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Riverside Community Church will have its drive-thru live Nativity scene Saturday and Sunday. (Photo provided by Riverside Community Church)[/caption]
MACHESNEY PARK — Riverside Community Church wants to take people back in time this weekend to experience the first Christmas.
The church's drive-thru live Nativity scene is back this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The display, held outside the church at 6816 N. Second St., features about 45 characters — both human actors and animals. Among the live animals are donkeys, sheep, camels, goats and lambs.
"Just seeing the story of Christmas helps people understand what God did that first Christmas, when he sent his son to be born in a smelly manger," Pastor Bob Sheets said on This Week in the Stateline. "I think people get a good idea of what it might have been like that night in Bethlehem."
This is the ninth year for the A Night in Bethlehem live Nativity scene, which is presented for free.
"It's a crazy time of the year, people get busy," Sheets said. "We just want to give them the chance to slow down for a few moments and experience the true picture of Christmas as a gift from us."
Cars typically line up in advance of the 6 p.m. opening. Once on the church grounds, it takes roughly 10-15 minutes to move through the drive-thru display. The route is lined with about 400 luminaries.
"Our live nativity lets people travel back in time to Bethlehem to experience the story of Jesus' birth," Sheets said.
When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12
Where: Riverside Community Church, 6816 N. Second St., Machesney Park
Listen to Pastor Bob Sheets interview with Steve Summers below.
Andrea discusses why it is not a great idea to give a pet as a Christmas gift in the area unless you are ready to make the commitment, and how the adoption process has changed in a COVID-19 world. In addition, she discusses how to donate cash and/or products to keep the shelter moving forward for Rockford.
Runtime: 7 Minutes
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Amy Nord is the executive director of the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce. (Photo provided)[/caption]
Amy Nord, executive director of the Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce, joins Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline to talk about the multitude of upcoming events the chamber is hosting.
"I think the biggest challenge for us is just finding events that people are comfortable attending," she said on the show. "We have really tried to find that sweet spot of balancing in-person events that are a smaller number of people ... and then some larger events that we can hold."
You can listen to the full interview below:
