500 nativity scenes on display

MANITOWOC - From peach pits to Play-Doh, and porcelain to pottery, you'll find 500 interpretations of the nativity scene on display at Trinity Alliance Church in Manitowoc.

"You can't help but smile when you look at them," said Linda Vankoevering, who helped set up the Wonder of Christmas display.

"It's just interesting to see how Christmas is depicted by different artists," Vankoevering said.

The display is in its sixth year and shows that art can be made of anything from anywhere. The exhibit features displays from Czechoslovakia, Peru, China, Kenya and other countries. There's a nativity made from recycled newspapers, another from wine corks.

"Some nativity displays are simply made out of popsicle sticks. Some are made out of porcelain and they're worth thousands of dollars," said organizer Judy Corrado. "We just have been blessed with incredible variety and all of these are ways of depicting Christ's birth."

The display includes scenes as small as an egg and as large as a yard display.

"We all, our whole society, gets so busy with the commercialism. It gives people a chance to have a peaceful atmosphere where they can know Christ's birth," Corrado said.

"Every one of them is different but everyone points to the birth of Christ," said Mary Fansler. She said her favorite display is the one made up of incomplete nativity scenes.

"It brings a peace to my heart because it calms me down and it helps me to center on what is really important at Christmas," Fansler said.

Manitowoc resident Vern Hecker was impressed by the scenes.

"Unbelievable workmanship," Hecker said. "It sure reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas, of the birth of Jesus."

That's the point of the display and the point of what's on display.

The display ends before Christmas so the nativity sets can be returned to their owners before the holiday. The annual display will return next December.