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pirit of Christmas 2009 arrived amid Oriental’s first serious cold snap, but things warmed up enough for folks to visit the various businesses in town and the non-profit organizations who were offering bites to eat.

We have some scenes from the day, starting with the long-running Spirit of Christmas tradition, the Live Nativity which is performed by the Children’s Theater Workshop on the grounds of the Oriental United Methodist Church.

The Live Nativity at Oriental United Methodist Church and the star in the East, as assisted by a stage technician.

This year’s production featured an impromptu appearance by a Dalmatian who contributed a barn-yard ambiance to the manger. We did not capture that particular photo op, but via the photographs of Bernie Harberts and Melinda Penkava, we can offer some other moments from the day, starting with the Live Nativity:

Shepherds and sheep at the Live Nativity.

More Sheep and Shepherds.

A sheep gets restless and finds a particularly long piece of hay.

Shepherd Jalyn Dunn — who graduated from the ranks of the sheep in last year’s production — endures a tickle.

… works to regain composure…

… and returns to the serious business of shepherding. The sheep, meanwhile, turned his attention to picking more grass and hay.

More from the Live Nativity…

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Angels and Wise Men

Angels hover in the wings.

Brothers Jared and Maverick Smith pause on the side stairs of the church before their debut as two of the three kings. Last minute Wise Men prep included getting laces tied and taking one last look at the script.

Three Wise Men. Luke Holde, between brothers Jarrett and Maverick Smith on the church’s back steps as the Live Nativity was starting. They assured the photographer that there was no rush as they didn’t make an appearance until late in the show.

Enter, Three Wise Men.

After the performance, the choir of angels including soloists Samatha Thall, front left, and Carnell Barrow second row, right.

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At St. Thomas Episcopal Church next door, George Robinson donned the tall red hat and played the role of St. Nicholas.

Santa arrives at the Old Theater for a reading of “The Night Before Christmas”.

Fairies were part of the re-enactment.

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Luminaria

Luminaria and the Star of Oriental Saturday evening.

Christmas miracles aside, luminaria don’t light themselves. Marvin Bullock was one of the volunteers who lighted the candles just before the parade started.

Lemonade from lemons, Flaming Luminaria Division. Candy Bohmert, co-organizer of this year’s Spirit of Christmas, warmed her hands as a luminaria’s outer bag burned to the ground.

About a half hour after the parade ended and dark settled in, the luminaria lighted the Spirit of Christmas night, as well as Oriental’s only rotary.

Hodges Street looking east.

Lumin-aerial shot.

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Dog decked out for the holidays.

Anne Parker had brought chicken soup to the HOPE Clinic’s Spirit of Christmas fundraiser and was heading home with the emptied pot.

One of the best eats on the Spirit of Christmas circuit, the bowls of gnocchi that Gary Mastrodonato and Judi Heit were serving up in front of Croakertown. (Gary was also offering pronunciation tips — nyo-key —for the heavy Italian potato pasta that he’d handmade Saturday morning.)

Oriental First Responders John Messer, Bill Michne and Gerry Enzerink at the grill on Hodges Street where they were serving up hotdogs in exchange for a donation to the first responders’ fund.

John Bloom, whose Equadorean sweater seemed a match for the Christmas lights outside the Wits End. (John says the inside label features a phone number in Equador which he’s never called to say how many compliments he gets on the sweater..)

Not all the color was to be found on the buildings or clothing. Some bright hues were right at ground level. The feet of, from left to right, Grace Evans, Jennifer Roe, Jennifer Smart (2) and Ray Everest.

At the center of the Oriental Star, Peace.

Posted Tuesday December 15, 2009 by Melinda Penkava