in seeing the nativities all in one place. Another 100 or so are in the church shared by Bethany Lutheran and Grace United Methodist in Norway, Mich., where they live part of the year.
Beyond the ordinary Tere’s nothing ordinary about the number of nativities, nor about the crèches themselves. Many are handcraſted and some custom-made, representing more than 65 coun- tries—Ecuador and El Salvador, Ban- gladesh and Bolivia, Israel and India, Poland and Peru. Many are made from material native to the area, with these topping the unusual list: orange peels, bread, bullets, coal, Coke cans, white chocolate, corn husks and banana leaves. In some cases, animals surround-
ing the holy family depict the culture: a pig, elephant, rabbit, llama, horse, bison and eagle. Clothes on the magi are also a clue to ethnic traditions. Every crèche carries a story: where
or whom it is from, how it got to the Gays, sometimes what they had to go through to get it. For instance, Bill’s interest in nativities of Joseph hold- ing the baby began when he learned about a life-size wood-carved holy family in a German church. “A father myself, and soon to be
a grandfather, I became obsessed with locating such a nativity,” he said. “I urged everyone I knew to be on the lookout and I’d reimburse them whatever the cost.” Eventually a sister of one of
Susanne’s colleagues discovered a potter in New Mexico who made custom pueblo-style nativities. Tis became their first of many commis- sioned pieces. Later they found a display of about a dozen nativities all featuring Joseph holding Jesus and bought them all. And aſter seeing a one-piece poly-
December 2014 35
mer clay nativity (of the holy family reclining) on display at a Friends of the Crèche convention, they com- missioned a similar piece, this one with the family asleep and Joseph holding the babe. “If I were to retrieve one from
the Joy to the World collection, that would be the one,” Bill said. “But since the intent was to add it to what was already there, there it will stay.” Meredith Bedker Musaus, a pas-
tor of Holy Cross, said that every time she walks through the narthex she notices something new among the nativities. Clearly the collection serves as
outreach—church and community groups visit to browse or get a full tour and presentation by appoint- ment (
www.holycross.org). Te bottom two shelves (eye level to youngsters) include nativities with
more whimsy, Jannke said, making it perfect for preschoolers to linger, and full of possibilities for youth scaven- ger hunts. “What a wonderful way to teach children the Christmas story,” Bill added. With the growing collection of
crosses on the wall across from the cabinets, Holy Cross visually and verbally shares a message that comes full circle. “We look at it as a way to share
the gospel in an ecumenical way,” Musaus said. “Te gospel takes root in people’s lives as they hear stories— and this is one way to share it.”
Author bio: Sevig is a section editor of The Lutheran.
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