Let us praise Him
Actors included, Actors Melissa McIntosh, Josh Hay, Tula Hay, Gord Bracken, Owen Wilkinson, Wendy and Garry Church, Jennifer Holmes Bracken, Gord Church and Jenna Church.
On the Saturday night before Christmas Eve, the Church family and their friends from Clandeboye orchestrated a truly magical event – a “Live Nativity Scene” held within the cozy walls of Garwen Farm’s barn. The idea had been brewing in Wendy Church’s mind for years, waiting for the perfect moment to come to life. And this year, with an assortment of animals residing on their farm and their grandchildren reaching an age where they could comprehend and participate, it was clear that the stars had aligned.
Seventy-five guests lined up outside the barn, and received instructions to ensure everyone respected and didn’t startle the gentle creatures dwelling within these rustic confines. With a lighthearted warning about potential encounters with scented remnants from our furry friends’ abodes, all were primed for an unforgettable experience.
Escorted into the barn by friendly guides, each guest found themselves comfortably seated on rows of square hay bales. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as voices hushed and eyes eagerly scanned their surroundings.
At 5 p.m., without uttering a single word (except for our feathery clucking companions or woolly bleating co-stars), the performers brought forth unparalleled storytelling through their silent motions. The spotlight fell solely upon a captivating narrator who skillfully guided everyone through this timeless tale – one filled with wonderment and profound meaning.
For twenty minutes that seemed suspended in eternity itself, guests witnessed Christ’s miraculous birth amid humble straw-covered floors echoing soft hoofsteps and fluttering wings above us all.
When curtains eventually closed on this extraordinary spectacle beneath twinkling starlit skies overhead – there was no immediate rush towards exits or farewells exchanged. Instead, refreshments beckoned alongside warm fellowship; an invitation to prolong the enchantment experienced and savor the lingering magic that transcended.
Photos by Brett Mitchell
