Van Orsdel United Methodist Church Drive Thru Live Nativity set for December 5

The Live Nativity held for decades at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church will be held under different circumstances this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a drive-through format, where attendees will view the scene from their cars.

The Nativity will run Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., a release from Van Orsdel United Methodist Church said.

The Live Nativity will be set up in the back of the church by the storage shed, facing the alley.

People viewing the Nativity will drive their cars in from the north side of the alley, driving slowly the south behind the Girl Scout House onto Fifth Avenue. No one is allowed to leave their car to watch the Nativity scene.

Sings with arrows and masked volunteers will be directing traffic through the alleyway.

The participants also will be working to reduce the spread of COVID-19, with half-hour shifts for people in the Nativity.

The organizers are encouraging family members who live in the same household to work the same shift if possible, and costumes will only be worn once with masks made to coordinate with the costumes.

Areas in the church will be assigned to each member of the Nativity and masks will be worn at all times, with costumes designated for each shift and a box set out for the costumes to placed in after they are used.

The church hopes to make and bake animal-shaped cookies that will be individually wrapped and passed out to people driving through.

Tim Leeds contributed to this report.