A Christmas card with meaning

Torus Tammer

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- In 1969, the youth group at the First Christian

Church did a Christmas project as a way to serve the community. Now, more

than 30 years later, the project theycreated still enlightens everyone

who attends.

The drive-through nativity, now in its 32nd year, is an nine-scene

journey that incorporates actors, animals and elaborate sets to recreate

the biblical Christmas story.

The free event, which can be enjoyed from the car window, will be held

from 6 to 10 p.m. today and Friday at 1207 Main St.

“The idea was to view the nativity scene from cars,” said Bruce

Templeton, First Christian Church’s senior minister. “More than 1,200

people drove through in the first year. It used to take 15 minutes to go through it, but today, it’s no less than an hour wait before you even get

in.”

Templeton has been involved with this pageant for 13 years, and it usually takes a full year to prepare for the two-day event.

This year, Valerie Cunningham, the church’s programming director, will

take on the task of directing the living nativity. Cunningham was an

angel in the production when she was a junior in high school.

Templeton said one of the most difficult parts of the show is the

sometimes unpredictable weather.

“We’ve had all kinds of problems over the years,” Templeton said.

“We’ve been rained out a couple of times and last year, the wind storms

destroyed our sets.”

He added the set destruction was so bad, new sets had to be

constructed. Fortunately, congregation member Roy Rankin, a professional

set designer for ABC Television, was able to step in and help.

Linda Garrett, a Huntington Beach resident and nativity performer,

said it’s all about the excitement of watching families and giving to the

community. Her role as Joseph in the pageant is not only the cushiest of

all, but it’s also the most unusual she said.

Garrett recalls how she got the role she has played for 10 years.

“They had a shortage of men one year, and I was there, so I stepped

in,” she said. “You can’t even tell it’s me because I have short hair and

you can only see my back as I face [the archangel] Gabriel.”

David Pate, 43, a fourth-grade teacher at Oak View Elementary School

in Huntington Beach, said he has been involved in this annual event for

many years and still remembers his first performance.

“I first did this when I was a teenager, and unlike today, we had no

speaking parts,” Pate said. “I even remember that one year, one of the

donkeys escaped with the person playing Mary on its back and bolted down

Main Street.”

With time there have been many changes, but mainly in the area of

growth said Templeton.

During the first drive-through nativity in 1969, he said, there were

40 cast members and three scenes. But today, it takes a team of about 300

church volunteers to make the entire production a success.

Volunteers include actors, stage hands, hospitality people, costumers,

traffic controllers, animal wranglers and an array of other crew members.

“We have nine scenes today and 103 cast members,” Templeton said.

The scenes are taken from the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the birth

of Jesus Christ, concluding with the nativity and arrival of the three

wise men.

Upon arrival, each person receives a program with a photo and words

describing each scene. As cars approach each set in the church’s 3

1/2-acre parking lot, lights go on and actors appear in full costume and

recite their lines. The lights then go off and the cars advance to the

next scene. Each car gets its own production.

Templeton said the pageant has become a tradition of sorts for many

people over the years.

In fact, Dan Moss, principal of Hope View Elementary in Huntington

Beach, was the youth minister of the original youth group who started the

project. Moss’ own children have since been involved with some of the

performances.

Templeton said the event has now become a tradition for the many who

participate in the production, as well as for the droves of drive-through

visitors each year, which is now estimated to be about 2,400 and growing.

He added the church youth group originally set out with a goal, which

the church continues to honor.

“From the beginning, the youth group and the church had adopted the

attitude that this is our Christmas card to the city,” Templeton said.

“And we continue to do this by sharing a story of hope with the people of

Huntington Beach and its surrounding areas.”FYI

First Christian Church’s 32nd annual drive-through nativity is set for

6 to 10 p.m. today and Friday at 1207 Main St., Huntington Beach. (714)

536-2589.