The event, featuring more than 100 people, as well as live animals, is scheduled Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the corner of Amostown and Piper roads in West Springfield.
WEST SPRINGFIELD –The focus of the message the Rev. Al LaValley wants to send on Dec. 14 will be away in a manger.
Literally.
The senior pastor of West Springfield Covenant Community Church, a Presbyterian Church in America congregation, will be reading from the Bible. and preaching about the true meaning of Christmas as church members present their 25th annual live outdoor nativity scene.
The event, featuring more than 100 people, as well as live animals, is scheduled Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the corner of Amostown and Piper roads in West Springfield.
The setting is a 15-foot “stable” built with pegs.
Those involved will portray the Holy Family, as well as shepherds and the wise men. Other participants will work on lighting and parking.
LaValley expects several thousand people to attend. There will be free coffee, hot cocoa and cookies as well as caroling.
“We do this to promote the reality of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ into the world, the true meaning of Christmas: God became man,” LaValley said. “He became man in the form of a baby in a manger to save the world from sin. That’s what Christmas is all about.”
The senior pastor said some people come to see the live nativity year after year, and on the few occasions when it could not take place because of illness, he would get calls from people looking for it.
“People want to take their children to it over and over,” he said. “They say, ‘We want them to see the real meaning of Christmas.’”
Non-perishable food items and donations will be collected for the Springfield Rescue Mission.
For more information, call (413) 733-2828 or go to www.westspringfieldchurch.org.