By Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
BANGOR — After a two-year hiatus, Bangor area residents can look forward to the much-loved Creche Exhibit presented by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the church, corner of Grandview Avenue and Essex Street. As it was for 10 years years, the exhibit is a gift to the community and there is no admission charge, nor will monetary donations be accepted. The Creche Exhibit will be on display at 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 1:30 p.m.- 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7.
In previous years the exhibit had on display more than 500 creches — figures depicting the birth of Jesus — which were viewed over a period of four days by as many as 2,500 visitors.
Chris Kilgour, director of public affairs for the Central Maine Area of the LDS church, said the church was prompted to reinstate the exhibit for several reasons. He was getting calls from people who missed the tradition of going to see the exhibit. He also spoke with Hazen Martin of Brewer, who for many years took the lead in organizing the creche exhibit, and asked him lend his expertise as he had in the past. Martin said, yes.
“The exhibit will change slightly this year,” Kilgour said. “It won’t be as large, and it will include a Christmas musical depicting a family preparing for Christmas, getting out their creche and telling the story of the birth of Jesus, according to the gospel of St. Luke, through song.”
Siiri Stinson of Farmington will direct the production of the musical, pulling in as many as 50 people from Farmington, Waterville, Skowhegan and Bangor to help stage the production.
“She’s very good and puts on a very professional production,” Kilgour said.
Stinson is a classically trained singer, currently specializing in jazz as the vocalist for the Foothills Jazz Quartet. She has been a member of numerous choirs, guest soloist with the University of Maine at Farmington Community Chorus and Orchestra, and choir director for adult and children’s choirs. She has a background in musical theater and opera. She debuted as a producer-director with the 2013 sold-out performances of the Easter themed allegorical oratorio, “The Garden.” Stinson is a business economics major at the University of Maine at Farmington. There will be 300 audience seats available for the musical production, which lasts for 72 minutes. Tickets and reservations are not required.
This year 200-250 creches will be on exhibit. As in past years, the creches will be on loan from those of all Christian faiths in the Bangor area and throughout Maine. Even so, Kilgour estimates that it will take 500 man-hours to set up the exhibit.
“It’s a shame that [the creche] exhibit stopped,” said Kilgour. “We are pooling our resources this year and have more hands to help.”
Musical performances also will be a part of the event.
The schedule of events is:
Saturday, Dec. 6
• 9:30 a.m., open for Creche exhibits.
10:30 a.m., Christmas performances begin.
11 a.m., Christmas musical.
3:30 p.m., Christmas performances begin, second show.
4 p.m., Christmas musical, second show.
6 p.m., Event closes for the day.
Sunday, Dec. 7
1:30 p.m., open for Creche exhibits.
2:30 p.m., Christmas performances begin, third show.
3 p.m., Christmas musical, third show.
5 p.m., event closes.
For information, call Tina Havard at 745-4093.