Youthful version of Nativity at Lord of Life

Who knows if there were any horses, let alone miniature ones, at the first Christmas.

But there was one Saturday at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in La Fox, where children re-enacted the Nativity at a party for other children.

Skittles, from Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park, was a big hit, along with the chicken and the Flemish Giant rabbit the Kuipers brought.

Children also lined up to have their picture taken with the Holy Family, played by children from the church, and snacked on popcorn, pretzels and cookies.

"This is probably the third or fourth year doing Joseph. I think I've been a shepherd once," said Matt Gerke, 12, of Elburn. He said Joseph is a good part because he gets to sit down the entire time on a hay bale flanking the manger, unlike the Angel Gabriel (Gerke's sister, Nicole, who turns 9 Friday) or the two shepherds.

Jesus (4-month-old Joey Amsler) didn't actually spend any time Saturday morning in the hay-lined manger. He was passed back and forth between Matt and Ellie Tate, 10, of St. Charles, who played Mary.

"Excuse me - Baby Jesus is puking," Ellie called out at one point.

"Oh, I probably fed him too much," said his real mother, Sue Amsler of Elburn, hovering nearby. But otherwise, Joey was pretty content, even with his bare chest and arms sticking out of the swaddling cloths.

Curt Berg, care ministries director, organized the event.

"The purpose is to really concentrate on the meaning of Christmas, and that is the birth of Jesus," Berg said.

He kept the party short, about 45 minutes.

"It's very informal. It's not an agenda-driven thing," he said, saying people could wind down a little from the hubbub of Christmas activities.