Local Nativity Scene Shut Down

by Ima Phibber

Live nativity scenes are not common these days, but Six Town Hollow Baptist Church still does one every year. Six Town has been doing their live nativity scene for around 100 years, and most families have been involved for generations. They do it nightly during the second week of December each year. Six Town goes all out each year, and Valleyans and people from outside The Valley come see it year after year.

The nativity scene hasn’t missed a year since they started it in 1925; even covid couldn’t stop it. It was interesting to see the characters with masks, but they kept it going. They’re always there on the 2nd week of December, rain or shine. Unfortunately, they had to shut it down after 2 nights this year.

Let’s just say, what could go wrong, went wrong. First, Baby Jesus came down with hand, foot, and mouth, and he passed it on to 3 other kids that were involved. Also, Mary got it, and it was rough on her. So, they had to find fill ins for all these people, and they ended up using a baby doll as Jesus for the first time ever. Next, Ms. Josephine Ramm accidentally drove her car into one of the props and destroyed it on the first night. She accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake, and luckily she didn’t hit a person or animal in the nativity scene. Ms. Ramm couldn’t be reached for comment, but everyone said she felt horrible for what happened.

On the second night, they had issues with the animals. The donkey named Balaam kicked two different adults involved with the program. One was ok, but the other has a hairline fracture in their shin. One actor said, “I guess Balaam decided to talk with his legs. He is a mean thing. We gotta find a new donkey next year.” Next, one of the male goats got loose, and he climbed up on the Hill’s car and caused some damage to the hood. After they got him off, he rammed the side of their vehicle and caused more damage.

As the second night was winding down, Ms. Karene Downs drove her car off in the ditch as she was leaving. A tow truck had to be called to get her out, and that caused all the cars to be stuck in line for about 40 minutes. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Bro. Moses Joseph, the pastor of Six Town Hollow Baptist, said, “We had to shut it down. We didn’t want to do it, but we felt it was necessary. We were going to be running low on actors; a couple of actors had also gotten the flu. I know Valleyans are disappointed, and we are disappointed too. But, we’ll do it again next year, and it’ll be better than ever. We’re not gonna let Satan shut it down for good. People need to realize Satan is real, and he’s going to get after you sometimes. We just have to put our faith in God, and realize that he’s gonna get us through it. A great verse of scripture for this is John 16:33. God is good!”

MERRY CHRISTMAS Valleyans!!!