Holiday special: Peace Lutheran Church to host nativity scene collection display

Ashland's Peace Lutheran Church is celebrating the start of the 2023 holiday season by hosting nativity scene collection display.

Organizers John and Doris Wanamaker said the event will be held at the church, 1360 Smith Road, Ashland, 4-7 p.m. Sunday and will include more than 200 nativity scenes in various art forms from over 50 countries.

The couple says they have displayed their scenes in Ohio cities, including Millersburg, Mansfield and Bowling Green. Doris Wanamaker said this will be the second time the displays will be presented in Ashland. They also have had open houses at their home.

"We have collected for a long time," John Wanamaker said.

Doris Wanamaker said the nativity scenes were acquired through fair trade organizations, where the artists receive the bulk of the purchase price. Their biggest nativity scene was made in Bethlehem.

"That one lives on the table all year long," she said.

Although the couple is bringing about 200 scenes to the Ashland church, their collection has well over 500. The scenes range from figurines to wall hangings.

Half of the collection is ornaments.

"In my book, as long as Baby Jesus is there, it becomes a nativity scene," Doris Wanamaker said. "And some of them are just Baby Jesus and Mary or Baby Jesus and the shepherds or Baby Jesus and an angel. So, not all the displays are that big or there would be no way we'd have that many."

Different cultures use different materials for nativity scenes

The couple said they were fascinated with the idea of how different cultures used native materials to create how they see Jesus.

"That is why we accumulated a variety and once we had them, it felt like we really like to share them," Doris Wanamaker said. "Part of the reason why we have so many is because I wanted Baby Jesus. And the first one that was given to me was by John's mother. It was a very renaissance style and Baby Jesus was a toddler. I just kept looking for the best and over the years I found there is only one perfect Jesus. That is Christ himself."

Doris Wanamaker also shared her favorite scene, which is a picture done by an artist in Ukraine. She explain both the picture scene and the biggest scene that she and John Wanamaker have are significant this year, as Ukraine and Israel are experiencing turmoil and war.

"Two countries that really need the peace of Christ right now," she said.

The Wanamakers encourage everyone to attend the event at Peace Lutheran Church, including those who are not religious. John Wanamaker pointed out artists would appreciate the symbolism and artwork of the scenes.

The event is free and family friendly.

"We would like the public to come and see what we have and [we will] share the story of Jesus," Doris Wanamaker added.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Peace Lutheran Church hosting nativity scene display event