The live nativity scene will unfold outside St. Joseph Catholic Church.
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sea Isle City will celebrate Christmas with a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus in a live nativity scene featuring parishioners portraying Mary and Joseph and others.
Now in its fourth year, the event will take place at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the church at 43rd Street and Landis Avenue.
It will begin inside the church sanctuary with a narrator telling the story while costumed parishioners of all ages act out their roles through mime and gesture.
The audience will later move outside the church as the re-enactment continues in a hay-filled barnyard stable depicting the humble birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
Costumed parishioners portraying Mary and Joseph, the three Wise Men, shepherds and angels will be part of the live nativity.
Adding to the realism of the manger scene will be a collection of live animals, including camels, donkeys, sheep and goats.
Each year, St. Joseph Church’s live nativity is one of the centerpieces of the holiday celebration in Sea Isle. The public is invited. Hot chocolate and cookies will be available after the event.
