The Committee is a non-profit 501(c)(4) group; donations are not tax deductible under IRS rules.

NATIVITY SCENES TO OPEN DECEMBER 9 IN NEW LOCATION

Opening Ceremony to be shown live on the Internet

The Santa Monica Nativity Scenes will open Sunday, December 9, at a new location in the 2700 block of Ocean Park Boulevard between Clover Park and 28th Street.  The community Christmas tradition, dating from 1953, will return to its full strength with 14 scenes with life-size figures depicting events surrounding Christ’s birth.
“We are deeply grateful to the Watt Companies for donating display space that will allow all of Santa Monica’s distinctive Christmas Story to continue spreading the message of joy, hope, and peace found in the Christ child’s birth to residents and visitors,” said Nativity Scenes Committee Chairman Hunter Jameson.  He invited the public to the Opening Ceremony at 3 p.m. December 9 in Clover Park next to the display for Christmas carols and recital of the Christmas story.
 The Opening Ceremony will be streamed live on www.ustream.tv  wileydrakeshow.  Our thanks to Internet host Wiley Drake for presenting the ceremony.
The lighted Scenes will be on display until the first week in January.
Legal Update: After a small group of atheists stirred up controversy last year over the Scenes, the Santa Monica City Council banned the display from its historic home of Palisades Park, provoking a federal lawsuit by the Nativity Scenes Committee against the city for violating free speech and free exercise of religion.  A District Court judge’s November 29 dismissal of the lawsuit will be appealed to Circuit Court. Details on the case are available at the website of our legal counsel, William J. Becker, Jr., www.freedomXlaw.com. Our sincere thanks to him for volunteering his time and to past partners Liberty Counsel and the Pacific Justice Institute for paying court costs.
Christmas Celebrations in Palisades Park: Jameson encouraged people to participate in Christmas observances sponsored by other groups in Palisades Park this year.  The Christian Defense Coalition is sponsoring a Living Nativity from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, December 8, at the park.  People are invited to dress as shepherds or townspeople and join in.  Also, a friend of the Committee has organized Christmas celebrations at the pier (southern) end of Palisades Park starting at 7 o’clock each night through December 23.  Choir performances, caroling, skits, and hot drinks are among the features planned.
Donations: Thank you if you would be able to make a financial contribution to meet expenses of putting up and taking down the scenes and for storage, insurance, advertising. Donations are not tax deductible.