BETHEL — The Bethel Alliance Church is preparing for its annual Living Nativity scene at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at the town common. 

Pastor Kevin Bellinger said the the Living Nativity in Bethel began around 30 years ago.

“A woman named Sue Farrar started it, as far as I know,” Bellinger said. “She used to own a dance studio in Bethel, and over time, we picked up the slack.”

Bellinger said anyone is welcome to attend and participate.

“The Bethel Alliance Church has been trying to enlist as much help as possible,” Bellinger said. “The community has been fantastic about helping. Some people help by singing Christmas carols, and I’ve seen other people in the region even bring animals for the Nativity scene.”

Among the animals that Bellinger said community members have brought are cows, goats and a llama.

“I’m not sure there was a llama present for the birth of baby Jesus, but it was still great,” he said with a laugh.

Bellinger said each year the church chooses a different family to be Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.

“This year, we found a young couple who recently had a kid to play the holy family,” Bellinger said. “Resident Drew Webster typically enlists volunteers who want to be a part of the Nativity scene.”

Bellinger added that his wife, Nancy Bellinger, helped figure out which positions need to be filled, and that new pastor Nicholas Lutzo is helping with the lights.

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