Sharing the story of the season First Baptist Church's live nativity is Dec. 18

First Baptist Church in Forest City will again present a live nativity for the community on the fourth Sunday in Advent.

It is an event the church has been presenting for 25 years, said First Baptist's Minister of Music, the Rev. Tony Spencer.

"It was started a few years before I came here by Clyde Buckner, but we've been doing it annually for about 25 years."

The live nativity is something that the entire congregation becomes involved with, he continued.

"I've got a person who staffs the manger, and another who builds it," he said. "Another member provides animals. Others handle the refreshments. We've got it down so that everyone has a task."

The youth choir provides the telling of the Christmas story through song. The music, "There's a Song in the Air," incorporates traditional Christmas carols. The youth choir begins practicing the music each year in September, Spencer said.

"The entire musical presentation is about 20 minutes long, and we will present it four times during the two hours," he explained. "People can listen to the music and walk over to the nativity and pray."

In the event of rain, the church tries to reschedule the event within a few days of the fourth Sunday in Advent. Sometimes, though, it has been rained out.

"One year I decided that we weren't going to do it that year, because I thought it was time to give it a rest," Spencer said. "I quickly found out that wasn't a good idea. I had no idea how much it meant to our congregation and our community."

The congregation's involvement, he said, "is what makes it beautiful." After two decades, some of the youth have now grown up and have children of their own who are taking part, making the event multi-generational for families.

It has become something the church family expects, and the community has provided tremendous support.

"We have groupies," Spencer said. "We have some churches who always come and make it a part of their worship experience."

Spencer added that the event is meant to focus the attention on the real reason for the season.

"We want people to have this expectancy of Advent - hope, peace, joy and love," he said. "We are telling the story that's been told for 2,000 years."

The live nativity will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 18. For more information, contact the church at 828-245-6626.