For the fourth year, The Federated Church Meetinghouse will be filled with over fifty creches in a display titled “There is no Room in the Inn” for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard. These are miniature nativity scenes, which celebrate the birth of Jesus. Children are welcome and will go home with stickers of the nativity scene and a backdrop to color.
Because Bethlehem was full of travelers who had come to take part in the Roman census, there was no room in the inns for Joseph and Mary and their newborn child. Creches represent the stable where the family had to stay. The parents are sometimes joined by shepherds, magi or angels who came to see the newborn child.
Many Island residents face the same problem that Mary and Joseph faced in Bethlehem. There is “no room in the inn” for them. The Creche display seeks to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard. This organization is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to making adequate, affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action. Their ministry was founded on the conviction that every man, woman, and child should have a simple, decent place to live in dignity and safety.” Habitat will offer a silent auction in the lobby of the Meetinghouse which will feature pieces donated to them including antiques and art.
In the Christian tradition, a nativity scene — also known as a creche or presepe in Italian — represents the birth of Jesus. In the year 1223, Saint Francis staged a living nativity scene and the tradition quickly spread throughout Italy as a means of getting people closer to the Bible at a time when most could not read. The Creches reflect the creativity of the artists who have made the individual scenes. They range in style from delicate creches made of fragile crystal and glass to the austere beauty of Haitian scenes crafted out of metal salvage from oil drums. There is a 60-year-old German creche fabricated out of cloth and glue which must be handled with care and others made out of wool and wood which a child can play with. They come from all over the world including ones from Haiti, Mexico, Germany, and France. There are three creches which are no longer being made: a Willow Tree, a Beyer’s and a M. A. Hadley blue and white porcelain one.

The Creche Display will be open from Noon to 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 9 and from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, December 10th. Habitat Director, Greg Orcutt, will be available to answer questions on both days.