Church's nativity
scene depicts Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as a family separated at the border
Claremont United
Methodist Church transformed its Christmas nativity scene into a powerful
statement
about family
separation by caging their figures of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
and
releasing a
theological statement on the United States' treatment of refugees.
SEE ALSO:
Stirred to tears by
the Claremont UMC nativity. Inside the church, the Holy Family is reunited.
The theological
statement posted with the nativity:
In a time in our
country when refugee families seek asylum at our borders
and are unwillingly
separated from one another, we consider the most well-known refugee family in
the world.
Jesus, Mary, and
Joseph, the Holy Family.
Shortly after the
birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were forced to flee with their young son from
Nazareth to Egypt to escape King Herod, a tyrant.
They feared
persecution and death.
What if this family
sought refuge in our country today?
Imagine Joseph and
Mary separated at the border
and Jesus no older
than two taken from his mother and placed behind the
fences of a Border
Patrol detention center as more than 5,500 children have been the past three
years.
Jesus grew up to
teach us kindness and mercy and a radical welcome of all people.
He said:
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed
me.”
In the Claremont
United Methodist Church nativity scene this Christmas,
the Holy Family
takes the place of the thousands of nameless families separated at our borders.
Inside the church,
you will see this same family reunited, the Holy Family together,
in a nativity that
joins the angels in singing
“Glory to God in the
highest and on earth peace and good will to all.”
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