Nativity display set for Dec. 14-15

PALMER — Hundreds of nativities owned by individuals in the community will be displayed during Colony Christmas at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 560 W. Arctic Ave. Admission is free and the public is invited to view the display from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 14, and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 15.

“Last year we had over 1,300 nativities,” said Janet Dinwiddie, event organizer. “We encourage even more in the community to bring their nativities to be shared for the weekend.”

People are invited to bring their nativities to add to the display from 5 to 8 p.m., Dec. 12, or from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 13. For more information, call Carol Kenley at 745-4587 or search for “Palmer Nativity Display” on Facebook.

The Community Nativity Display has been part of Colony Christmas for the past 13 years, and each year a room is devoted to a personal collection. This year, Kay Pierce of Palmer will feature her collection of more than 200 nativities she has collected during the past 10 years.

“They all have a special meaning to me,” Pierce said. “I have them in every room of the house and I display them all year. I feel Christ should be the center of your home and not just one day of the year.”

Dozens are displayed in a glass cabinet where on the bottom shelf she has nativities that are kid friendly and her grandchildren know they can be taken out, played with and then returned.

Each room at the Community Nativity Display will be transformed and have a theme. Pierce has chosen the theme of “Treasures of the World.” She has bought nativities on her travels to Germany and France and her children have brought them back for her from Haiti, Japan and Mexico. Friends bring them back for her from other places in the world.

When asked how she has been affected by collecting nativities, Pierce said, “It makes me more focused and helps me realize where I want my focus to be and that is to follow the life of the Savior.”

Community and school musical groups also will perform every half hour. Saturday, the groups include: Colony Middle School Handbells, Steel Drums, Sherrod Elementary Choir, Mat-Su Youth Orchestra, Palmer High School Choir and Jazz Band, Houston High School Band, Birchtree Fourth Grade and Cottonwood Ward Choir. Sunday groups and individuals include: Pioneer Peak Ward Choir, Fishhook Ward Choir, Katie Ellsworth on the harp and Keith Kenley.

This is Dinwiddie’s third year of being in charge and she said she hopes everyone will make the Community Nativity Display a part of their Christmas tradition.

“I love this opportunity to celebrate Christ in Christmas. Sometimes the real reason for celebrating Christmas gets lost and this is a way to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas,” she said. “Come, make it a tradition and see how people all over the world celebrate Christ.”