Faces Of The Nativity: A Celebration Of Jesus Christ

Online, October 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - What better way to start the holiday season. A three-day open house sponsored by local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints starts on Friday, December 3. Besides the nativity exhibit celebrating the birth of Jesus, special musical performances are scheduled. Age appropriate activities will also be available for children.

The nativities come from the personal collections of church members-many brought home by former Mormon missionaries who served two-year missions in foreign countries. The birth of Jesus is very personal to people around the world. Here you will see how artisans from such countries as Liberia, Egypt, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, the Philippines, Greece, Tanzania, Nigeria, France, Finland, Guatemala, China, Korea, Israel, and the Netherlands view 'the manger scene' through the prism of their own culture.

A growing number of people view the exhibit each year-attendance increased from 2,000 in 2008 to more than 2,600 last year. "This is our gift to the community," said Lewis Bautista, Stake President (ecclesiastical leader over eight local congregations). "Like all Christians around the world, we treasure the spirit of kindness and giving at this time of year and wish to say thanks by opening our doors for this display." This is the fourth year that local Mormons have sponsored this event.

This year "Faces of the Nativity" will be held at 2801 Douglas Drive in Crystal, MN on Friday, December 3 from 6pm to 9pm; Saturday, December 4 from 3pm to 9pm; and Sunday, December 5 from 10am to 5pm. Free Admission.

Musical performances included: Crimson Harmony, Maple Grove High School, Friday, December 3, 7:00pm, and Mormon Chorale, Saturday, December 4, 7:00pm.

For more than 150 years, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have called Minnesota home. Today membership has grown to over 28,000 in 70 congregations across the state. November 2010 celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Minneapolis Stake with congregations in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth and Waconia.