Covenant News

39th Bellevue (WA) Live Nativity Draws 1,600-Plus

BELLEVUE, WA (January 3, 2004) - - Newport Covenant Church hosted the 39th edition of its Live Nativity Pageant from December 19-25 as a total of more than 1,600 people viewed more than 40 performances.

Bill Heppner has been involved for 20 years and has coordinated the event for the past 15 years after fellow parishioner Chuck Hunter initially led the effort. He said that 20-25 volunteers help each night, from actors at the nativity to parking lot attendants. Overall, more than 86,000 have seen the Live Nativity Pageant in 39 years with an average of 42 shows per year.

The nativity includes a live donkey named Milo (owned by a local farmer) and sheep are borrowed from other area residents. A bonfire on a nearby hillside, the nativity scene stable and a building depicting an inn are among the visual props used.

Mary and Joseph begin the production on the hillside, leading the donkey toward the inn, and the nativity scene continues with smaller scenes depicting the angel alerting the shepherds of the baby and the wise men coming to visit. There are no speaking parts - the production includes narration of the Bible story with music via an audiotape - but actors have scripted actions as a spotlight shines on the various scenes.

The idea of a live nativity pageant began in 1964 when Chuck and Polly Hunter saw a similar pageant and inquired with Newport Covenant as to whether the church could host a nativity. Newport Covenant hosted a pageant during the Christmas season of 1965 and has hosted the event nearly every year ever since. Heppner said it has become a traditional event for locals, but many curious newcomers venture by as well. About 50-60 cars come to the free pageant each evening from 7 to 9 p.m. A total of 410 cars full of people came this year.

"It's something Christians can bring their non-Christian friends to in a safe setting," Heppner said. "And people driving down the roadway can see the pageant from the road and stop by the church to see it. It's essentially a drive-in theater style. We line up cars in the parking lot and we get about three rows of cars and put on a 15-minute performance. Then we vacate the group of cars and bring in the next group of cars. For the most part, folks will walk up and watch from the front row, although if it drizzles they can watch in their cars from about 100 feet away."

For more information about Newport Covenant and its Christmas nativity pageant, call 425-747-0515.

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