Page 46 December 2 0 1 4 Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 9am to 2pm & 5pm to 7pm Scholarship Information Meeting (K-8) - 6:30pm Kindergarten Information Meeting - 7:00pm Please join us for our January open house to meet our staff and see what makes us special! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 By Jean Hodgson Do you collect anything? Many people would say yes, and then tell you about their passion for stamps, coins, antiques – the list continues. Our nativity collection began simply enough when my husband’s mother gave us the manger scene from his boyhood. Then a couple more became part of our traditional holiday decorations. Next, when our children were small, I made a set of stuffed figures that they could safely handle. Then we saw one on a trip that just had to come home with us. Over the years this humble beginning has evolved into a collection that is the primary focus in several rooms of our home, to say nothing about the full closet that stores the overflow during the offseason. We truly have Christmas here every day of the year! Last summer we met Susan Topp Weber who owns a Christmas shop in Santa Fe and is the author of Nativities of the World. In the introduction to her book she writes, “Nativities are simultaneously simple and amazing. They are simple because they all tell a similar story, the depiction of the birth of Jesus under humble circumstances. They are amazing because they are made in such a tremendous variety of styles and materials and levels of sophistication in a great many countries of the world. Because of this variety they are fascinating to look at, and for some enthusiasts the urge to collect them, or to improve them every year, is almost irresistible.” Her words ring true to us in so many ways as we consider what makes each of our nativities unique. Some are crafted from unusual materials that are related to their country of origin. For example, banana leaves from Nigeria, wool from Ireland, marbles from Chile and homespun fabric from Poland. Traditionally we expect sheep and donkeys to be among the animals at the manger, but some of ours include pigs, llamas, zebras, giraffes and aardvarks. How large is the usual nativity set? Ours range from one carved in the head of a match stick that can only be appreciated Nativity scene collection creates year long traditions with the help of a magnifying glass, to a ceramic set we finished as a family project that fills our entire bay window. Which characters do you expect to see? The Holy Family might be accompanied by wise men, shepherds and angels – but one of our sets also includes a wise woman! Of course, many of our nativities are reminders of places we have traveled over the years. These are far more significant to us than what would usually be considered a souvenir, and on several occasions we have had the added privilege of meeting the artist that created the final product that we now enjoy in our home. The family nativity collection (bottom) comes from sculptors all over the world, including an Irish artist (top). Many additions to our collection are treasured because they were thoughtful gifts from friends and family members. The purchases of some have benefitted charities around the world as they support community projects and create employment opportunities in areas of great need. Nativities had their origins in Europe centuries ago, but now museums in numerous locations are dedicated to this subject and there is even an international organization called Friends of the Creche. Christmas in miniature all year long! arcadianews.com Daniel J. Siegel Daniel J. Siegel, P.C. Attorney at Law 1617 E. Pinchot, Phoenix, AZ 85016 602-274-1099 • dan@danieljsiegelpc.com www.ARIZONADIVORCELAWYER.com Arizona State Bar Certified Specialist in Family Law Celebrating 20 Years Practicing Law

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