MANSFIELD, Ohio — Linden Road Presbyterian Church is displaying a free nativity exhibit featuring approximately 400 nativity sets from Dec. 11 through 13.
The exhibit, in its second year, started as a unique opportunity to involve the whole congregation in something that would be “the church’s gift to the community,” said Doug Beilstein, who’s coordinating the exhibit with his wife, Mardy.
“We’re certainly not the first [church] that’s ever done this.”
He’s right. The Pines Christian Church in Mount Gilead is looking to break a world record this year for the largest display of nativity sets.
“We went down there [to The Pines Christian Church] for advice and to see what their exhibit was like,” Doug said. “They’re going to have over 2,000 [sets] on display.”
The Beilsteins have been collecting nativity sets for years. The first one they got was in 1973 at the old YMCA on Park Avenue West.
They now have about 250 sets, 200 of them are displayed in the church’s exhibit.
Other people have contributed multiple sets for the exhibit, including Rev. Carl Cunfer, a retired Lutheran pastor.
Visitors can view his collection of approximately 175 nativity sets at the church’s mission house at 908 Maumee Ave.
Doug said Cunfer holds a display at his house every three years and “jumped at the opportunity” to participate in the church’s exhibit.
Cunfer collected many of his sets while visiting foreign countries.
Set-up for the exhibit began Monday and finished Tuesday, the Beilsteins said.
“The interesting thing is we don’t have duplicates,” Doug said. “They’re all different.”
The mediums vary from ceramic to glass, metal, wood and more.
“An awful lot of them have stories behind them,” Doug noted.
The exhibit will be Friday, Dec. 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. The church is located at 160 S. Linden Rd.
While viewing the displays, visitors can enjoy live music in the sanctuary by Trillium Winds (a flute trio), pianist Dr. Tom Gregory, and Harp & Hammers (harmonica and hammered dulcimer).
There will also be free hot chocolate, coffee and cookies, as well as a drawing for a free nativity set.
For more information, visit christmasinmansfield.net.
