“No Room in the Inn”
A display of Christmas Nativity Scenes at the Federated Church
For the benefit of Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard
“There is no Room in the Inn” a display of Creches for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard will be part of Christmas in Edgartown this December. For the fifth, the Federated Church Meetinghouse will be filled with over fifty cheches. These are miniature nativity scenes, which celebrate the birth of Jesus. Children are welcome and will go home with stickers of the nativity scene and a backdrop to color.
Because Bethlehem was full of travelers who had come to take part in the Roman census, there was no room in the inns for Joseph and Mary and their newborn child. Creches represent the stable where the family had to stay. Jesus’ parents are sometimes joined by shepherds, magi or angels who came to see the newborn child.
Many Island residents face the same problem that Mary and Joseph faced in Bethlehem. There is “no room in the inn” for them. The Creche display seeks to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard. This organization is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Their ministry was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent place to live in dignity and safety.” Habitat will offer a silent auction in the lobby of the Meetinghouse which will feature pieces donated to them including antiques and art as well as donations from the island community
In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene — also known as a creche or presepe in Italian — represents the birth of Jesus. In the year 1223, Saint Francis staged a living nativity scene and the tradition quickly spread throughout Italy as a means of getting people closer to the Bible at a time when most could not read.
The Creches reflect the creativity of the artists who have made the individual scenes. They range in style from delicate creches made of fragile crystal and glass to the austere beauty of Haitian scenes crafted out of metal salvage from oil drums. There is a 60-year-old German creche fabricated out of cloth and glue which must be handled with care and others made out of wool and wood which a child can play with.
They range in style from elegant crystal figures from South American to whimsical lego figures and Matryoshka nesting dolls. They come from all over the world including ones from Haiti, Mexico, Germany, and Africa. There are three creches which are no longer being made: a Willow Tree, a Byer’s and a M. A. Hadley blue and white porcelain one.
The Federated Church is located at 45 South Summer Street in Edgartown. The Creche Display will be open from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Friday December 12 and from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 13th. Habitat Director, Greg Orcutt, will be available to answer questions on both days. Elizabth Villarc, Church Historian, will also be available to answer questions about the Meetinghouse and the creches.
Friday December 12, 4:00PM- 6:00
Saturday, December 13, 11:00 AM-4:00PM
Sunday, December 14, 11:30-4:00PM
Contact evillardmv@gmail.com for more information.