Nativity Tradition Continues; Committee Builds Scene On Downtown Church’s Lawn

The Cumberland (MD) Times-News ^ | November 16, 2011 | from Staff Reports

[Viking2002]

CUMBERLAND — Thanks to a small group of local men, the tradition of erecting a Nativity scene and decorating a large Christmas tree on the lawn of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in downtown Cumberland will continue.

Two years ago, city officials decided to end city government’s involvement with the Nativity scene. According to Michael Mudge, one of the men who is keeping the tradition alive, city leaders had received a complaint from two people who objected to local government being involved in the Christian Nativity tradition.

After Christmas 2009, the city donated the Nativity items to The Cumberland Nativity & Tree Display Committee, comprised of Mudge, Rueben Lease, Ed Mullaney, Gary Bartik and Greg Getty. The items were then stored in warehouse space provided by Mullaney.

Last year, the Nativity scene was erected by the committee, but the large evergreen tree on the church lawn was unlighted. This year, lights will again adorn the tree.

On Tuesday, the volunteers began assembling this year’s Nativity scene.

Housed in the stable are the Christ Child, Joseph and Mary, an angel, a shepherd, eight sheep, a donkey and a cow. On the hillside are three wise men, another shepherd, 19 sheep and a camel.

Members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church believe the Nativity has been on the church lawn every Christmas since the 1920s.

The church has a commemorative plate picturing the Nativity scene dated 1952 and a photo display dated 1932.

The volunteers have already installed a new electricity panel box and washed and clear-coated the figurines. The stable is erected on the stone steps at the juncture of Washington, Cumberland, Baltimore and Greene streets.

“The city tree-lighting ceremony held the Friday after Thanksgiving hasn’t always been on Baltimore Street,” Mullaney said. “Before the pedestrian mall was installed, the big tree at Emmanuel Episcopal Church is where the official city tree-lighting was held,” he said.

“We put lights on over a dozen small trees donated by Larry Ulm of Pleasant Valley Tree Farm last year, but we got a lot of comments about the big tree being dark. We’ll be announcing good news about that soon,” Mullaney said.

A special checking account has been opened to receive donations, which are needed to cover costs of electric bills, materials, repairs and replacements.

Checks may be made payable to “Cumberland Nativity & Tree Committee” and mailed in care of Michael Mudge, 101 Oak Street, Cumberland, MD, 21502.

[Viking2002]

Italics are mine for emphasis. This is my hometown - an isolated mountain town of 20,000 or so. The sniveling cretins of the Left have even gotten their talons into our local culture and heritage. May they burn for Eternity.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Viking2002]

The man on the left is Reuben Lease. I worked with him at the city rec department one summer back in the mid-80's. Good man.

[Viking2002]

Maryland cultural holiday ping for you fellas.......

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Repeal The 17th]

“...Italics are mine for emphasis...”
I don’t see no Italians.
-
“...May they burn for Eternity...”
Yeah, but how do you really feel?

May your days be merry and bright!

[musicman]

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[napscoordinator]

I always thought that nativity scenes should be on church grounds. They could have many more sets than just on the city hall or whatever. This is a much better situation.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***city leaders had received a complaint from two people who objected to local government being involved in the Christian Nativity tradition.***

Interesting how one or two people can thwart the enjoyment of many.

We had the same problem when one old crank shut down a pageant that had been going on for years here.

[Viking2002]

The Nativity always was on the grounds of Emmanuel Episcopal. For over 80 years. After two malcontents found it within their dominion to make it some sort of personal and socio-religious campaign, they did what every post-everything pissant on the Left does: they scared the local council right out of their heritage by having them yank their sponsorship, under veiled threat of ACLU intervention. All the city did was provide the community funds (with full community blessing, BTW) and sponsor it as the official city tree-lighting, as they'd done since the 1920's.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Viking2002]

Let me correct that last statement, and I have to accept some familial culpability: the church has always held a tree-lighting; it wasn't until the pedestrian mall was conceived and put into place in the 1970's that the city made the church lighting the official city tree-lighting, as well. It was a matter of relocating it to one common area within walking distance; my late father had input into the design of the pedestrian mall (and designed one of the fountains), and it was one of the deciding factors in shifting municipal sponsorship from public to private property.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Vision]

A nice story from MD for once.

[Viking2002]

A 'glass half full' story, my good friend. It brings stinging tears to my eyes to accept why. It's as though interlopers broke into your family home, rifled through your mother's attic, and decided what childhood memories you were allowed to keep. And nobody stopped them from coming in, committing the act, or stopped them when they left. God in Heaven help me, but I wish them a living Hell on earth for what they did, followed by an eternal molten pit in the afterlife.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Viking2002]

Feel free to move this to the appropriate forum for maximum topical exposure..........

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away, for his name is Obama."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Two years ago, city officials decided to end city government’s involvement with the Nativity scene. According to Michael Mudge, one of the men who is keeping the tradition alive, city leaders had received a complaint from two people who objected to local government being involved in the Christian Nativity tradition.

I'm guessing either ROP or flaming libs threatening to sue.

Maryland "Freak State" PING!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Town has 20,000 people and it divested from the Nativity scene based on complaints from TWO?

[TheOldLady]

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[the OlLine Rebel]

You are from Cumberland? I’m “related” to it and know it pretty well. My uncle and aunt have a farm on the Mason-Dixon (actually, OUR extra house/property down the street officially in PA literally has a marker on its corner; they are MD) and we last visited in August. I practically grew up there - we used to visit almost every month.

My grandma (uncle’s and mom’s mom) was born up there, actually LaVale and grew up there.

I also bet there is a connection here to a local man I know who is VERY “mouthy” about these subjects up there. He usually has his hand in these kinds of things; he’s a friend thanks to our special-interest state-wide club. Even my aunt knew him before I did. All I can say against his involvement is that it’s Episcopal.

As it is - I’ve never heard of this tradition. As far as this article - and I to understand that the Episcopals keep doing it on THEIR property yet WITHOUT any local funding? Seems this article isn’t clear.

[the OlLine Rebel]

In Cumberland, it would be liberals - mostly the union/welfare kind.

No Islamics there - yet.