WHATELY — For the first time in several years, the Whately Congregational Church’s Living Nativity returns this Sunday at 2 p.m.
The annual Christmas event, which began in the mid-1990s, brings the birth of Jesus to life with live character performances, along with a live animal cast featuring oxen, a chicken and a calf. The play will be held at the church’s carriage shed, which is next to the parking lot. Whately Congregational Church is at 177 Chestnut Plain Road.
“We have not done it for two years, but it is a tradition,” said Adelia Bardwell, one of the event’s organizers, adding they began the event once the church’s carriage shed was restored through a grant. “Once the shed was restored, one of our Sunday School teachers said we should use it. At that point we started using it with our costumes, which were ancient.”
Those “ancient” costumes are still in use to this day and Bardwell said they are still “absolutely gorgeous.” Donning the outfits will be three wise men, three shepherds, Mary, Joseph, an angel and, for the first time in a few years, a baby portraying Jesus. If the weather remains clear, the live animals will join the cast, but the play will go on without them in the case of inclement weather.
The play will be narrated by Whately Congregational Church Pastor Cynthia Crosson-Harrington, who has taken on the role of narrator since 2007, and will last around 30 minutes. Folks are encouraged to dress warmly and sing Christmas carols that will be interspersed throughout the play.
Afterward, people will be invited inside to warm up with some refreshments. Bardwell said church members are excited to bring the Nativity play back to the community.
“People are looking forward to it after being shut down because of the virus,” she said.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.