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By Ayanna Eckblad

New Life Christian Church of Albert Lea today and Saturday will host its annual Live Drive-Thru Nativity event, something they have done for 27 years.

“The thought was to present it as a gift to the community. ‘What can we do [that] the community in the Albert Lea area would appreciate?’” said the Rev. Vern Harris. “‘What would they enjoy during the Christmas season?’”

Almost three decades ago, the event was created, and the tradition stuck. Since its beginning, the live Nativity has only had to be canceled three times due to weather-related issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.

A lot goes into organizing an event of this scale, with major planning beginning in early August. According to Harris, about 120 people take part, usually including a small group of people from Albert Lea Vineyard Church. People sign up to play different roles, including being Mary and Joseph, shepherds, wisemen and angels, as well as a crew to set up and take down the sets. Because there is an unspecified number of shepherds and angels at the event, as many people can take part as they want.

During the evenings that the live Nativity takes place, participants take shifts of about 20 minutes each, with people in identical costumes taking their place. Those on break can spend time warming up inside with hot cocoa and cookies.

Another major part of the event is the animals. This year, there will be sheep, donkeys, cattle and goats. Farmers in the congregation supply some of the animals for the live Nativity while others are rented out from other places.

Harris hopes this year’s live Nativity brings joy and good fellowship to the people of the community.

“Everyone that comes through feels like they’ve drawn a little closer to the true meaning of Christmas,” he said. “We get a lot of feedback from people saying that this is a part of their Christmas tradition. Their family Christmas starts with the live Nativity and they go from that and … start doing other things for the Christmas season.”

The church always keeps their live Nativity as a free event.

“We have done this for all of these years and we never charged for it and we never will,” Harris said. “This is our gift to the community.”

Sometimes, however, people insist on donating. In those cases, Harris and the congregation encourage people to donate to causes such as Toys for Tots and other organizations that help people in need during the Christmas season.

The Live Drive-Thru Nativity will take place at New Life Christian Church from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and Saturday.