Update: The Journey to Bethlehem drive-thru nativity has been postponed to Dec. 20 and will still be from 7-8 p.m.
When the end of the week arrives, Christmas carols will play out of the bell tower at First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, as residents experience the church’s first drive-thru Nativity.
With Christmas right around, the corner the drive-thru Nativity on Dec. 18 from 7-8 p.m. was established by the church to shine a light in darkness during a difficult period for residents. The live nativity will depict the journey to Bethlehem and features Cranbury families and teens.
“When we imagined how difficult this winter could be for so many folks, we knew our job was to shine a light in the darkness, for us that is the light of the Christ child,” Pastor Hannah Lovaglio said. “So, how could we tell the story in a COVID-19 safe way? We came up with this drive-thru Nativity.”
Luminarias will lead the way for those attending the event, which is behind the church on South Main Street in the Brainerd Cemetery. Attendees’ cars will make their way through the church parking lot to the nativity that consist of family pods on different stages.
“We will have people on Main Street and in the parking lot, along with cones also helping people, because there are three or four entrances into the cemetery from the parking lot,” Lovaglio said. “We will make sure people come in the right way and come out the right way and take the same path, so they do not miss any part of the story.”
The depictions consist of a star on display, a family as the Wise Men, a single angel, a family that will be portraying a multitude of angels, a family playing the shepherds and a family that will depict the Holy Family.
“It is all spaced out throughout the cemetery with luminarias and people will be able to drive through. There are signs along the way that tell the story from scripture. There will be spotlights on these tableaus (motionless depictions of figures),” Lovaglio said. “People won’t be moving, they will be depicting a snapshot of each scene. Then we have this incredible bell tower that plays beautiful music, so for the whole hour when people are driving through we will be playing Christmas carols from the bell tower.”
The church is asking that when car windows are down people wear masks, and walkers won’t be allowed for people’s safety during the pandemic and safety at night.
“We wanted to do something that would capture the story and wonder of Christmas. We will stay out there as long as we have people,” Lovaglio said. “We may not be able to gather in the ways that we are used to, but this is our job, to be a place of hope. It is our job to offer hope, peace and joy to the community and congregation regardless of the circumstances.”
In previous years, the church has done a Nativity processional down Main Street in Cranbury, but due to the current pandemic the processional could not occur in 2020. The idea for a drive-thru Nativity at church instead came about in the late summer.
“We have all the costumes and teenagers and families that are used to participating in that event. The drive-thru was easy repurposing and energized us, once we knew it was possible,” Lovaglio said. “It has really come together in the last two months, between logistics and we even had a kid fly his drone, so we could get a bird’s-eye view of the cemetery and find the path that made the most sense.”
Lovaglio added that she wants people to pass along hope from the event to those who are in need of it this season.