Live nativity in Fieldon

By Editor | December 8, 2021 |

By Carissa Sitki

Tidings of comfort and joy were felt over the weekend in Fieldon where a live nativity was held, along with a chili supper, all at the Masonic Lodge. After being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual event was back in full swing on Sunday, Dec. 5.

Fieldon United Church of Christ (UCC), in cooperation with Fieldon Baptist Church (FBC) and the Fieldon Masonic Lodge #592, put on the event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There was no charge, but a free will donation was taken up to benefit the Sunday School.

The event had two groups that put on the live nativity. The first group was Fieldon UCC and they began at 5 p.m. The second group was FBC and they began at 6 p.m. Both groups had people dressed as Mary, Joseph, Magi, angels, Star of Bethlehem, and shepherds and they all sang Christmas carols. There was a donkey, cows, and a camel in an enclosure alongside the manger to set the scene as closely as possible to that of the first Christmas.

Patty Fanning of the Fieldon UCC Sunday School group said that the event was very successful. “We started out with eight or nine pans of chili and now we’re down to one,” Fanning said toward the end of the evening, “so I’d say we had a pretty good turnout.”
All of the food and drinks were provided by the church, which held a meal of hot dogs, chili, and other refreshments inside the Masonic Lodge.

“These events are great because people can socialize and spend time together enjoying food and conversation,” Fanning said.

Fanning was not sure how many years the churches have been putting on the event, but said she believes it to be somewhere around 11 or 12 years.

“This is such a wonderful community event, everyone comes together and pitches in,” Fanning said. “It’s also great outreach for the attendees to get to know each other.”

Fieldon UCC will be celebrating their 155th anniversary on Sunday, Dec. 12, with a luncheon following the 10 a.m. service. The church will also be showing a slideshow of Saints who have died in the past 155 years, beginning at 8:50 a.m.