\ C/f/^Atc
cAroliiW " ■
5^ Per Copy
NEW BERN, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1960
NUMBER 37
All New Bernians agree that the
Living Nativity presented each
year by the Sara Kee class of Cen-
^anary Methodist church makes
:
'■ sti--
C^istmas more meaningful for
” t^s town of OPTS. *
Speaking as one of the charac-
.' tbrs-r(a not so wise Wise Man)—
^vt-the editor bJ? *The Mirror can testi-
' fy that ^o^e who .take part in the
S^ger Scene are as deeply im
pressed by the  sacredness rf the
oijcaslon as are those who ^ee it
ffem their vantage point on Mid
‘ c|e street.
cBentaining motionless for a 20
4innth pe^od wn’t the easiest
thing in the world to do, "and it’s
doubly taxing if you’re one of the
two Wise Men .w^ kneel. But, for
that matter, the angels perched
high above the" tableau, where they
bear the full brimt of chill winds,
don’t fair too well .either;
For everyone, however, it is a la
bor of love, and you get an pppor-
tunity'for worthwhile meditation
nndm: ideal surrotmdings as the
tnihutes pass slowly by. Like every-
tbihg else in life, the performers
and the loyal workers behind the
^ ''sOend get a great deal out' of the
Living Nativity because they put
^ j» Something into it. a
*T ^^’'-It all bellah^ seven years %go,
' tj, the Revv^John JlusseB was
jp’s,at l^tenairy. He and his
I^l.'iBi^^ Russellbun-
'tiakiM- a^ the i>ossi
^sueh pl*ojeet,*and be-
ite ./enthHsiesUc, Mildred
■ ■ 14ihunie spdtlyu|id'
•sS
hf Siug^ott t|
ag Amilt class**’
' l!here too, the idf a caught on
dliibkiyi 'A I. delegatioifefrom the
fldS^'KeadedTbijr Jitamir and Jane,-
c£V Whb urere picked-to head the ven-
s,th!^,. visited a Presbyterian church
Ip- in Wilmington, where a Living Na-
'-tiviiy had been staged annually
J for a number of years.
! - ’^'f^The pastor’s wife ih WiliiSin^on
- Was very cooperative. She showed
^ _ the costumes used by that church
K : to ’^e visiting Methodists, and
Y^. -gave them pointers cm how to avoid
pitfalls in planning? and present-
ing the Living Nativity here. Fortu
§ t' nately, the local project had been
planned early enough to organize
a Nativity scene for that Christ-
.tying
Everybody in the Sara Kee class
- '"pitched in, and got the job done*
Mrs. Eugene Stbwell made the cos
tumes, Paul Cox, who was the as
sistant Craven county *, agent,‘^ar
ranged to get the animals^or the
manger, and others helped in mady
ways,
Mrs. Stowell and Cox still per-
g A form the ddties, first assigned to
them, and Jtnunie and Jane Smtih
stiQ serve as co-chairmen. Although
the Living Nativity^ is sponsored
by tile class that originate it, all
members of the dhureh cooperate.
There are 27 characters in the
' tableau, if you exclude the animals
that add so much to the setting’s
authenticity. Performers are -re
placed at 2p-minute intervals, one
at a tune, and these changes; are-
made so iticonspiciously that they
dejxabt nothing from the. scene.
Presented, as New Bernians
know, on the three nights prior to
Christmas, tiie Living Nativity has
been viewed by countless ^otis-
ands. Year aftpr year, the same
people come back to see the open
ing chapter in the Qreat^t Story
(f 'Told. For them* Christmas
InH be complete if they failed
to IhclUde it on their agenda for
thelfulotide.
. l^osh who present the Living
Nativity have warm praise tor. the
New Beni police >i departih*dt and
city officials. “EverytiUng wissible
has been' dooe to help j^t^ bne df
-to see 8d itn^>«jp(pns
"-.‘ Ago out ofHhem to |iaid|l. ouf
'-^job easier and the fi^iMts toore
Fl-*
L:
,?•
fW
in our oi Bbnie %fa» sei’eidtjr dd dbh-
perathly needed by mortals everywhere*. H mankind, shack-
lit^s, Ihkds fo
aUgels sang over%etIiJehem, the goal of universal broth-
erhood may becom^, in truth, a glovving reality.
For It Is Now
Near and far, to the ends of the
earth.
The world is observing the Christ
Child’s birth;
Thrilling anew to the Christmas
story
Of the manger-born King and
* Jhe wondrous glory
Yhait Bethlehem’s star proclaimed
in the sky.
While heavenly hosts Sang carols
on high.
No sweeter day has been given to
man
Than Christmas, part of God’s
great plan;
In this grand old city, mid historic
scenes.
May we pause and reflect on all
that it means. , .
If God so loved us'that He gave
His Son,
■? A ransom for the sins of every
one, ,
How shMl we value Christmas—
count its worth?
Let!s take care not to desecrate.
As in our joy we celebrate
'iThe anniversary of the Christ
Child’s birth.
Be merry, yes, and may all woes
take wing,
But most of all proclaim the
satisfying.”
Just as the folks at Centenary
Methodist hoped, the entire-town
has embraced the Living Nativity
as a community presentation. “We
just happened to' be the ones who
started it here,” the Methodists
say, “but a Jiving Nativity would
fall short of the objective if all
denominations didn’t find joy and
eifofmers sayi'^’IB^^ihply'jllnspiratioh as they witnessed it,
year after year.” - "
Yes, even as the/Christ Child, it
belpngs to fte all. *
new-born King.
The brilliance of even the rarest
gem
|s dimmed by the star of
Bethlehem;
And precious platinuip or
glittering gold
Can’t challenge the halo that all
behold. ^
With such treasure we’re
wonderfully blessed.
As we worship the Child at
Mary’s breast;
A Holy Babe, Whose Heaven-sent
charms
Found haven in a Virgin’s arms.
Glory to God in the highest.
Again the angel song
Is echoing down thru the ages.
Its notes are clear and strong.
In this old town of our^, may we
Open our hearts and therein see
A star wondrous and so bright
That Time can never dim its
VOlIRHtlRRV
Driue safely
\
Time
light.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come,
Let earth receive her King;
Let little children romp and play,
And song and laughter ring.
Let gratitude ascend new heights.
And selfishness depart;
And kindly thoughts, like
candlelight.
Illuminate each heart.
New Bernians all, by sharing
Our blessings, me and you;
We’ll find the Yuletide’s happiness -
In everything we do.
Sweetly i>ealing Christmas beUs
Bring a message, each one tells
How a stable housed a new-born
King;
Sleepy cattle, softly lowing,
Stood and watched a manger
glowing; '
And ’tis said they kneeled, a
wondrous thing.
We hope here in New Bern, right'
where you are.
Your heart will be reached by
Bethlehem’s star;
And that, with faith and
appreciation.
You too will kneel in adoration.
As our town observes the birthday,
Of One called Prince of Peace,
Let’s lift our hearts in fervent >
prayer j
That wars and hates may cease;
Man’s inhumanity to man
Must vanish from the earth.
And this deserves our serious
thought
Amid our Christmas mirth.
For New Bern may the Yuletide
bring
Blessings, large and small; .
But a world where peace can reign?
suprame.
Pray for most of all.
4|
■|
.>
■
:?V