FAYETTE – Organizers at Fayette Baptist Church are gearing up for their annual presentation of The Living Nativity, a celebration of Jesus’ birth. Highlights include a 30-minute multimedia presentation followed by a live Nativity scene set in a working stable.

Scheduled for Dec. 11-14, the event is expected to bring in more than 1,000 visitors, exceeding the totals of previous years. Originally planned for three days, the program was expanded to Thursday night after tickets for Fayette’s 300-seat auditorium began to run out.

The Rev. Russell Cotnoir said interest in the event is spreading for a number of reasons, including music and drama performances that portray events surrounding the life of Jesus. “Several years ago we added the indoor program,” he explained. “After that, it really took off.”

After attending the multimedia presentation, visitors will be escorted outside the church where they will hear 20 “angels” recite the announcement of Jesus’ birth. From there, the program will follow Mary and Joseph to a nearby farm where visitors can see the true-to-life Nativity scene.

Involved in the Christmas program since he arrived at Fayette 15 years ago, Cotnoir believes that people enjoy coming to his church at this time of year to get a unique look at what life was like more than 2,000 years ago. “A lot of places do live Nativity scenes where people drive by and look out from their cars,” he said. “This is different because people walk right through it. It’s a full sensory experience that has all the sights and smells of the real thing.”

The staff of 100 working on this year’s program is trying to make it accessible to as many people as possible. Vans will be provided for those who need assistance moving from the church building to the farm, and a sign language translation for the hearing impaired is scheduled for Sunday night. Nursery care will also be available.

The multimedia presentation is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the Fayette Baptist Church, 39 Baldwin Hill Road. It is recommended that visitors dress warmly.

Tickets are free, but Cotnoir said that supply is limited and time constraints prohibit expanding the schedule any further.

Organizers are inviting everyone, with or without a ticket, to come and see the outdoor portion of the program. Anyone wanting to make reservations or find out more about the Christmas program should phone the church office at 685-9493.

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