Habitat readies Nativity Festival, community concert

Staff report
Considering that a barn is no place to give birth, it’s fitting that Habitat for Humanity brings awareness to its cause in Greene County each Christmas season with a festival that celebrates Nativity sets.

The annual Nativity Festival, returning Sunday to the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, raises money to support Habitat’s effort to repair and replace substandard housing across the county.

Simply put, no one should have to give birth next to a donkey.

The many varieties of nativities — those treasured family keepsakes displayed every season — will again be the center attraction at the festival.

Public viewing of Nativity sets, donated for display by local collectors, begins at 3 p.m.

Call Jill Lamoureux at 515-370-4785 to reserve space for a Nativity set to display.

There also will be a silent auction of Nativity sets, along with a one-of-a-kind children’s rocking chair.

The festival’s community concert gets underway at 3:30 p.m. with gathering music from a brass ensemble made up of players from the Town & Country Band and the brass group from Central Christian Church, in addition to seasonal numbers by a couple of pianists.

The featured performers in the 4 p.m. concert this year will be the Greene County Singers, which got its start from the massed choir that concluded the 2015 Nativity Festival concert.

The 35-member choir is directed by Sheilah McGregor-Pound and accompanied by Cheryl Nailor and Chad Schmertmann, new music teacher at Greene County Middle School.

The choir’s opening song will include ballet dancers from Nicole Bennett-Tuel’s Prairie Blue Creative Arts program.

Other performers in the concert include the Praise Powered Trio from Rippey; the St. Joseph Guitars from the Catholic Church in Jefferson; the Joyful Noise women’s choir of the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson; the Central Christian Church Adult Choir; a classical piano solo by Schmertmann; a duet by Greene County High School students Michael Kennedy and Nadia Fisher; and the brass ensemble.

Tori Riley, of Jefferson, will read her original poem, “Newborn Grace.”

The concert will close with a massed choir directed by McGregor-Pound.

Anyone who wants to sing in the massed choir is asked to attend a 3 p.m. rehearsal in the sanctuary.

Master of ceremonies for the concert will be Harry Ahrenholtz, a member of the local Habitat board and a member of the Jefferson city council.

Following the concert, a soup supper will be prepared and served by Greene County church congregations that regularly support Habitat for Humanity. Members of the Greene County High School Interact Club will assist with serving the homemade chili, chicken noodle soup and dessert.

During the supper, a pie auction featuring the very best bakers in Greene County will take place.

Auctioneer Dale Higgins will be joined by Teresa Mobley and Angie Jewett in pulling the highest bids for incredible home-baked pies.

The Nativity Festival is the sole annual fundraising event benefitting Habitat for Humanity in Greene County.

Admission is free, but free will donations will be accepted.

Contact Us

Jefferson Bee & Herald
Address: 200 N. Wilson St.
Jefferson, IA 50129

Phone:(515) 386-4161