some yummy refreshments, listen to wonderful Christmas music and do some fun activities with their kids.
To be honest, this was a lot of work for everyone involved. I got discouraged several times during the weeks leading up to the event and during the set up. When I got feeling overwhelmed I just reminded myself that doing this was my way of making a tiny contribution into preserving what I believe is the true meaning of Christmas.
On a personal note, my family and I celebrate Christmas. I realize that this blog reaches a worldwide audience, and not everyone celebrates like I do. If your family doesn’t celebrate Christmas hopefully you can find some other creative inspiration somewhere in this post.
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| Photo frames Rhonna Designs |
To set up the gym at church we arranged 8 round tables in the center clustered around a variety of Christmas trees. The star in the center was made with PVC pipe “shimmed” into the hole in the floor for the volleyball standard. We then strung lights down and in between the tables. A lit star topped off the whole arrangement.
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| Nativity set from Bethlehem carved from an olive tree |
One our committee members husbands built the most beautiful back drop for us to use on the stage. Each piece is a 4×8 piece of MDF cut out with the silhouette of Old Jerusalem. The panels are all moveable so depending on how many people were on the stage we could rearrange them as necessary.
I bought the star (from Grandin Road) at the last minute (after Thanksgiving sale YES!!) – I think it added a nice touch to the stage.
On the stage we hosted a live nativity and Christmas music. It rotated between musical acts and the live nativity all day.
The kids also got to make a little craft. Brandi came up with this one last year and it was a big hit. It’s made from a toilet paper roll, a wooden doll, a paper towel and some raffia.
We also had Christmas cookies served as refreshments.
I’m so happy with how the event turned out and so grateful to every single person that helped us set this up and clean it up. It took a village.
Thanks for your patience with my little old blog :). Reading your comments are bright spots in my day. I am crafting and sewing and will have lots to share with you soon. But for now, I really need to spend some time with my kids (as you can imagine I’ve been distracted lately) Watch for a project next week then we’ll all take a little break until the New Year.
oh if you are doing the Quilt Along I DID not forget about you!! I’ll be posting an update on Monday! Then we’ll have a linky party right after Christmas (so we don’t spoil any surprises)… So TAKE PICTURES of your quilts before you give them away!
What a beautiful celebration. Thank you for sharing all those wonderful pictures.
I just had to tell you how amazing I think your Festival of Nativities is. I know a few people who have beautiful and special unique nativity sets who display them with pride in their homes each Christmas but this would a wonderful way to share them.
I just wish I could have come and seen it myself. Well done to you and your entire village.
What a fantastic celebration! As a Christian family, we struggle all Advent for more Jesus and less Santa. What a wonderful way to keep the focus on the real meaning of the season. The pictures from the childrens’ room brought tears to my eyes – the ability for them to experience the miracle of Christ’s birth on their own terms and at their own level is precious.
Oh that looks like an amazing event, such artistry in those nativity sets, and the set up of each of the rooms as well was brilliant, well done to you all!
Wow, it’s awesome! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. I wish I could come. I love that you had one that the children could touch!
What a beautiful event! I think you all knocked it out of the park!!
Very cool! I love Nativities! Wish I could have seen them in person.
It looks terrific! I was just on the committe for ours this last weekend as well, and while it’s a lot of work, it’s definitely worth it!
Just lovely to look at, and it is evident that many people put the finest into this… how nice of your group to sponsor something likely this to come to… it must be very unifying for both your church and your guests…
This was amazing & very moving. Thanks for posting all the pictures. What a great way to get back to the real reason for the season & I echo the others in the praise for the children’s room & activities. What a special fellowship you all have at your church.
Such a cool Nativity party. I loved seeing it all!
It looks amazing! What a great event, you did a great job!
Those are amazing — I love the one carved from the olive tree.
AMAZING!! What a beautiful event… your photos make me wish I had been there. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. The pictures are beautiful. It must be wonderful to see the real nativities! Your church is very blessed to have you to serve in such a way. As one person has already stated, “More of Jesus, less of Santa.”. Merry Christmas!
Beautiful!
You are amazing Melissa! I so wish I could have been there. What a giant undertaking!
I just came across you site today and wanted to tell you what a blessing it was to see this! It’s so nice to see the REASON FOR THE SEASON – even if it is August! Everything looks so beautiful! I so do hope that you have a great turn out and blessed time next year. It’s so great to see all of the hard work that was done, and for a beautiful reason! Blessing to all – and I hope you and all involved in years to come have a truly blessed time doing it again! Thanks for sharing!.
Thanks! I’m not in charge again this year, it’s time to “pass the torch” but it’s been a great activity to plan and get going in our area