Event planners at Harvest Community Church were surprised at the huge turnout for the Avilla and Lincoln 4H Clubs’ fundraising event on Friday evening, Dec. 7, that included a living Nativity scene complete with live animals, a music festival featuring youth and adults, and a food/craft bazaar that filled just about every available space in the building.
Sheila Andrews, a member at Harvest Church, became the event coordinator as the plans grew in scope.
“This started out as an idea for a fundraiser for 4H,” she said. “The kids all have animals, so they put their heads together and said, ‘Hey, let’s do a live Nativity,’ and then, ‘Hey, let’s do it at the church and have a craft bazaar and give away cookies!”
Sheila said it blossomed into a community event that added musical performances, and vendors and artisans selling their wares to raise money. Area churches and community members joined in to help. The 4H group plans to go to Washington, D.C., this summer on a 10-day trip to Citizenship Washington Focus, a youth citizenship and leadership event.
Bringing their experience and assisting with the Nativity scene were Jennifer Chandler, a member at Harvest, and Nancy Young from Forest Park Church – Carthage.
Nancy said that she used to have a Living Nativity at her house.
“Jennifer helped me,” she said, “and we did it off and on for about 10 years.” Jennifer added, “This is the first year we’ve had the Living Nativity here. It’s cold, so we’re doing it in shifts, and we have about 15 to 20 performers.”
Jennifer said that Harvest Community Church has been here for about seven years, and this is the first such event they’ve hosted. “The first year is always a learning experience.”
