It’s not everyday that you get to see an actual camel in a church in Wilmette, but parishioners and community members flocked to Trinity United Methodist Church to see the animals, celebrate Advent and enjoy the church’s sixth annual “Meet Us at the Manger Live Nativity” held on December 10.
The live nativity is Trinity’s own unique take on a traditional Christmas pageant.
“It’s a way to involve the congregation and welcome people from all over,” said Catherine Inserra, Trinity’s Director of Christian Formation and Student Ministry.
People gathered outside of the church to pet the live donkey, sheep, goats and camel that were resting in a fenced in area on the front lawn. The animals were rented for the event from a farm in Wisconsin and have been a big hit since the tradition began in 2012.
Congregation members of all ages make up the ensemble. This year cast members ranged in age from 9 months — Henry Cheng as the baby Jesus — to 100-year-old Ruth Hanna, who has played Angel Gabriel since the nativity began. But that is simply the spirit of the church. “It’s very intergenerational, which is a reflection of Trinity,” Inserra said.
Trinity first started hosting a live nativity when a group of parishioners came up with the idea, after doing some research and looking at other churches that hold similar events. The Church of Holy Comforter in Kenilworth has held a similar event and lends some of the costumes to Trinity.
After the community has a chance to visit with the animals, everyone headed inside the church to watch a narrated pageant of Jesus’s birth and sing classic Christmas carols such as O Little Town of Bethlehem and Silent Night.
Baby Jesus was cooperative during the pageant, sitting happily on the laps of his parents dressed as Mary and Joseph, while angels sang and third grader Ben Diep narrated the story from a podium. All of the animals were lead through the church by shepards who prodded them along with food.
Everyone watching the event seemed to enjoy the festivities, laughing as the Wise Men carefully stepped around droppings the sheep had left behind and cheerfully singing Christmas carols.
“It’s really a lovely event. You have people of all ages singing common beloved Christmas carols,” Inserra said.
