Family adopts Living Nativity tradition as its own

Maricopa’s Living Nativity is already becoming a family tradition for the Egelston family who have come out to frost cookies, mingle with angels and shepherds and to reflect on the first Christmas ever since Community of Hope church began staging the event three years ago in their Rancho El Dorado neighborhood park.

This year, although 16-year-old Ashley stayed behind to finish her homework, 4-year-old Jake Egleston and 6-year-old Lucia Egelston bundled up along with their parents, Jim Egelston and Jennifer Egelston, before heading out for the event held Saturday in 54-degree weather.

“It’s become a tradition for us,” Jennifer Egelston said. “We really look forward to it and it’s fun for the kids. It gives us a gentle reminder.”

Part of the tradition includes inviting his 13-year-old nephew, Josh Egelston, and the children’s grandma and step-grandpa over for dinner before the annual holiday event, Jim Egelston explained.

“It’s a real good time, I really enjoy it,” said Luie Purlia, otherwise known as “Grandpa.”

His wife, Marge Purlia, agreed with both Jennifer Egelston and her husband.

“It’s a reminder of what it’s really all about,” she said.

That’s because live animals, carolers, shepherds, angels and members of the Holy Family strolled about the park, coming together every half-hour or so to re-enact the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child. Congregation members in costume portrayed the characters. The animals were provided courtesy of Ken’s Corral.

In between stagings, volunteers helped children create seasonal crafts and decorate Christmas cookies while sipping on hot chocolate to keep warm.

Pastor Rusty Akers brought the tradition to Maricopa four years ago when a much-smaller turnout gathered at Stage Stop along the railroad tracks. About a dozen folks showed up to support the church, which had just begun holding public meetings at Pima Butte Elementary School.

A year later, the church still met at the school, but moved the nativity to Jane Askew Park in Rancho El Dorado. Akers estimated that hundreds attended last year and as of 6:30 p.m., it appeared to have been on its way to attracting as many or more for 2007.

“It’s just so awesome that since we don’t have a building, we get to go into the community instead of inviting them into visit us all the time,” he said.

Akers, his wife Lisa Akers, and children Syndey, 12, and Grady, 8, moved to the Cobblestone Farms community four years ago from the Phoenix area where he also pastored a church that had a living nativity every year. The event was well accepted there, so why not move it to Maricopa, he said.

Josh Egelston appears to be glad that he did.

“It shows the true meaning of Christmas,” he said. “It’s not about the presents. It’s about Christ coming into the world and stuff, and I think it’s cool we come here as a family.”

Photos by RuthAnn Hogue