Christmas story told in figurines

For Christians, nothing symbolizes to the true meaning of Christmas more than a nativity scene.

Knowing this, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and parish council member, Dick Fischer, wanted to bring something special to his church.

For the second year in a row, the church hosted a come to the manager event. During this event, church members are encouraged to lend the church their nativity scenes, which are then put on display. Church members and visitors alike were invited to look at the scenes.

"I wanted to put some excitement back in the church," Fischer said. "I decided 'let's do it again this year.'"

Fischer said he asked the parish council if they would like him to organize the event again this year and they told him to go for it.

"Hopefully, it will become a tradition," Fischer said.

Just an hour after opening on Saturday, the church was starting to see more and more visitors looking at each nativity scene. Even though there were 220 nativity scenes on display, it was hard to find two that were the same. Not only were the nativity scenes all shapes, sizes and colors, but some even came from different countries, including Germany, India and Nigeria.

"This is Christmas spirit really," member Consuelo Floyd said.

Floyd said one thing Christians share is a love for Jesus Christ.

"It doesn't matter what race, background or anything," Floyd said. "And we need this now more than ever."

The nativities were also made out of different materials, from more traditional materials like glass, ceramic and wood to more nontraditional materials like Legos and yarn. Some are meant to be displayed outside, while others are in the house. In fact, one of the scenes was life sized and made out of wood.

Even though the nativities may come from different countries, different families and are made out of different materials, they all tell the same story -- the birth of Jesus Christ.

In front of each nativity is a notecard with information from the owners about why this particular nativity scene is so meaningful to them. A lot of them were hand made and past down from generation to generation.

The event is unique and that may be the reason why more than 500 attended last year's and this year there was even more.

Children participate

This year, the church's confirmation class got involved with the project. The fifth-grade class, which is taught by Eliane Weed, made their own nativity scenes. Weed said she made cones of various sizes out of card stock. She then printed clip art for her students to pick from. The clip art included, manger animals, manger scenes, angels, wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph and Jesus in the manager.

Weed then gave the children, the cones she made, wrapping paper for the cones, and clip art. The students were asked to pick out paper and clip art for their nativity cones. Weed also asked her students to look up Bible versus to go with the clip art they selected.

"It was a way to incorporate the introduction of the birth of Christ and the scriptures," Weed said.

The children had a lot of fun and they did a really good job Weed said.