Nativities and Noels will feature hundreds of depictions of the birth of Christ
Organizers say Nativities and Noels, a free, three-day Christmas event in Topeka, has something for just about everyone. Christians will love hundreds of different and often very touching depictions of the birth of Jesus Christ.
But people who love culture and travel, art, handicrafts, music or creativity (can a Nativity really be made of pinto beans or of recycled auto parts?) will find much there to enjoy.
This year’s Nativities and Noels — which is now in its 12th year — will be Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Topeka Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2401 S.W. Kingsrow Road. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
This year’s display will feature 900 Nativities from about 100 countries. Many are new to the display or haven’t been shown for a few years. Visitors will be struck by the wide variety of ways to represent the same event and the many different materials used.
Nativities are on loan this year from members of nine Latter-day Saint congregations in the area and from friends from 21 other Topeka-area churches: Christ the King Catholic Church, Community of Christ, Countryside University Methodist Church, Crestview United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, First Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church (Garnett), Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Holton First Christian Church, Mater Dei Catholic Church, Meriden United Methodist Church, Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, New Hope and Love Community Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. David’s Episcopal Church, St. Mark’s African Methodist Episcopal Church, Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church, Topeka Bible Church, Topeka First United Methodist Church and University United Methodist Church.
Nativities and Noels will also feature ongoing live Christmas music from singers and instrumentalists of various ages and faiths. Among other musicians, Washburn Rural High School's This Generation will sing at 10 a.m. Friday, and Topeka Suzuki Strings will perform at 11 a.m. Saturday.
“Christmas Around the World” is the theme of the popular 7 p.m. Saturday Nativities and Noels music program this year. Christ-focused Christmas music from many countries around the world will be shared by members of Latter-day Saint congregations in the area; the New Hope and Love Community Church Praise Team; Ghana native Pastor K.O. Noonoo, of Westminster Presbyterian Church; and the Emporia State University Community Flute Choir. There will also be audience sing-alongs and small ensemble numbers.
This family-friendly event also includes a “seek and find” game, which children and adults enjoy; a Nativities craft for children; and grab-and-go refreshments.
A church friend who has helped with Nativities and Noels for many years expressed well the feelings that many other visitors have had about this event: “It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. Nativities and Noels brings many people together to celebrate our common belief in a little Baby, born to new parents in a humble stable. It’s a beautiful opportunity to ground us in our common beliefs, re-center us and put off the stresses a commercialized world wants us to believe are essential to celebrate the season.”
For more information, visit Nativities and Noels on Facebook.
Carol Christensen is chair of Nativities and Noels and the volunteer communication director for the Topeka Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Nativities and Noels will feature hundreds of displays in Topeka
