In just five short years, Emporia’s First Church of the Nazarene has become a traditional stopping point for local residents as part of the holiday season.
This weekend, hundreds of residents continued that tradition by visiting the church’s annual live nativity scene Saturday and Sunday evening. Pastor Paul Meinke says the church had hundreds of visitors both nights adding the event fills him with a great sense of Christmas joy each year.
Meinke added the nativity scene is a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas which can often be lost amongst the hustle and bustle that accompanies the holiday season.
Once again, the nativity included live animals including sheep and camels to help paint an accurate picture of ancient Bethlehem at the time of the Miraculous Birth of Jesus. The live nativity was free to attend with a suggested canned food or monetary donation with all items and dollars collected going to support the Salvation Army of Emporia.
Donation totals are currently pending.
