Bonnots Mill parishioners help with Live Nativity display

Members of St. Louis of France parish in Bonnots Mill helped present the Bonnots Mill Community Betterment Association’s fourth annual Live Nativity on Dec. 3.

Signs guided drivers past illuminated displays along the hilly streets. The message, “Happy Birthday, Jesus” in large, bright letters adorned the hill outside St. Louis of France Church.

Visitors’ donations will go toward the association’s historical preservation work in the more than 200-year-old town.

Bonnots Mill resident Barbara Schmitz in late 2013 told fellow association members that the carriage house at the back of her property would be an excellent location for hosting a Live Nativity display.

Association members liked the idea but concluded that more time would be needed to prepare for it.

Discussions continued into 2014, and venues for additional scenes in the Nativity story were added.

“Our quaint, historical little town has the perfect layout to make the event accessible to anyone by making it a drive thru experience,” stated St. Louis of France parishioner Becky Kraus. “With that thought in mind we discussed where to locate the different elements that would culminate with the manger scene in Barbara’s carriage house.”

A member had recently closed her drapery making business and donated her remaining inventory of drapery material and trim for use in making costumes.

“Using that and other donated material and a couple of seamstresses with sewing machines, we were able to costume five shepherds, three adult angels, three wise men, and Mary and Joseph,” said Ms. Kraus.

Everything was ready for the town’s first Live Nativity in December 2014.

“We had such a feeling of joy and pride when our guests told us how much they enjoyed the experience,” said Ms. Kraus. “That was enough for us to continue the tradition each year.”

A family that raises sheep brings three or four of them each year to bolster the story of the shepherds in the field, who were the first to hear the Good News of Jesus’ birth.

Another association member brought a young cow this year.

Beautiful weather helped draw the largest crowd yet to experience the “reason for the season” in this idyllic locale on the bluffs of the Osage River.

It’s truly a community event. In addition to the costumed characters, volunteers direct traffic and try to keep a count on the number of cars that come through.

Others bake cookies to serve with hot chocolate to the volunteers.

“I thought I was going to be a shepherd again this year, but at the last minute, I got promoted to an angel!” one of the volunteers stated.

“Many have heard by word of mouth from others that have made the journey to our little town for this once a year experience and some just stumble across it purely by accident,” Ms. Kraus noted. “All are glad they have come and all seem to appreciate what we put together.”