Local church celebrates diversity in nativity scene
A local church has unveiled a relevant new take on the nativity scene that not only honours the birth of Jesus, but also invites people to realize that God is part of all our lives.
“Christmas isn’t just about celebrating something that took place 2,000 years ago,” says Rev. Nick Coates, minister at Red Deer Lake United Church in southwest Calgary. “It’s also an invitation,” Coates says. “It’s an invitation to get in on what that crazy story about a virgin birth, shepherds and baby Jesus is all about: that God is here, with us and for us, leading us towards new life and a new world.”
Coates notes that with the hustle and bustle of Christmas all around us, it can be easy to forget what is at the core of the season.
“By contemporizing some of the traditional imagery and by decolonizing some of the characters, the hope is to create a scene that sparks curiosity, engagement and wonder, and causes people to hear that invitation and enter into this story in a new way.”
Local artist and Red Deer Lake United Church member Larry Stilwell says he was inspired to create a nativity scene that differed from the same visual references that have been painted or sculpted for centuries. “Since the 14th century, European master painters have formed our visual opinion of what the Nativity looks like, thereby shaping what it can mean,” Stilwell says. “As a Christian, I embrace the values of inclusivity, but haven’t found those values reflected in traditional nativity scenes. So, I chose to step away from tradition.”
As a result, Stilwell created a nativity installation that celebrates the diversity of our society and addresses some of the challenges we face. For example, the stable reflects homelessness, with an intentional unsubstantial feel created in its construction.
“The shepherds are poor teens, reflecting a reality of Third World shepherds today,” Stilwell continues. “The magi, in contemporary dress, reflect cross-cultural wisdom. The angel, the bringer of the good news of Christmas, holds a shofar and stands at the entrance, beckoning all to come in.”
Red Deer Lake United Church is located just off the southern side of Highway 22X/Spruce Meadows Trail; eight kilometres west of Macleod Trail South.