“The Perfect Gift” presented by Clifton’s Immanuel Lutheran Church offers drive-through live nativity depicting the birth of Jesus Christ & his life Dec. 16
CLIFTON – During the Advent – the four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth – Christian communities around the world await his birthday.
Clifton’s Immanuel Lutheran Church offers a very special event during the advent. Each year they share the story of Jesus Christ in the form of a live nativity called “The Perfect Gift,” because through his death and resurrection, Jesus defeated sin, death, and the power of the devil. And in trusting him as the savior, people need not fear death, because God gives his children the gift of eternal life – the Perfect Gift.
This year’s “The Perfect Gift” is scheduled for Dec. 16 from 6-9 p.m. located at 911 W. 3rd, Clifton. For more information, please call 254-675-3281. In case of rain, which is not in the forecast just yet, the event will be scheduled on Dec. 17 from 6-9 p.m.
“We pray that this experience will be a blessing to you and your family as we all pause during this busy season to focus on the true meaning of Christmas,” the introduction to the Live Nativity tour The Perfect Gift states.
Drivers are encouraged to line up on West Third Street to enter the nativity entrance on North Avenue J. Cars should proceed slowly in single file through eight scenes, and exit right onto West Third Street.
The impressive, incredible evening engages about 80 congregation members and friends. But many, many more work behind the scenes making décor, sewing costumes, bringing in the chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys and camels and hauling in the over 40 round bales that lined the route and 90 square bales as part of the biblical scenes.
And not to forget the technical aspect – by utilizing a QR code on smart phones – of the audio narration the visitors in the cars listen to as they drive by the 13 scenes. There are volunteers present to explain how it all works.
As the visitors pass the various religious scenes in the nativity presentation in the comfort of their warm vehicles, they hear the story of Jesus the Savior and why he really is the perfect gift from God to mankind.
As the narration for each scene comes to an end, they hear sleigh bells – indicating to pause the narration and to move on to the next scene. Five large 6 by 14-foot print panels depict Jesus preaching the Holy Scriptures as a young boy, changing water into wine and feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and calming a great storm.
The very last scene depicts Jesus’ resurrection scene and the empty tomb with a magnificently lighted angel announcing that Jesus was no longer dead, but alive.
As the Bible puts it: “And the angel answered and said unto them, Fear not, for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:5-6)
Historically, Immanuel Lutheran was the German Lutheran church amongst the Norwegian Lutheran churches in the community. Where language was the difference maker in the past, today the church is considered the more conservative Lutheran church, taking the Scriptures more literally and remaining unchanging in the face of contemporary culture.
With this Christmas production the church hopes to get Jesus’ gospel out to the public. And they do it in a very special and big way that is enjoyed by people in Clifton and far beyond.
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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