BELLE FOURCHE, SOUTH DAKOTA -- On Sunday December 15th, the Belle Fourche United Methodist Church produced its annual Living Nativity to tell the Christmas story in a different way. This is the tenth anniversary of the Living Nativity in Belle Fourche.

Children and adult volunteers dressed in Christmas characters to display four postcard-like images as narrators read the story of that first Christmas from the gospels.  Children posed as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and angels. 

The preschoolers through kindergarteners, the little lambs, not only participated in the scenes, but also serenated visitors in the fellowship hall with Christmas carols.  

The animals were provided free of charge from the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Spearfish, South Dakota.

After walking through the living nativity, visitors were invited to enjoy treats, warm beverages, and live music by guitarist Paul Peterson in the fellowship hall and the little lambs (preschoolers through kindergarten children).

Rev. Bob Duemig, Belle Fourche UMC stated, "Participation was tremendous with many lingering in in the fellowship hall for snacks and fellowship."