Enjoy the spiritual side of the season

Experience a global celebration of the Christmas season at Come Let Us Adore Him, an annual nativity exhibit hosted by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today until Tuesday in Sidney.

The collection of more than 800 nativity scenes is one of the largest in Canada and includes hundreds of local and international crèches.

Some are family heirlooms on loan, while others have been donated by community members.

The collection is a reflection of the birth of Christ as seen by people from different cultures around the world, including Germany, Japan, Israel, Brazil, Hawaii, Africa, Philippines, Italy and Mexico.

The crèches are made from native materials, including olive wood from Bethlehem, terracotta from South America and bamboo from the Philippines.

The event includes activities for children, including a scavenger hunt, arts and crafts, dress-up and small toys to play with.

The exhibition is free for public viewing. The exhibit runs 2 to 9 p.m. daily today to Dec. 5 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 2210 Eastleigh Ave., Sidney. For details, go to sidneynativityexhibit.ca.

You can also view a collection of nativity displays at the Crèches around the World Exhibition, Friday to Sunday at St. Aidan’s United Church.

This is the third year for the event, which will likely see up to 80 crèches in the exhibition.

The exhibition started with St. Aidan’s minister Rev. Cheryl Black, who has a particular interest in crèches, displaying her varied and interesting collection.

Members of the congregation and friends, in turn, have donated crèches for the exhibition.

Librarian Louise Booth will have a display of children’s books for the Christmas season, which are free to borrow.

The exhibition is free to view, but donations to the Out of the Rain Youth Night Shelter are welcomed. It runs 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

Three other activities will run alongside the exhibition: • On Friday, the opening day of the exhibition, a flute and guitar duo will provide seasonal music with mulled cider. • Saturday is Family Day, with parents invited to bring their children to view the exhibition and then draw/create a crèche. Mulled cider will be served. • On Sunday, visitors are welcome to view the exhibition before a one-hour free concert by the Victoria Children’s Choir, starting at 11:45 a.m., in the church sanctuary.

All events take place at St. Aidan’s United Church, 3703 St. Aidan’s St., in Saanich. Details at staidansunited.ca.