Reason for the Season

King of Kings Lutheran Church presents its 9th annual Live Nativity December 12 and 13.

As we prepare to spend the next month decorating our homes and Christmas trees and purchasing gifts for loved ones, King of Kings Lutheran Church in Glenpool calls us all to remember the true purpose of the Christmas season. In an effort to carry out the mission to celebrate the birth of Christ, King of Kings will be presenting a Live Nativity event on Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13 at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. each night, in the field just southeast of 151st Street and Highway 75.
Complete with costumed actors, sheep, camels, a donkey and a stable, the Live Nativity depicts the story of Christ’s birth from the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, through the arrival of the three wise men. Pastor Rick Tabisz will narrate the Christmas story while the actors illustrate the journey, conflicts and celebration the family experiences. At the end of the presentation, audience members are invited to sing “Silent Night” and warm up with hot cocoa and cookies while petting the animals and visiting with the cast.
“The Live Nativity is a simple reenactment of the birth of Christ that everyone in the family will enjoy. Several families have told me they make this a part of their Christmas traditions every year,” said Pat Bartley, co-chair of the public relations committee. “When we all sing together at the end of the performance, it creates a truly beautiful, peaceful feeling within.”
The presentation lasts about 30 minutes and is performed regardless of the plunging temperatures. Seating is provided, but Bartley urges spectators, “Please dress appropriately and bring blankets. The metal bleachers are very cold.” The Live Nativity takes place on 13 acres located on the southeast side of Highway 75 and 151st Street in Glenpool. Please arrive early to find seating. Porta-Potties will also be available.
This is the ninth year King of Kings Lutheran Church has presented the Live Nativity. “We are a missionary church,” Bartley says. “This is our small way of sharing Christ’s love with the community. Our goal is to capture the feel of our Savior’s birth. It isn’t about commercialization; it is about the simplicity and the joy of the occasion.”    
This project is free to the community, and funding comes from both the congregation and Thrivent Financial, an organization that does much more than offer financial services. They also provide outreach opportunities that enable members to help their communities and congregations.
Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) has also given a grant as part of its mission to support congregations in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod as they carry out witness and mercy work in their communities.
“The entire presentation is a testament to the season. The volunteerism that it requires is truly indicative of the Christmas spirit,” says Bartley.
“We look forward to you joining with us in thanksgiving as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ: Son of God, King of Kings, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and yes, the real ‘reason for this season’ of Christmas.”