Our Stake Center has what they call Nativities from Around the World every year. It is a huge event that has grown over the last 7 years. For the last 3 years it has been ranked as one of Spokanes top 10 things to do during the Holidays. that is so awesome. The stake center is literallhy taken over by nativities of all shapes and sizes and people stand in line to get a chance to get inside and partake of the spirit of it all. Every night there are concerts from different choirs of the area. Children's choirs, cathedral choirs, etc. The gym is decked out in all Christmas galore, lights, trees, and tables surrounding the edges and in the middle all beuatifully adorned with Nativity sets that people have donated to the church for the week. There are over 300 nativities on display. In the Young Women's rooms there is a childrens area were they can play with less fragile sets of nativities and even get the chance to dress up and play in their own nativity scene. Good think I have plenty of kids to fill those precious spots. All the above picture is missing is a Joseph and Mary, which in hindsight daddy and I could have done, but well, the kids look so darn cute anyway.
The Releif Society room this year held a new exhibit called The Life of Christ with a pictorial chronology of Christ's life. We did not make it in there, but hope to see that next year.
Overall, it is a wonderful way to celebrate this Holiday season. I am so grateful to have such wondeful teaching moments like these for the children. They loved the childrens area and got all their wiggles out before going in to be reverent and see all the Nativity sets. They loved them and had a great time seeing sets from places like Peru, Mexico, Italy, and Portugal as well as Nativities made from Legos and toilet paper rolls, paper mache, and nuts and bolts. There were the small and cute sets and the obviously expensive and imprressive sets as well as sets that were handcarved or blown from glass. It was an amazing, spirit filled night. I cant wait for next years display!
