UPDATE: Baby Jesus returned to city Nativity scene
By Russ Morgan
Originally published 11:31 a.m., December 31, 2009
Updated 01:18 p.m., December 31, 2009
UPDATE Just before 1 p.m. today, the Rev. Kelley Lackey of St. Andrews Episcopal Church left for lunch and found baby Jesus returned to his manger in the Nativity scene.
"Apparently the person(s) who took baby Jesus had a change of heart," Lackey wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. "The better angel prevail!"
•••
Lackey had run into disappointment this morning when he found that the baby Jesus in the city’s Nativity scene had been stolen.
The baby Jesus was a new one, bought to replace the last baby Jesus that was stolen. This is the first year the Nativity scene has been displayed since it was refurbished by members of Messiah Lutheran Church after having been in storage for three years.
The scene will be displayed through Epiphany on Jan. 6, but now it will lack the central figure of the story.
“Of course our wise men and our camels are frozen in place, so we'll assume they’ll thaw out and we can move them closer,” Lackey said. “But in the meantime I guess we’ll put a call out for doll babies.”
Lackey doesn’t intend to file a police report for the stolen baby, he said. The baby Jesus is a regular target for pranksters.
“Apparently it’s an ongoing sort of regular event,” he said. “I had joked with people before Christmas that we need some sort of Jesus tracker because we kind of knew this was going to happen.”
Though it was a prank, Lackey said it was important for the community to know about the missing baby Jesus.
“If somebody sees a rogue baby and a bit of fiberglass hay in a dorm room or a kid’s bedroom, they’ll know,” he said. “I suspect it was a kid, or a very pious family that’s taking him in out of the cold.
“The problem with that theory is that he never comes back.”
Comments
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Absolute (anonymous) says...
Jesus is Risen!
December 31, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
Just a little early I guess.
December 31, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
He's baaaaaaaack.
December 31, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Absolute (anonymous) says...
Whoops, nevermind. He came back. Is this a sign of the apocalypse??
December 31, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
orlando (anonymous) says...
"city nativity scene" ?
Does it still belong to the city?
December 31, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
orlando
Don't go there.
December 31, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Newsie (anonymous) says...
Good question, Orlando. Really good question.
December 31, 2009 at 5:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Well I'm just glad he found his way back home, Just think how embarrassing it would have been to put out an Amber Alert for Baby Jesus.
Seriously though I appreciate Rev. Lackey's ability to see it as what I am sure it is.....an adolescent prank...or maybe a prank by an adolescent adult. Refreshing down to earth attitude Reverend!
December 31, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Father Lackey is a pretty neat guy if you ever get a chance to talk with him. Very down to earth and funny.
I think they're referring to it as the city nativity scene since it originally was the city's and was displayed in front of the civic auditorium. ACLU put a stop to that. Kudos to the volunteers for restoring it and St. Andrews for displaying it for all to enjoy. I missed it when it was in storage. That was one thing I remember as impressing me when I first came to Emporia to go to ESU, that big beautiful nativity scene on display.
January 2, 2010 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
Father Lackey is a very cool guy. I still hope some day to be able to set down with him and get to know him better. I've made a couple of spur of the moment attempts without success. But in case your reading this Father.....I haven't forgotten.
As I understand madpoet, your description of the nativity scene's ownership is right on. And my thanks also to the people that worked to restore it. It is wonderful to see it displayed......right where it is and belongs.
January 2, 2010 at 1:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Dear Lord baby Jesus, thank you for returning to your nativity scene.
January 2, 2010 at 1:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MadMack (anonymous) says...
What does this really say about Emporia?
January 3, 2010 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I don't know MadMack, what do you think it says?
January 3, 2010 at 8:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MadMack (anonymous) says...
If it needs explaining ... probably not worth the effort.
January 3, 2010 at 6:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
My feelings exactly YY. There are several things the story could say about Emporia.....some of them quite good.....others, depending on your point of view, maybe less good. I was curious as to what take our friend MadMack was talking about so I would know how to respond. Now I think I have a pretty good idea. But since it is so unimportant to MadMack, it shall remain unimportant to me also. That then takes us back to your original question....if it's so unimportant...why even ask the question?
Another smiley face...:-).....this one laying on it's side!
January 4, 2010 at 3:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I guess what this really says about Emporia is that the baby Jesus was returned. No wait, that's passive voice. Let me reword....
What this says about Emporia is that after a short absence, baby Jesus came back. On his own? Hmmmm...then we are blessed.
Here, here, now I've got it.
A positive-minded person returned the baby Jesus to his manger. This implies that all those Main Street flags are correct. Positively Emporia.
January 4, 2010 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I was always taught in Sunday School that Jesus would return, and now it has happened.
January 4, 2010 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )