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Elena Allison and Mylee Hendrix proudly display their nativity scene which will be part of the Tri-Community Creche Display in December. (John Hernandez photo)
By John Hernandez
Copper Area News
A committee made up of people who love Christmas have been working for several years within the Tri-Community to bring the meaning of Christmas through the display of crèches or the nativity scene during the holiday season. The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints along with the committee are sponsoring the event. The church has given permission for the crèche display event to be held at their facilities located at 1st Avenue and Griffin in San Manuel. A large room will be decorated where the collected nativity sets will be creatively and artistically displayed. Beautiful background music including your favorite Christmas songs will be playing in the background. There will also be a special “Children’s Room” where kids can enjoy themselves and make their own nativity scene with art and craft supplies furnished by the committee. This year John Richins a local Cowboy Poet will be telling cowboy Christmas stories and reciting Cowboy Christmas poetry. The event is open to the public and is free.
Crèches (Nativity scenes) are being collected by the committee to use in the display. Last year over 550 nativity scenes from over 40 countries were on display. Some of the nativity scenes were family heirlooms handed down from generation to generation. One crèche was over 100 years old. If you have a nativity scene, wall hanging, picture or anything that depicts the birth of Jesus and would like to have it be a part of the display, contact Dorothy Staggs at 520-896-9780. Each nativity box will be labeled with a number for tracking purposes and it is asked that you put your name and phone number on the box. If your crèche does not come in a box, please provide one so that it can be labeled and given a number. Crèches will be treated with the utmost care. The committee will be collecting crèches until Nov. 23. Anyone can loan their nativity scene for the event. You do not have to be a Tri-Community resident.
This year’s Tri-Community Crèche Display will open on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The display will continue on Dec. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jon Richins will be reciting his Cowboy Christmas Poetry. The final day of the display will be Sunday, Dec. 8 from 2 – 5 p.m., followed by “A Musical Celebration” at 5:30 p.m., a Christmas Devotional at 6 p.m. with refreshments served at 7 p.m. This is a remarkable Christmas activity for children and adults alike. Invite friends and family to enjoy the Christmas spirit at the Tri-Community Crèche Display.
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