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NORTH CENTRAL OHIO –When secular groups try to silence religious expression during the Christmas season, it is no “silent night” inside the Buckeye Bible Belt. Often times when religious displays are threatened, communities come together in solidarity and religious faith springs to action.
Last year the anti-religious group Freedom for Religion Foundation threatened to file a lawsuit against the City of Dover, Ohio for its nativity scene on city property. After moving the nativity scene to an obscure sight in 2018, the City of Dover has now decided to return the nativity scene back to the public square.
One Judge who is no stranger to religious displays on public property, the Honorable James DeWeese, says nativity scenes help place the emphasis of Christmas on the worship of Christ rather than on secular materialism.
“Christmas has been historically one of the most celebrated holidays of the American people. I am grateful for nativity displays. From the beginning, our founders insisted on the importance of the faith of the American people to the future of our nation. Our first president, George Washington, wrote in his farewell address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
Judge DeWeese was not aware of all the public square nativity scenes in North Central Ohio. These can be seen in: Shelby, Shiloh, Bellville, Crestline, Mount Gilead, and Malabar Farm State Park. A live nativity has also been planned in Savannah. In fact, several new displays have been erected this year.
“Christmas has been historically one of the most celebrated holidays of the American people. I am grateful for nativity displays. From the beginning, our founders insisted on the importance of the faith of the American people to the future of our nation.”
Honorable Judge James DeWeese
The Thomas More Society is co-sponsoring nativity displays on twenty-seven State Capitol grounds around the country including this year, its first at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. The Chicago-based law firm defends and equips Americans to exercise religious faith by private citizens in the public square.
A nativity scene will also be located at the public square in the City of Mansfield this year; the first recorded nativity at Central Park since 1962 according to Sherman Room Librarian Jayson Schlechty of the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library.
According to Mr. Schlechty, “Live nativities and religious dramas were put on by the Mansfield Council of Churches and the Mansfield Retail Merchants Association in 1962 ‘as a meaningful interlude from the commercial aspects of the Christmas season for downtown shoppers.'”
Not only have nativity scenes multiplied on public squares, they have multiplied inside churches. A creative display of more than six-hundred nativity sets is open to the public at Southside Christian Church the first three Sundays in December, between 2:00-4:00 PM. Located at 2055 Middle-Bellville in Mansfield, the display includes nativities from forty-eight different nations.
In 2015, the Pines Christian Church, at 6775 State Route 42 outside Mount Gilead, Ohio broke the Guinness World Record for the largest display of nativity scenes with 2,300 unique displays. The Pines Christian Church was built on the site of the former Pines Restaurant owned by Fred Hope, brother of the famous comedian Bob Hope, also a nativity scene enthusiast.
“Christmas’ story of blessing is truly reflected in the nativity displays set up in so many communities throughout our land,” Judge DeWeese commented. Religion still remains a key component of culture for now.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Proverbs Chapter One, “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech.”
View the slideshow below of nativity scenes throughout North Central Ohio.
Nativity scene on Ohio Statehouse grounds sponsored by the Thomas More Society (Photo courtesy of Thomas More Society) 
Nativity scene at Malabar Farm State Park that has been ongoing tradition since 1976 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Nativity scene at Southside Christian Church (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Nativity scene in Shiloh, Ohio public square that has been holiday tradition for over 27 years (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Shelby has nativity scene on public grounds in 2019(Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Mansfield Ohio nativity scene beside Central Park Gazebo in center of Richland County Seat (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) The nativity scene in Mount Gilead has been present for over twenty years. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Rev. Lintern with one of his nativity scenes from forty-eight nations. (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Bellville has nativity scene at public square in 2021 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Reverend Paul Lintern hosts nativity scene display in his church at Southside Christian (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio) 
Mansfield has first nativity scene display at Central Park in fifty-eight years in 2019 (Photo courtesy of Frontlines Ohio)
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