Nativity Scene Lives at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in North Potomac

Every December Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (PoP) takes Christmas to the streets of North Potomac with a living Nativity.  

“We put it out there and share the Christmas message with everyone, “ said PoP Senior Pastor, Steve Buechler. 

Since the late 1990s, church members have been donning costumes and braving the elements by standing out on the church’s front lawn to spread Christmas cheer to rush hour traffic on Route 28.

The idea to take Christmas outdoors began when a few congregants got together and organized construction of a wooden stable, making of costumes and enlisting volunteers to stand outside on the cold nights preceding Christmas to portray scenes from the manger.

Due to staff and program changes at the church, there were a few years where the Nativity did not take place, said Buechler, who first came to PoP in 2002.

“Over the years the Nativity has been a great opportunity for fellowship and outreach,” he said. 

Different groups within the church take part on different nights to stage a scene from the Christmas story. For example, said Buechler, one night the Council will act out the scene, the next night might be the youth group, another night may be the Confirmation class.

Many warm memories for PoP members have come from standing outside on a cold winter’s night. Neil Howard, long time PoP member, fondly recalled “drinking hot chocolate in the cold night air and listening to Christmas music while we posed.”

“The year we had the big snow…I think it was 2009… I recall one of our members coming over with a snowblower, “ laughed Buechler, “and we blew through 18 inches of snow so we could stand out in front of the stable.”

And after years of wind, rain, sleet and snow exposure, and long months in the storage shed, the stable had fallen into disrepair.  In November, church members came out to rebuild the structure in time for the 2011 living Nativity season.

Sharing the Christmas message has had a positive impact not just on PoP members but the community, as well, which makes the effort gratifying and worthwhile. Last year someone showed up with cocoa and donuts, said Buechler, and just wanted to thank us. 

“We are touching the lives of people we don’t know about… and we get glimpses every now and then of the impact,” he said.

The Living Nativity will take place Dec. 19- 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 11900 Darnestown Road.