As the social fabric of this world slowly frays, it is good to have traditions and events that bind us tight.
The annual Live Nativity Scene at First Presbyterian Church will be held again this Christmas and the community is urged to simply drive by and contemplate what it means to Clarksdale and the world. The Live Nativity Scene will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.
In the event of rain inclement weather it will be held that next night at the same time and place.
The Live Nativity Scene is an outreach to the community of Clarksdale and has been presented by First Presbyterian Church since the early 1950s, when the building housing the Congregation was downtown on East Second Street.
Elder member John Barnes remembers his older brother, Harris Barnes and his wife Jayme, participating in the inception of the display of the first Christmas after Harris and his brothers Bill and Jack returned from serving in World War II. Newspaper articles in the Clarksdale Press Register verify that members of the First Presbyterian Church Sunday School class, Singles and Doubles, posed as characters in the early days.
When the Congregation moved to its current location on West Second, the scene was set up along the alley next to the Church connecting West Second to Catalpa Street.
In subsequent years it was set up on West Second, east and then west of the sidewalk, remaining near the intersection of West Second and Smith Street for many years.
Because of easier access, the scene was moved to the current Smith Street site.
The Scene is now planned by the Outreach Team of the Church and all members participate. Since 2015 students from Presbyterian Day School have also participated as characters in the Scene.
Even in 2020, a reduced cast of Mary and Joseph was presented to the community.
Only rare weather conditions have ever prevented the presentation.
Press Register pictures and articles from 1954, 1955 and 1965 are included in Church scrapbooks. The Manger Scene became The Living Nativity Scene and for the past many years has been called the Live Nativity Scene.
Original characters were Mary and three Wise Men and now include Joseph and shepherds. A host of angels keep viewers’ attention while shifts change every fifteen or twenty minutes. A Mediterranean Burro and sheep were added to the cast about twenty years ago. In recent years several different animals have been provided by the Jim Roberts family.
Church history records in 1964 that the Scene was presented December 22, 23, and 24 and “has become a tradition and is a source of inspiration to Church members and Community at large.”
The community is urged to drive by First Presbyterian this Christmas and see what Christmas is really all about.
