MANCHESTER, NH – Brookside Congregational Church will host a “Living Nativity” event at Stark Park on Saturday, December 17 at 3:30 p.m. Community Christmas caroling at the bandstand follows with the Friends of Stark Park at 4 p.m.
This is the first time the live nativity has been staged at Stark Park.
“We are excited to be bringing our Living Nativity event to Stark Park this year, said the Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt, Interim Pastor at Brookside Church. “The location and timing of the event with the community Christmas caroling will allow us to reach more people with the story of Jesus and share His love with our community and neighbors.”
A Living Nativity is the telling of the Christmas story with actors and real animals recreating the scene in Bethlehem those many years ago. Ancient scriptures will be read and songs will be sung to bring the story to life.
The animals participating in the living nativity are from Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, NH. The event is free and open to the public.
More Christmas Events at Brookside
The church is also hosting its 7th Annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at the church located at 2013 Elm St. in Manchester’s North End. The concert will feature the organ, chancel, and bell choirs of Brookside Congregational Church conducted by the Minister of Music, Kimberly Vars Whitehead, and will include special guest and newly formed New Hampshire Brass.
Admission to this event is also free, but please consider bringing non-perishable goods to be donated to New Horizons of Manchester. If you come a bit early, you can hear the Carillon (bells in the steeple) from 1:15 p.m. -1:45 p.m. – before the concert.
Brookside Church also welcomes you to attend its Christmas Eve Services on Dec. 24. There will be a family service that includes the children’s pageant at 4:30 p.m. and a traditional candle-light service at 7:00 p.m.
For more information visit the Brookside Church website at: http://brooksidecc.info/.
About Brookside Congregational Church
Brookside is an open and affirming congregation, embracing diversity and affirming the dignity and worth of every person. The church invites everyone to join in the common life and mission of reconciling community through participation and leadership in its congregation, and by fully sharing in the worship, rites and sacraments of the church. Brookside Congregational Church is a member of the United Church of Christ, the Hillsborough Association, the NH Conference, and United Church of Christ. For more information please visit http://www.brooksidecc.org.
Community Outreach
Brookside Congregational Church has a tremendous impact on the Greater Manchester community as it provides not only a place of Sunday worship for parishioners, but it also provides a common location for numerous local nonprofits and community organizations to gather on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The mission of Brookside is community-focused. In keeping with its mission, the Church is utilized by over 30 organizations in the Manchester area. The groups that use the Brookside buildings include support groups for alcoholics, overeaters, girl scouts, grief counseling, a community garden for refugee immigrants and neighbors of Brookside, the local food pantry, and various other services including a parish nursing program and local theater group. In addition, two small congregations meet weekly in Brookside’s chapel and the Church is also home to Pastoral Counseling Services and a thrift shop that caters to the community.
