Nativity scene a natural wonder
It’s a real-life away in a manger – although it’s a bit hard to keep your nativity scene actors in line when they want to keep eating the props.
The Christmas Wonderland at Inglewood Christian Fellowship, at the Mamaku Centre, is a celebration of all things Christmas, with a live band, a Christmas tree decorating competition and a throwback to what the first Christmas was really like. In the makeshift stable outside, there are lambs, calves, goats, bunnies, Mary and Joseph with a baby, some day-old chicks that organiser Dave Hunger will pick up on the day – and even some cardboard camels.
‘‘I had trouble sourcing camels so I resorted to those,’’ Hunger said. ‘‘There’ll be some disasters – people will get pooed on; we’ll have to make sure the kids don’t squash the little chickens.’’
It would paint a more realistic picture than the typical nativity scene Christmas card with stars and shepherds, he said.
‘‘This is about creating an outdoor nativity scene similar to how Jesus was born, with real animals and a real stable.’’
It’s the second year they’ve had the live nativity, but the Christmas event has been going for a number of years. He emphasised that he was just a part of the much bigger team that pulled the event together.
‘‘It’s just about our church family wanting to bless the community – wanting to do something cool for the community at Christmas time.’’
Last year they had 1200 people through over the two nights, he said. ‘‘It’s about peace and friendship and all those good things rather than hustle and bustle.
‘‘We make Christmas out to be a lot harder that it needs to be.’’
The event is open to the public from 7-10pm tonight. Entry is free.