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Church presents live nativity as gift to community
By LINDA M. LINONIS
BOARDMAN
Members of Disciples Christian Church committed themselves to serving the community.
Dottie Johnson, coordinator of the live Nativity, said the event planned Saturday reflects that promise.
“It’s our gift to the community,” she said of the Christmas-themed event.
“Admission,” for those who wish to do so, is a contribution of nonperishable food items or a monetary donation to benefit Project: Feed Our Valley, an effort led by 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner. Food and money goes to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
Johnson said the church also is working with Boardman schools and Protestant Family Service as part of its community service.
Johnson said the live Nativity, The Journey to Bethlehem, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the church. About 50 church members will be in the cast, staff the kitchen for refreshments and supervise craft-making.
“So much about Christmas has been commercialized,” Johnson said. “The nativity is about the real meaning of Christmas, and we hope people think about that.”
She continued that the goal is to “help people not focus so much on presents for themselves but the present God gave us in Jesus.”
Johnson said Roman guards will greet visitors, who will travel with a guide in Bethlehem. They’ll be counted in the census and have an audience with King Herod. They’ll see the Three Wise Men and their camels and the shepherds tending their flock. They’ll follow the star to find baby Jesus.
In fellowship hall, transformed into Bethlehem’s marketplace, children can make a craft, a Christmas ornament, and everyone can enjoy cookies and cocoa.
Johnson said the church decided to support Project: Feed Our Valley because it addresses a critical need of hunger. A concert planned from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 a Eastwood Mall in Niles will wrap up the holiday food drive. Donors will be recognized. If a goal of $10,000 in donations is reached, the Cafaro Foundation will match it. Funds will benefit Second Harvest.
Becky Miller, resource-development manager at the food bank, said the project by Disciples Christian Church “is a wonderful event.” She said for every dollar in money donations, Second Harvest can distribute $15 in food to make six meals.
She noted that about 40 percent of families in the Valley face the decision to buy food or heat their homes during the winter. Second Harvest has 153 member agencies — church food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and shelters for battered women — in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
Miller said last year Disciples Christian Church donated $360 and 218 pounds of food and in 2012, $163 and 313 pounds of food.