The Margate Community Church held its annual Live Nativity Monday evening, Dec. 23 on the lawn in front of the church. Members of the church’s youth group joined adults to reenact the story of the birth of Jesus.
Pastor Vicky Ney welcomed the crowd, which due to the frigid temperature was small at the 4 p.m. performance. The message was profound, nonetheless.
“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-20
Members of the congregation read from the scriptures about the trek Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem, where their child was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn. Christmas carols played between readings.
To make the scene more realistic, Barnyard Friends of Mays Landing provided farm animals, including sheep, goats and chickens. Mary stopped for a moment to pet a sheep nibbling the grass at her feet.
Good little girls and boys received a bag of treats after the service.
The pageant was repeated several times during the evening.
The Margate Community Church held its annual Live Nativity Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 on the grounds outside the church.
