Aurora Advent Christian Church attracts crowd to Nativity Open House
Plano resident the Rev. David Dean displayed 250 ceramic, wooden and plastic nativity figures, plus neckties, jigsaw puzzles and a video at a nativity open house at the Aurora Advent Christian Church Dec. 14-15.
Dean said he offered the display in honor of his mother, Dorothy May Pierce Dean.
“She cherished the time to celebrate our savior’s birth, spend time with her family and opened her house to friends and students during the holidays,” he said. Dean said his mother’s generosity is symbolized by a white ceramic nativity in the collection.
“When my parents moved to Florida and could no longer display this Philippine nativity, mother insisted it come back to me.
“She enjoyed seeing my collection and would have enjoyed today. From my mother’s heart of giving, I have come to love this season and to share its message
According to Dean, his personal collection started in the 1980s when he lived in the Philippines.
“We purchased a wooden set,” he said, “so our children could play with it. The injuries to the figurines only enhance their sentimental value.”
He adds from 10 to 20 sets annually, most are gifts from family members.
He has run out of space in his home to display the entire collection.
St. Francis of Assisi displayed the first nativity in 1223, a live one with people and animals. Within 100 years, almost every Italian church displayed a nativity scene during Advent, the four-week period leading up to Christmas.
At the end of the 18th century, the nativity found wide use in both Catholic and Protestant churches.