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Spreading the Season's Spirit

December 18, 2023

Delivering “The Perfect Gift,” Clifton’s Immanuel Lutheran Church drive-through live nativity celebrates Jesus Christ’s life from birth to resurrection

CLIFTON – Not just a national holiday, Christmas represents a day observed and celebrated by the Christian communities around world with many different customs and traditions that often vary from family to family.

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton concentrates on the birth and life of the savior Jesus Christ. For the fifth time, the church congregation came together to share the including a live nativity. 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.

As the Bible puts it in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

On Dec. 16, the church welcomed 161 cars – with between two and six passengers, often including youth – driving through the church parking lot which was transformed into biblical Bethlehem, complete with camels, donkeys, sheep, market vendors and wandering Jews. 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. In that vein, in a world of increased commercialization surrounding Christmas time, the church’s Christmas production is primarily to get Jesus’ gospel out to the public. And they do it in a very special and big way that is enjoyed by people all around Clifton.

Back in 2019, Immanuel’s minister Brian McQuiggin suggested over a series of discussions that it be a multi-scene drive through event – a much bigger undertaking for the congregation than just one live Nativity manger scene.

“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. Eager to experience the live nativity, cars were already lining up at 5 p.m. This year the congregation chose to welcome guests in with the religious message “In a dark world, there is only one hope, one savior and his name is Jesus Christ,” instead of Santa Claus with presents.

“Being new to Immanuel, it was truly heartwarming and inspiring to watch the congregation come together to spread the message of Christ with the community – a message of hope, love, and forgiveness,” Rev. James Burke said. “The Live Nativity was a great opportunity for us to share the love of Christ with our neighbors. Our volunteers portrayed the timeless story of Jesus from his birth to his resurrection, highlighting the significance of God's love for the world and how He not only came down to be with us but also to take on our sins so that we should have eternal life with Him.”

After several years of having a vacancy pastor, the congregation was happy to welcome Burke, his wife Lacy and their two sons. The Burkes came to Central Texas from St. Louis.

It takes a lot of people to put on this annual, very impressive, wondrous event. It engages about 80 congregation members and friends to enact the 18 scenes, and many, many more 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. The volunteers present explained 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. The 18 scenes depict the life of Jesus Christ from the angelic prophecy announcing the miraculous virgin conception and birth, performance of miracles and teachings, to the crucifixion and resurrection. 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.

Starting with the shepherds tending their flock at night, from the Prophet Isaiah, to the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary, the revamped scene depicting Roman Empire Ruler Caesar Augustus’ decree that all should be registered and counted so the Empire can impose taxes. Rev. Burke and wife took on the role of Caesar and his wife Livia Drucia. This decree has Mary and Joseph leaving Nazareth and traveling to Bethlehem, the birthplace of their ancestors.

At the Manger scene, shepherds, the three Wise Men from the East bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh gather around the manger with a real, sweet sleeping baby – this year six-month-old Tate Canuteson looked over by his loving and caring parents playing Mary and Joseph. The 2021 Jesus, Piper Meissner promoted to being of the wandering Jews this year.

Five large 6x14-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. A new panel depicting the Last Supper was added to the drive through event.

The next scene visitors saw Jesus kneeling by a delicate blooming tree, in front of a beautiful garden backdrop of a garden – the Garden of Gethsemane. The visitors see Jesus’ arrest by soldiers and then carrying the cross on the way to his Crucifixion.

The very last scene depicting Jesus’ resurrection was also new this year with an impressive new tomb and the magnificently lighted angel announcing that Jesus had risen as in Matthew 28:5-6 “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.”

According to Dana Chastain who sent guests on their way with some candy and a bible should they not have one. Many turned their heads to see the last scenes again as they departed back home, making “The Perfect Gift,” the perfect way to celebrate Christmas.

“Many of the cars were packed with people, some having driven hours to see the event,” Rev. Burke said. “I even saw numerous vehicles loaded with little children; all captivated as they observed the scenes. It was truly a blessing to not only be a part of The Live Nativity but also to have the opportunity to share God’s word with the people around us. It was a wonderful reminder of the Christmas spirit and the profound impact that faith can have on a community.”