Shepherds, angels, wise men, sheep ... The live nativity scene at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening had it all.
At times, the microphones didn’t work.
A few cues may have been missed here and there.
One young angel decided he was weary of proclaiming the good news of Christ’s birth and proceeded to mount up and ride a wooden sheep.
The sheep was unprotected because several of the young shepherds were rolling in the grass rather than guarding their wooden flock.
So, might the return after more than a decade of the live nativity scene at Waldensian Presbyterian Church in Valdese be considered a flop?
Absolutely not!
Instead, the nativity scene was a heart-warming addition to the Christmas season — an old-fashioned display of community support, youthful talent, and holiday warmth.
Full darkness had fallen by the time the scene began at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the church Wednesday, and although the afternoon had been mild, the gray chill of December gripped the audience of perhaps 100 folks as the performance began.
That beginning was announced by the bells of the church carillon, which sweetly pealed the notes of Christmas carols into the early winter night.
Moms and dads, grandparents, friends and neighbors lined the sidewalk in front of the church, leaning forward eagerly as they prepared to snap photos and record videos of the scene’s young stars.
What followed was 40 minutes of scripture, song, and, as noted above, a number of unscripted moments of sheer hilarity.
According to church member Asia Calloway, nearly 10 years had passed since Waldensian Pres presented the live nativity, but the tradition goes back for decades.
“The Waldensian Nativity began in the 1950s,” she said, “and for many years held the distinction of being the longest running nativity in Burke County.”
The nativity scene, Calloway went on, was a key part of life at the church.
“I was involved in the nativity for many years prior to the hiatus,” she said, “and I always appreciated how it not only brought the Christmas story to life, but also united multiple generations of church members and the wider community.”
“This year is especially meaningful to me,” Calloway concluded, “as I am able to watch my daughter, who played a baby angel in one of the final performances before the hiatus, return to the Nativity as a head angel.”
Although the weather was gray and chilly Wednesday evening, it was nothing like December of 2018, according to church music director Laurie Nicholson.
“In 2018, my first Christmas here as director of music, both nights had to be canceled because there was 14 inches of snow on the ground,” she recalled.
Unlike nativity scenes in the past, which featured recorded music and narration, this year’s show featured live narration, live singing, and a spectacular performance by Dr. John Lafferty as the evil King Herod the Great.
With all of the singers and performers gathered at the wooden manager, including wise men, shepherds, and a Roman soldier or two, the scene concluded with the carillon playing the notes of “Joy to the World.”
At its conclusion, the entire cast shouted out, “Merry Christmas!”
And many in the happy audience responded in kind, “Merry Christmas!”
Bill Poteat is editor emeritus. He may be reached at 828-445-8595 or bill@thepaper.media.
