Keeping Christ in Christmas
Marine Avenue nativity display
In late November of each year Heather Farrell-Sketchley unpacks the 435 nativity scenes she has stored in her attic and gets them ready to display in a vacant store window on Marine Avenue.
"I've been collecting them for the last 12 years," says Heather. "People can just look at them as they go by."
Many Powell River residents appreciate the effort Heather puts into her display. In November, Beth Kozman emailed Powell River Living asking about the story behind the Christmas crèche/nativity collection.
"It is a huge display of all sorts of pottery, paper machè..., wooden, carved and glass nativity sets from around the world. I have no idea who the person is that spends the time collecting and displaying these pieces but suggest it for a story in the December issue of Powell River Living."
Powell River Living discovered the person behind the Christmas nativity display is Heather Farrell-Sketchley.
"Every year the location changes," says Heather. "It all depends on what space is available. The merchants have been very kind in donating space, I pay the electrical bills."
The display is for viewing only. Last year, it won first place in the Santa Claus parade.
Heather isn't motivated by money or recognition. In fact her reason for sharing her beautiful collection with Powell River is simple.
"I want to keep the Christ in Christmas," she says.
Remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season is important to Heather. It is also important to an international organization she belongs to called The Friends of the Crèche Society -- an organization with more than 2,000 members.
In November of last year, Heather and her husband Ray travelled to Salt Lake City where they attended the Friends of the Crèche Society's biennial convention.
"There were hundreds of crèches on display," says Heather, who couldn't stop herself from visiting Manger Mart and picking up a few new ones for her own collection.
Heather first bought a beautiful crèche 15 years ago around the same time her husband's church, The Church of the Latter Day Saints, began putting on a crèche display.
"They (Church of the LDS) has well over 200 crèches in their display," says Heather. The display takes place on Friday and Saturday, December 3-4.
People are invited to visit the crèche display at the Church of the Latter Day Saints on December 3 and continue on to St. John Ambulance in the Townsite to participate in the second annual Nativity night between 7 and 9 pm. "You can make nativities, sing Christmas carols, and watch nativity videos. You will leave with your very own handmade nativity. And on your way home, stop by the nativity display on Marine!"
