It's been a Christmas tradition for one of Chattooga County's oldest churches to put on a live Nativity every year.  Alpine Church in Menlo will once again be hosting the live Nativity starting this evening at 7 PM.  The live Nativity at Alpine always features a wide variety of animals that have in the past included sheep, camels, donkeys and cattle.  

Pastor Tommy Pledger said that the tradition of the live Nativity has been going on for well over thirty years at Alpine Church.  He said that in the early years, church members would bring their own farm animals for the nativity, but now the church contracts with Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville, Georgia to bring the animals, which includes camels.  Pledger said, "Wallace Martin, he always kept on – we got camels coming?  So one year we decided, we're going to take care of Wallace, we're going to fix him up with some camels."  Pledger added that since that time the camels have become a mainstay at the live Nativity.  

At Christmastime, church members decorate the inside of the 19th century church building for the holidays.  The church members invite the public to view the inside of the historic building when you visit the live Nativity and to come across the road to the fellowship hall and enjoy refreshments with them.

Alpine Church was built in 1853 on land provided by Robert Boyles and Samuel Knox.   Originally a Presbyterian Church, the church is now a non-denominational, community church.  Pastor Tommy Pledger has been serving the congregation since 1986.  In 2003 the church was recognized on it's 150th anniversary by the State of Georgia.  

 

Christmas Tree at Alpine Church