Frigid temperatures and possible snow flurries won’t keep members of Emmanuel Baptist Church from presenting their popular drive-thru Nativity for the next two weekends. From 5:30–8:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17, visitors can enjoy the 15-minute, live retelling of the birth of Christ from the comfort and warmth of their vehicles.

Set up in the church’s parking lot, visitors will pass nine booths, starting with the story of King David and ending with a large rough-hewn cross. In between, live actors depict the story of Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel, the shepherds who were keeping watch over their sheep and of course, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a manger.

Long-time member Shirley Peek recalled that the church had hosted a similar drive-thru Nativity around 20 years ago but put the production on hold until 2014, when a group of church members decided to revisit the tradition.

Now in charge of the many costumes required by the Biblical actors, Peek said there is value in the visual display.

“If people can see it, they can grasp the story better than by reading about it in the Bible or listening to a sermon about it,” she said.

The production will also include live sheep and goats.

The Rev. Dan Hughes, senior pastor at Emmanuel Baptist, stands at the end of the car line, greeting people and asking them what they thought of the Biblical reenactment.

“I see a lot of parents and grandparents who might not normally go to church come through our drive-thru,” he said. “ … They want to share the Christmas story with their children.”

“The whole reason we do this to help people understand the real meaning of Christmas starting with Old Testament prophecy and ending with the cross,” Hughes said.

More than 100 church members are involved in this year’s production, including some of the church’s charter members. Emmanuel Baptist turned 52 this year.

Emmanuel Baptist Church is at 1917 U.S. 72 West in Athens. For more information, call 256-374-9929.