In Iowa it has become cliche to say ¢â‚¬Å“If you build it they will come ¢â‚¬ �, but that is exactly what the Urbana Christian Church is hoping will occur on December 16. On the 16th the Church will be hosting a live nativity at their location at 108 E Jefferson Ave  in Urbana.

¢â‚¬Å“We as a church are continually looking for a way to engage with the community, ¢â‚¬ � Pam Gibbs the minister replied. We are a small but active congregation and we would like to make a big impact on our community. We view this as an opportunity to reach out and celebrate the season with our neighbors. ¢â‚¬ �

This will be the first time that the Church has planned for a live nativity with the animals. Even in a rural area, finding the right animals can be a challenge. Elder Bryan Schaeffer was quick to volunteer the use of his wife ¢â‚¬â„¢s goats. ¢â‚¬Å“We have three pet goats that will love the attention; as long as there are some apple slices for them at the end. ¢â‚¬ �

In addition to the nativity, the Church will also be handing out free hot chocolate and cookies. ¢â‚¬Å“Nothing makes looking at lights and the symbols of the season better than a little snack. ¢â‚¬ � Gibbs commented. ¢â‚¬Å“We ¢â‚¬â„¢ve got some excellent cooks in our congregation, so I ¢â‚¬â„¢m excited to sample a few! ¢â‚¬ �

The Urbana Christian Church Live Nativity is December 16, 2023 from 6-8pm.