Hearing about Christ's birth is one thing.

Seeing the story re-enacted is another.

A local school and church are keeping a Christmas tradition alive by offering live drive-through nativity scenes that are free and open to the public.

Genesis Prep Academy, a private Christian K-12 school that operates at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, will present "The Gift" on Saturday and Sunday from 5-8 p.m. at the church at 1866 N. Cecil Road.

On Wednesday through next Friday, there will be a nativity at New Life Community Church, 6068 W. Hayden Ave., from 6-9 p.m.

Both programs will have live actors and animals to re-enact the birth of Jesus. A CD will be provided at the Genesis nativity to hear the story as it is acted out, while visitors to New Life can tune in to 96.5 FM on the radio.

A freewill offering will be taken at both sites.

About 150 people, including more than 100 students, will participate in the Genesis program.

"This is our largest event of the year," said Principal Marc Goodwin. "We want to keep the story of Christ's birth alive."

Bible says

The Bible says little of Jesus' birth.

Neither the Gospel of John nor Mark even mention it.

Matthew offers more details - that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, "but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18)

Joseph, the Bible says, wasn't particularly wild about this and was going to part ways with Mary when an angel appeared to him and convinced him otherwise, saying "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew never refers to a manger or shepherds, but it does outline King Herod's efforts to find and kill the baby boy, of Magi following a star to find the baby Jesus, and bringing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and warning him to flee and take the child and Mary to Egypt.

Luke contains other details, such as Caesar Augustus demanding a census of the entire Roman would, "and everyone went to his own town to register."

Which is why Joseph and Mary headed from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

"While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born and she gave birth to her first born, a son," it reads.

Luke also tells of angels appearing to shepherds in the fields, and Mary wrapping the baby in clothes, and placing him in a manger "because there was no room for them in the inn."

There is no mention of Herod, the Magi or a star. There is no mention of animals or a stable surrounding the baby, often depicted in paintings.

The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the baby and spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child "and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."

Survey says

According to December survey, almost nine out of 10 Americans think it is OK to have a nativity scene in the yard of a person's home.

In a Poll Position national scientific telephone survey 89 percent of respondents said nativity scenes should be allowed in the yard of a person's home, 5 percent said no, and 6 percent did not have an opinion.

Young people, in the 18-29-year-old age group said it was OK to have a nativity scene in a person's front yard with 68 percent approving, 17 percent saying no, and 15 percent not having an opinion.

Those in the 30-44-year-old age group approved with 91 percent saying yes to only 4 percent answering no. In the 45-64-year-old group, 96 percent said yes to 2 percent saying no.

Americans in the 65 and over group had an identical response with 96 percent saying it is OK, versus 2 percent saying it is not.

Poll Position is a non-partisan news, polling and social media company founded and lead by CNN news and polling veterans.

Scene says

Goodwin said the students look forward to acting; there's a lot of parental, staff and community involvement; and it's a chance for the public to be reminded about the reason for the season.

"It serves a lot of different purposes," he said. "It also teaches our kids how to get out in front of the public. We're blessed that a lot of different people step up to make this a reality."

The program takes visitors to Bethlehem with 10 different scenes. They include the Old Testament prophecy of Jesus' birth, an angel tells Mary she is going to have a baby, Ceasar decreeing a census be taken, an angel tells shepherds in the field about Jesus' birth and three wise men come with camels.

"This is a perfect family event," Goodwin said. "You don't even get out of your car. We see it as a benefit for the entire community and a blessing at Christmas. The story of Christmas gets lost in modern day America."