We are thrilled to have you join us for our encore production of Night At The Nativity. Our playwright, Marc Thompson is a member of our sister church in New York City. This years script was re-visited over the summer by Marc and our guest writers; Shari Simpson-Cablin, and Glenn Stickley as we came together in Los Angeles for a writers weekend of hilarity! Boy was it fun!
I would love to take a few minutes to share my thoughts about this production and why I believe it can have great spiritual impact for a hurting world.
I sincerely believe that the religious world has given God and the idea of following Jesus a bad rap. If you spend any amount of time actually reading the Bible and trying to live it, you will be greatly astonished at how radical, inspiring, freeing and HILARIOUS Jesus actually was. If I don't look any further than myself I have so many reasons to find that God has a great sense of humor (just ask any of my close friends!). We hope that this play refreshes your perspective about God and inspires you to seek a deeper understanding about Him through the scriptures.
Night at the Nativity is an opportunity to laugh and allow our hearts to be touched through the stories of a few outrageous characters. If we feel tempted to take ourselves a bit too seriously we may consider this production irreverent….unless of course we are willing to acknowledge the fact that when we do see a Nativity in the Mall or anywhere else, they are in fact, just statues. If we are at all interested in the "real" story then I would like to encourage us to refer to Luke 2:1-20. The story of the birth of Jesus is remarkable, supernatural and a humbling attempt on God's part to reach out to his children through a child. As a mother, my heart is moved every time I consider what God has done for us through the Christ child.
Tonight I would like to encourage you to sit back and hold the hand of your wife, child, husband, sister, brother, friend or family member and just laugh. Enjoy yourself. We've had a wonderful time collaborating as this project was developed and feel honored to share it with you. Thank you so much to the cast, crew and all of our volunteers who have given their heart and soul to Night at the Nativity. I am personally grateful for all of you who have been willing to take this jouney with us.
Merry Christmas and thank you for coming.
Gina Stickley
Director, Night at the Nativity 2015
