Crowd Not Scared Away by Rain: Follow the Star Sees over 4500 Attend

The storms of December 11th and 12th didn't scare away those that wanted to see “Follow the Star, a Living Nativity”. According to Ken Gibson, the local Public Affairs Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the event attracted over 4,500 people from communities in Rancho Santa Margarita.

That is only 200 less than last year's show when there was perfect weather almost every night. Ken Brown, the volunteer Sound Engineer, said, "When I saw the storm forecast, I decided to put up several large tents for the audience to stand under if they wanted to escape the rain. On Friday and Saturday, those tents were a Godsend."

Shows occurred on the half hour and while waiting for the next show guests were invited to see the Crèche exhibit which included over 400 international nativities.

From the traditional to the bizarre, you saw everything. A beautiful French nativity, that took up an entire wall that included over 30 townspeople coming to visit the baby Jesus. A five foot puppet nativity set and even a nativity made from kitchen appliances. To keep young hands from touching the delicate displays, hosts handed each child a “Seek and Find” game with pictures of eight select nativity characters they were to find in the large room.

Once families were done in the Crèche exhibit they headed down the hall lined with paintings depicting Christ’s life. Then they opened the doors and were welcomed back in time to experience the “Living Nativity”.

One musical number set the tone before each show. Tijeras Creek Elementary School Choir and soloists from other Christian churches performed songs of the nativity. Then the magic began with the simple story of Mary and Joseph making the long journey by "real" donkey to pay their taxes.

The lights direct you to the field with the heavenly angel telling the shepherds of Christ’s birth. Then you see Joseph turned away at the Inn. He leads Mary to the stable only to be greeted by three regal kings. The scene ends with the light on the beautiful baby in Mary’s arms. The cries of the "real" baby in Mary’s arms extend over excerpts of the Hallelujah Chorus.

Submitted By;
Karen Lake