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Dear Friends,
Advent is a time of waiting and preparing.
This waiting differs from the idle waiting at an airport. We are invited into an active kind of waiting where we prepare ourselves for the birth of Christ and what it will mean for us.
Tom Goetz, one of our active, longtime members, has been preparing in a unique way. Tom has been busy building a beautiful, handmade wooden nativity set for our church. Unlike a store-bought nativity, this one is built with wood given by members. With the exception of the African Mahogany he sourced for the project, all the wood is local. The oak used for the barn siding originates from the Gideon Hart Homestead here in Westerville, which was built in 1820.
Tom started this project many months ago. Just like our Advent experience every year, it took a lot of work and time to finally arrive at the manger. Each piece of the nativity set is unique. The characters have no distinguishable facial features, allowing everyone to imagine themselves in the story. Except for Mary in her traditional blue fabric, and Joseph with a burlap cloak, all characters of the nativity story are made of simple and beautiful wood. Without clothing from a particular time period, they remind us that the story of Christ’s birth is for all people of every generation.
It was important to Tom that he work in different woods and keep the natural finish. The characters are as unique as each of us, because we all come in different shapes, sizes, and skin colors. We are all unique masterpieces and do not need extra finishes to impress God.
When he was working in his wood shop, Tom remembered when he was a little boy helping his father build a nativity set. These are precious memories, reiterating how special it is to share the message of Jesus from generation to generation. Thank you, Tom, for your timeless gift to us.
We are also grateful to Kara Chapin who made the gorgeous glass star hanging over the manger. With her skills as a stained glass artist, she has added a special and lasting touch to this magnificent manger. How wonderful to have our own artists who contribute their time and talent in various ways to prepare us for Christmas. It is a gift we will treasure for years to come.
Happy Advent,
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