Bennington Congregational Church will present a live Nativity Sunday, Dec. 4. Last seen in 2019, the Christmas Story will be acted out in downtown Bennington by volunteers from area churches, working with community members to bring the scenes to life.
The pageant begins at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Congregational Church, with Cate Stahl as narrator. Teri Hardwick will reprise the role of the angel Gabriel, and several children are returning as shepherds and angels. Amanda and Zach Matott will portray the Holy Family, with their son Zach as the infant Jesus. Anne Trow is costume mistress as well as organizer-in-chief, and Molly Flower Eppig is the director.
Linda Osienski is the resident artist and sheep-wrangler. Dan Trow is the sound engineer, and Alan Bissette will lead the singing of the carols. The audience is part of the play, since the action is punctuated by everyone singing the traditional carols.
After the pageant, at around 5 p.m., the Parade of Lighted Trucks, sponsored by the Recreation Committee, will travel down Main Street in downtown Bennington. Audience members at the Nativity play can view the parade from in front of the church. To enter a lighted vehicle, contact Bethany Manley Craig at bethanylcraig@yahoo.com.