Prosper Commemorates 10th Annual Live Nativity Tradition
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by
Janae Rogers
PROSPER, TX—Celebrating its 10th year, Prosper’s annual Live Nativity, presented by local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, invites all members of the community to Frontier Park on December 9 from 6-8 p.m. to honor the Savior’s birth and experience the joy of Christmas this holiday season.
“We feel a great love for the Savior and know that many others in the community do as well,” says Lisa Schaack, the program’s casting director for the last decade. “We are grateful many families have made it a part of their Christmas traditions and hope we will all leave inspired to focus on the true spirit of Christmas.”
Originally inspired by the Main Street Bethlehem exhibit in Austin, Gina Hema — the architect behind Prosper’s inaugural Live Nativity 10 years ago — wanted to devise a way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas locally with the rapidly growing Prosper community. “We Celebrate Because of Him” was born through her ingenuity and planning.
With illuminated sets and an audio program describing each scene, costumed actors and more than 100 volunteers donate their time, talents, and resources to prepare for this one-night event.
“From the very beginning, it was meant to be a gift from our church to the community here in Prosper,” says Hema. “A way we could unite together and celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
John Sallaway, a congregational leader during those first years of the program says, “In the blessed but busy and often contentious world we live in, if we can bring people together under a common message of peace and goodwill towards one another, we feel that is an important gift to give to a community we love and appreciate so much.”
This year, guests will again view the outdoor 12-minute program much like a traditional play. Cookies and hot cocoa will be served as visitors wait for the next performance to begin. The presentation runs every 20 minutes.
To keep the Live Nativity accessible over the years, the Church of Jesus Christ in Prosper has had to make many critical pivots — sometimes at the last minute.
Last year, when inclement weather threatened to cancel the program, volunteers rallied to move the production inside. Previously, to accommodate COVID-19 precautions, they offered the program in a drive-through format so patrons could view the experience while staying socially distanced.
Hema is thrilled to see her vision persevere throughout the years. “I was touched to see how church members adapted the Nativity and made it work even during the pandemic,” Hema says. “The soundtrack was adapted, more costumes were made, and set pieces were built, all so that the community could still come together and celebrate together during this time of year. To me, that feeling of community is so important. To be able to worship and celebrate with your friends and neighbors of all different faiths is key to building relationships of trust and friendship within a community.”
“[We have] received far more from this community than we could ever give back,” continues Sallaway. “Our lives have been blessed by countless teachers, administrators, coaches, civil servants, and volunteers. We are mindful of just how lucky we are to raise our family here.”
The Live Nativity program runs from 6-8 p.m. at Frontier Park, 1551 Frontier Parkway. Ushers will guide patrons as they listen to the story via recorded audio. It promises to bring peace and joy to all who participate.
