Annual live nativity set at First Baptist Church Sunday

First Baptist Church located at 404 Judson Drive in Greencastle will be staging its annual drive-through live nativity on Sunday, Dec. 16.

The live nativity portraying the events which traditionally surround the birth of Jesus will be open to visitors from 6 to 8 p.m.

This will be the fourth year members of the congregation have donned costumes and befriended live animals to celebrate the story of Christmas.

According to Terry Black, who organizes and directs the display, the live nativity has grown in scope and participation since the first performance was staged in 2015.

This year, about 50 church members will volunteer in the portrayal and behind-the-scenes action. In comparison, Black said about 35 volunteers came out to make the display possible when the idea became a reality.

However, the number of visitors to the scene has varied since that first effort, with 236 cars counted in 2015 and 196 vehicles driving through last year’s scene.

One of the highlights of the display are the real sheep, donkeys and even camels participating as members of the cast. The animals are brought up from Lost River Game Farm in Orleans, Ind.

“It has only gotten bigger,” Black said. “We have tried to add a scene every two years, and we just want to keep this going. It’s just a lot of fun.”

A radio broadcast telling the story of the birth of Jesus will accompany the scene. The station’s call letters will be displayed before at the entrance.