Methodist manger is vandalized

Marisa O’Neil

Some Grinch stole the baby Jesus and a sheep from a local church

nativity scene.

Life-sized, hand-painted plywood cutouts of Mary, Joseph, the

three wise men and one sheep gaze adoringly at an empty wooden frame

for a cradle in front of Mesa Verde United Methodist Church.

Church leaders did not notify police when they found the pieces

missing Thursday morning, but the loss is significant to them, the

Rev. Stephanie Toon, associate pastor of the church, said.

“It’s just a piece of plywood; it’s worth about $10,” Toon said.

“But it’s worth more to us.”

It’s the second time in about three years that someone has taken

the baby Jesus out of the display, she said.

The theft was made all the more hurtful because children in the

Sunday school had made the creche.

“The kids make it every year,” Toon said. “They cut it out of

plywood and paint it themselves. They do it and take ownership of

it.”

Parishioners put the nativity scene out in front of the church the

first weekend in December, she said. “It makes me feel terrible,”

parishioner Lillian Johnson said. “I suppose it’s just some kids

pranking. Maybe they didn’t mean anything about it, but to take the

creche was a little much.”

Toon has used the theft to spark some good sermons, she said, and

she’s trying to maintain a sense of humor about the incident.

“We can say: ‘Is Jesus missing in your life?’” she said.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.