CARLSBORG — Sequim Valley Nazarene Church is bringing back its living nativity guided tour with live actors and animals to tell the Christmas story.
Pastor Jerry Luengen said last year the living nativity brought in about 400 people to take the guided outdoor tours at the church at 481 Carlsborg Road.
“I imagine we will experience a significant increase this year,” Luengen said. “We’ve got so many compliments about the event from the community.”
For this year’s living nativity, Luengen said the church improved both sound and lighting for the event with microphones on all the actors, speakers on every stage and better lighting along the tour path.
The first set of performances run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Saturday and another on Dec. 15. Four tours are offered every night and each tour is about 40 minutes to 45 minutes. Admission is free.
There are 21 actors of all ages portraying the biblical characters in the Christmas story and Luengen also serves as a guide bringing guests to each of the six scenes in the tour.
The living nativity also boasts a 10-foot statue of Gabriel.
Luengen said the church wanted to tell the Christmas story by sticking as close to the biblical text as possible.
“It’s a realistic representation of the Christmas story,” Luengen said.
Guests are asked to park at Greywolf Elementary School on Carlsborg Road, where they will be bused to Sequim Valley Nazarene Church for the living nativity.
Attendees also are encouraged to dress warmly as the tours are outside. In the case of rain, some umbrellas will be provided for guests but the tours will continue, rain or shine.
Some snacks, beverages and Christmas music will be provided for guests at the church before each tour.
For more information, Luengen at pastorjerry@sequimchurch.org.
________
Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
