Jesus is the reason for the season, and Redwood United Methodist Church, 101 Redwood Road, wants to spread that message by hosting its annual live outdoor nativity scene at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

“It just helps us realize the significance of the season,” church member and volunteer with the children’s group Loraine Lee said. “We all worship together and we realize that the true meaning is about Christ.”

The 35-minute show will feature “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “What Child Is This,” “We Three Kings,” “Joy to the World,” and the “Hallelujah Chorus,” with scripture interspersed throughout the show as shepherds, wise men, townspeople and angels make an appearance on their journey to Bethlehem.

“They’ll read the scripture that has to do with each of the different groups as they arrive,” Lee said.

The first scripture reading will be from Luke 2:1-5 with Mary and Joseph and then continue along the walk to explain the significance of the birth of Christ.

“It tells about how each group gets there [to Bethlehem] and it encourages each of us as individuals to make it to Bethlehem,” Lee said.

Forty adult church members and 30 children will make up the show’s cast and chorus with the entire church congregation helping out in some form or fashion whether with the lighting or sound equipment or keeping things on track backstage. Linda Hanks and Dottie Lee are the show’s directors.

The Kids Klub, a group for K-sixth graders that meets for two hours every two weeks on Wednesday night, will stand on risers and serve as the chorus.

“It’s a short program because we are dealing with children that are 5 years old and up through sixth grade,” Lee said.

The live nativity will take place outside the church, and they encourage attendees to bundle up in case of cool weather.

Lee said they have had to postpone the show once before because of a storm that blew through the area, but a little rain won’t cause them to cancel unless it gets dangerous.

“It has to be lightning and thundering for us to put it off,” Lee said. “If it’s just raining we continue with it.”

There is a covered pavilion outside the church with benches and a few chairs for guests to use. Sometimes guests watch the show from their cars parked in the parking lot.

“At the end the congregation and everybody outside will sing the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and there’ll be a big cross that will be lit,” Lee said.

Refreshments will be served after the show and a special visitor will make an appearance.

“We each have a journey to make,” Lee said. “We each have a walk to Bethlehem in order to have the eternal life we hope that we’re all going to have, and so we all take this walk to Bethlehem as an opportunity to renew our sincerity to be committed to our faith.”