Christians Across Auburn Gather for Nativity and Noel
AUBURN—A Christmas open house, with nativity displays and music concert, was held as a collaborative effort between several local Christian churches. The event, called Nativity and Noel, was hosted on December 1, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1255 Bell Road in Auburn, California, organized by the Church’s music coordinator, Amanda Hardman.
Local Christian congregations provided nativities as well as choirs that performed as part of the music concert. Participating churches included Seventh Day Adventist Church Grass Valley, Sierra First Baptist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Parkside Nazarene, Unity of Auburn, and Faith Lutheran Church.
Several hundred people attended Nativity and Noel. Visitors walked through the nativity exhibit rooms, stopped by the Salvation Army donation area, took photos with a life-size nativity donated by Sierra First Baptist Church, and stayed for the music concert.
When asked about whether or not the event would be held again next year, Hardman replied, “We were thrilled and thankful for the community that came and attended Nativity and Noel. Our hope was to unify with other churches and people in the community and we definitely succeeded! We will continue to hold tight to our new friendships and plan to serve together in the future. We are excited to announce that we will have Nativity and Noel in 2024 and would love even more members of the community to be involved!”
Nativities and art
Decorated Christmas trees were set up in every room. A few hundred nativities were displayed in rooms throughout the building as well as fine art depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. A children’s room was also provided, which was filled with nativity-themed activities for younger children.
A portion of one room in the nativity exhibit as part of Nativity and Noel in Auburn
People flowed from room to room viewing nativities from around the world as well as art and nativities created locally. Nativities ranged in size. Visitors browsed small nativity scenes, such as a tiny Italian silver and glass scene of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Other nativities were larger, such as the multi-tiered German Weihnachtspyramide and a Maasai nativity complete with giraffe and zebra.
Browse photos of the Nativity and Noel below.
Salvation Army’s Angel Project
The Salvation Army of Auburn also participated in the event with a donation area for its Angel Project with hanging racks for receiving new coats for children. Many coats were donated that evening, a range of sizes hanging on the racks by mid-evening. People could also sign up to be the angel for a child; the angel received a tag listing the gifts that the child would like. The Angel Project still needs more coats for children: donors can drop them off at the Salvation Army in Auburn at 286 Sutter Street. The Salvation Army also requests volunteer bell ringers to sign up for the Christmas season.
Music concert
In the chapel, located at the heart of the building, people filled the pews as well as many rows of folding chairs that were set up to extend the seating area to accommodate the size of the audience. The folding chairs filled quickly and volunteers began to set up more rows of chairs to provide additional seating. “By the time the performance started, we were setting up several hundred more chairs,” Denise Hoffman said, adding, “We estimated a total of 650 people attended the event.”
The hosting choir, led by Amanda Hardman, performs at the Nativity and Noel concert on December 1, 2023.
Bishop Heath Simmons of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the meeting with a welcoming message and Cindy Magan of Grass Valley Seventh Day Adventist opened the concert in prayer.
The first few pieces of Christmas music were performed by a choir led by Hardman, including The First Noel. Other pieces included a Christmas medley on accordion, Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring performed by a vocalist and a cellist from Unity of Auburn, followed by a cello solo of Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming, and a vocal trio of men accompanied by another cellist.
Vocalist Denise Anya and cellist Michael Lawson from Unity of Auburn perform Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring
The choral group Voices of Praise from the Grass Valley Seventh Day Adventist Church sang two pieces, led by Kalandra Williams and accompanied by violin and piano.
Voices of Praise from Grass Valley Seventh Day Adventist perform Emmanuel
Even more instruments were featured throughout the evening. A duet was played on guitar and recorder, a solo vocalist was accompanied with piano, and a string quartet performed Gesu Bambino.
Next, a group of twelve children from the Northern California Children’s Chorus sang two pieces, directed and accompanied by Judy Britts and Joyce Roskelley. The group, called Intermezzo, is composed of children who are in grades 4-7.
The finale of the musical concert included members from multiple choirs coming together to sing Peace, Peace, with the congregation of hundreds of voices in attendance joining in to sing Silent Night, filling the building with harmony and Christmas cheer.
Bishop Simmons of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints closed the evening remarking on the event as an effort of multiple churches and that while “how we worship” may differ, “Who we worship is the same,” remarking on the Savior Jesus Christ as the focus of the Christmas season. “It’s not the trimmings on the tree or the gifts underneath that matter, but it is His gift to us that matters. It is Jesus Christ that matters.”