Nativities Breathe Special Life Into Christmas Spirit

Figuring that a living Nativity scene needs as many live elements as possible, congregants at United Methodist Church in Simi Valley used to bring in a sheep to add realism to the church’s annual homage to the birth of Christ.

But that practice came to an abrupt halt the year the sheep took the “living” part of his living Nativity role a little too literally and bolted from the scene into heavy traffic on Erringer Road.

The animal survived unscathed, but his career as an actor was cut short. This year, a stuffed sheep will fill the role when the church stages its living Nativity on Tuesday through Christmas Eve.

Perhaps no single scene in all of Christianity imprints itself on Sunday-school youngsters earlier or stronger than the one depicting the newborn Jesus in a lowly manger of straw in a Bethlehem stable, surrounded by Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, an angel and perhaps a sheep or two.

United Methodist’s living Nativity scene, now in its 20th year and featuring seventh- through 12th-graders, is one of two still to be staged in the county before Christmas.

It can take a great deal of effort for adolescents to depict a truly still “still life” scene for several hours, said Kim Tausch, the church’s assistant youth director.

Since the Simi Valley Nativity scene is staged outdoors, it can get chilly. That could account for why spectators may catch a glimpse of the angel wearing mittens or a wise man stealing a quick sip of hot cocoa.

And under the shepherd’s robes is either long underwear or a warmup suit--or both.

“The kids do the scenes in 45-minute shifts,” Tausch said. “It’s hard to stand still, and sometimes Joseph may have to stand up and stretch his knees.”

The outdoor Nativity scene gets its share of people honking horns in support, and grade-schoolers may run up to Mary or a shepherd and ask, “Who are you supposed to be?”

At the Crossroads Community Church in Camarillo, adult members will enact two famous fine art masterpieces, “The Adoration of the Shepherds” by Gherardo delle Notti and “The Annunciation” by Luca Giordano, both 17th-century Italian painters.

Tim and Lori McGrath are staging the tableaux with the help of many members.

“It’s sort of our Camarillo Pageant of the Masters,” said Tim McGrath.

Both scenes are enacted inside the church on a stage, three minutes at a time.

“We’ll also have a soloist, and a bit from the scriptures in between,” McGrath said. “It’s all staged to look like they’re both in picture frames.”

“The Annunciation” depicts a scene with the angel Gabriel and Mary, and “The Adoration” depicts Joseph, Mary, several shepherds and a manger.

“You can see it all in 15 minutes, and it’s definitely for all ages,” McGrath said.

Outside the church, the public will be offered warm drinks, candy canes, Christmas caroling and even a barnyard animal petting zoo, perhaps with a sheep along with a donkey and chickens.

The Simi Valley Methodist Church living Nativity will be enacted from 6:15 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday at 2394 Erringer Road. Call 526-6231 for more information.

At Camarillo Crossroads Community Church, the living reproductions of the classic Nativity paintings will be presented tonight through Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. The church is at 1221 Calle Suerte. For more information, call 484-8334.

The public is welcome to both free events.

Other special Christmas-week services around the county include:

* Caroling at 10 a.m. Sunday, plus a cantata orchestrated by John Purifoy and performed by the Chancel Choir, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Oxnard, 1800 South C St.

* Christmas observances at the San Buenaventura Mission in Ventura begin today with the sacrament of reconciliation at 3:30 p.m. A bilingual penance service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Christmas Eve Masses at the mission will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. with the children’s choir, at 7:30 p.m. with the Spanish choir and at 11:30 p.m. with the combined choirs. Christmas Day Masses at the mission will begin at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon, 211 E. Main St.

* At Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 3175 Telegraph in Ventura, a communal penance service will be held today at 3:30 p.m.

* At Oxnard’s First Presbyterian Church, the Children’s Christmas Pageant, “Our Gift to the Church,” will replace the regular 10 a.m. service Sunday. All Sunday school classes will be in session at 9 and 10 a.m. at 850 Ivywood Drive.

* The Christmas Eve Masses for St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard begin at 5:15 p.m., 7 p.m. and midnight; on Christmas Day, Masses will be held at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and in Spanish at noon and 1:30 p.m., 2511 South C St.

* The Sunday school program at Oxnard’s Our Saviours Evangelical Lutheran Church will hold a birthday party for Jesus at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by a light supper. A special Christmas Eve service will begin at 8 p.m. 905 Redwood St.

* Two special Christmas Eve worship services are scheduled at Moorpark’s Community Christian Church. At 5 p.m., the children’s musical, with Christmas carols and communion, will begin; at 7 p.m., the choir will sing Christmas selections and read scripture, including communion and a children’s story time. 216 Moorpark Ave., No. 200.

* Newbury Park’s Monte Vista Presbyterian Church will hold a Christmas Eve celebration of worship at 5:30 and 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Pastor Steve Davis will deliver a Christmas message and the choir will sing. 3797 W. Lynn Road.

* In Thousand Oaks, a Christmas candle-lighting at the Unity Center Church will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn’s Crystal Room. The congregation will join in singing “Silent Night” during the lighting of candles. 495 N. Ventu Park Road.

* St. Paul Baptist Church in Oxnard will hold Christmas Celebration ’98 at 5 p.m. Sunday. The mass music ministry, pastor’s choir, men’s music ministry, women’s music ministry and inspirational choir will all take part. 1354 South C St.