The annual Nativity Festival held Sunday drew dozens of nativity sets for display and an audience of 200 for a concert, of which 140 stayed for a soup supper and pie auction. The event netted $7,912 for the Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity.
The nativity display was coordinated by Jill Lamoureux. It was the seventh Nativity Festival, but the nativity sets on display changes every year.
Harry Ahrenholtz, a member of the Heart of Iowa Habitat board, served as master of ceremonies for the concert. Performing groups included the women’s Joyful Noise choir from the Greene County Presbyterian Ministry; a woodwind quintet, saxophone ensemble, and carolers from the Greene County High School music department; the adult choir, Studio 3:16 brass ensemble and a multi-generational band from Central Christian Church; Tori Riley reading an original poem, “How Far Away Is Bethlehem”; and the Greene County Singers directed by Sheilah McGregor Pound. Gary Haupert and Jim Rose provided vocals with guitar accompaniment, and dancers from Prairie Blue Creative Arts did an interpretive ballet. Kerry Brooker played prelude music.
Jeff Lamoureux, associated director of Heart of Iowa Habitat, gave a short presentation on what Habitat has accomplished in the past year. He thanked volunteers and churches for supporting the effort “to lighten the burden of others.”
The soup supper featured chili and chicken noodle soup prepared and served by members of the local congregations that support Habitat throughout the year. Members of the Interact Club at the high school helped serve.
Professional auctioneer Caleb Lentz coaxed bids for 20 pies, also baked by members of supporting congregations. Garnering the highest bids were a triple berry pie and a cheesecake, both made by Marianne Carlson of State Fair fame. Very close behind was a raspberry pie baked by Pam Thomsen. The pie auction brought in $1,635 of the total.
Home State Bank of Jefferson, Community State Bank of Paton, Rolling Hills Bank & Trust of Rippey, and the Greene County offices of Peoples Bank provided financial support as well.
The Nativity Festival is Habitat’s only public fundraiser for the year.
