Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany
Epiphany Weekend at St. Margaret Mary Church
526 North Park Ave., Winter Park 32789
Saturday, January 6 - 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Sunday, January 7 - 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany with the display of Nativity Scenes (also called créches) borrowed from parishioners of St. Margaret Mary Parish, is part of our parish celebration of the Christmas season and an opportunity for parishioners to share with others some of the unique treasures which decorate their homes at Christmas time. The event also serves as a fund-raiser for our mission parish in Haiti. Many of the displayed nativity sets are from different parts of the world. Each nativity set will be accompanied by a descriptive card listing its country of origin and perhaps an interesting story about its history from the family who lent it for the display. Numerous other activities, such as music, a bake sale, a scavenger hunt for elementary school-aged children, and a visit by the Three Kings, will accompany and enhance our parish display, which will take place the weekend of the Feast of the Epiphany.
LEND YOUR NATIVITY SCENE
To lend your nativity scene, please fill out the registration form you will find here, or contact Lynn Kline at [email protected] or 407-496-6260. You should bring the nativity scene to the Parish Hall on Friday, January 5th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, or Saturday January 6th from 9:00 to noon. Please have the container marked with your name, and please email a picture of it to Lynn Kline at the email above. The deadline to register is December 27th. Register below.
BAKE SALE
Donations of baked goods of all kinds are appreciated. Best sellers are sweet breads, coffee cakes, cookies, brownies, bar cookies, and fudge. Wrapped, labeled, and ready to sell is very helpful, but we can wrap your labeled items for you. Drop off is best from 11-3 on Saturday, January 6th at the Parish Hall, or by arrangement ahead. To donate baked goods, help with the sale, or ask for more information, please contact Vicki Emery: 407-644-0944 or [email protected]
HISTORY
The St. Margaret Mary Nativity Set display is in its fourth year. It has its origins in a similar event that took place in Asheville, NC in December 2015. The Asheville display was a cooperative venture of several churches in the area and included over 200 artistic representations of the birth of Jesus Christ. The idea was brought back to St. Margaret Mary as a possible fundraiser for our sister parish in Haiti. We began planning our local event in early fall of 2016, based on information that was graciously shared with us by members of the organizing committee in Asheville. In each of the past years we had the Display, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 and now 2024, we had about 100 beautiful and unique nativity scenes on display in our parish hall and we were able to raise over $2000 each year for our Haiti mission.
We hope you will participate by sharing for the weekend your treasured créche or nativity set, by contributing something delicious for the bake sale, and/or by coming to view the beautiful nativity scenes with your fellow parishioners. Donations will be gratefully accepted to support our mission in the diocese of Jacmel, Haiti. For additional information, please contact Lynn Kline at [email protected] or 407-496-6260.
See images of past nativity sets...
