Living nativity finds new home in city

The Breath of Heaven Living Nativity has found a new home for this year’s presentation.

The annual event is moving from its former home in Oberlin to St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 15617 Mason Road in Vermilion, and will take place from 4-8 p.m., Dec. 9 and 10.

Kathy Sklarek, organizer of the event and head of the Breath of Heaven Committee, explained why the venue was changed after nearly 20 years in a prepared statement to The Morning Journal.

“The majority of the leadership at Grace Lutheran, in Oberlin (the former home of the event) has decided to put many stipulations on the Breath of Heaven production,” Sklarek said.

“The church buildings and grounds have become very limited for our use, making it impossible to have this wonderful outreach continue there.

“Although the members of Grace that serve on the nativity are saddened by this, we understand that God has a great plan, and we will follow his lead. We are blessed and thankful that the folks of St. Matthew Lutheran in Vermilion have welcomed them into their church and grounds.

“The members of St.

Matthew are very excited, as are we, to celebrate this milestone year, and future years in Vermilion.”

There are more congregations involved than the two she mentioned, Sklarek said.

Members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Wellington, Trinity Lutheran Church in Vermilion, St.

Paul Lutheran Church in Amherst and Kipton Community Church in Kipton are involved.

Sklarek also wished to thank several groups that helped with moving the nativity’s supplies to Vermilion from Oberlin: Two Men and a Truck, Kohl’s Cares Ladies, Lorain County JVS, Ace Hardware, Sterks

of Oberlin, Firelands High School Select Choir and baseball team, the Rev. and Mrs. Richard Kretchmer, Swanzer Agency Realtors and Mohr Stamping.

Tom Gargasz, a new member of the expanded committee, said the nativity is a great teaching tool.

“Instead of listening to Matthew, the Christmas

story, it’s actually living it,” Gargasz said. “There’s people who keep coming back.”

The free event is about a 15-minute walkthrough guided by a talking shepherd in groups of 15.

It is free to the public. Nonperishable food items are welcomed and will be donated to local food pantries.

KEITH REYNOLDS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Members of the Breath of Heaven Committee pose with wooden camels Sept. 14 at their new location St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 15617 Mason Road in Vermilion. One of the camels lost a leg during the move.