STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

An angel wearing a gold diadem and gold chains around her waist flapped translucent wings as angels wearing white fuzzy snow hats danced around her.

And the Angel Gabriel lit up in a rainbow of colored lights as he told a young girl named Mary that she was to give birth to a baby who would be the Savior of the World.

Hundreds of people crowded onto straw bales behind the Life Church in Hailey last week as more than 100 actors, choir members and volunteers staged the reenactment of the Christmas story.

Angels greeted the adults and children streaming into the uncharacteristically warm snowless scene with baskets full of sugar cookies. And Peruvian church members happily doled out Peruvian fruit bread while cocoa meisters topped complimentary cups of steaming hot chocolate off with chocolate sprinkles and whipped cream.

The nativity featured wise men riding camels and a flock of sheep—two of which got very agitated when left Home Alone while the others followed shepherds on a journey to see the Christ Child.

It told of a commoner born to humble parents who were faithful to God.

An uncommon commoner who told followers that “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

A Son of God who told those who took the time to truly hear him that serving those in need is equivalent to serving God himself:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

The Greatest Commandment, he added, is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”