Local church performing live nativity this week
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POCATELLO – A local church is continuing its new tradition of performing a live nativity every Christmas season.
Grace Lutheran Church will perform “A Living Nativity” this Wednesday with three showings at 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at 1350 Baldy Avenue. People who come to the showings, which are free of admission, will be able to park and watch from their cars as actors from the church perform the nativity.
“Jesus is the reason for the season and we just keep doing it because we know it blesses so many people,” said Liz Robinson, the church financial secretary.
In addition to about 50 actors, the show will also have live camels and donkeys to bring the 20-minute nativity scene to life. Audience members can tune their radio to hear a narration of the nativity, hearkening back to the days of drive-in theaters.
“It tells the story as the actors move throughout (the performance area). So it’s like a play, but outside, and you can stay in the comfort of your car,” Robinson described.
This tradition began in 2020 when the church wasn’t able to hold its regular Christmas events due to the pandemic.
Thinking about the live nativity they held on Christmas Eve, Robinson said that Pastor Jonathan Dinger thought of a solution.
“Let’s bring this to a larger scale to get more people here to see, and in the comforts of their car,” Dinger said, according to Robinson. “Our pastor (has) a very creative mind.”
After receiving a positive response from the community, the church decided to continue the show alongside its other Christmas events.
A packed crowd for each show led them to add more showtimes. Church members are glad to continue bringing this show to the Pocatello community.
“(The live nativity) makes it more real for people and it brings a special meaning to the season and what the season is really all about,” Robinson said.
