South County's Large Nativity Returns

For those of us who travel the I-5 through San Juan Capistrano this time of year we've gotten used to seeing a huge Nativity scene on the hillside above the freeway. That scene has been missing for a few years after being damaged by high winds, but the new owner of the property, Saddleback Church, has restored the scene and reinstalled it for this Christmas season (from the Capistrano Dispatch):

The larger-than-life manger scene has returned to Capistrano.

Rick Warren, Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church, announced the church will resurrect the tradition of lighting the famous nativity scene at Saddleback Church’s Rancho Capistrano campus at the north end of town.

Visible from the San Diego Freeway, the manger scene has been a part of the community for generations, however, it has been absent from Christmas festivities in recent years due to damage by the Santa Ana winds. These damaged pieces were discovered a few months back when Saddleback Church began restoring the property six months ago.

“We are thrilled that we can bring back this loved manger scene, which has become a Christmas tradition for many families in our area,” Warren said in a statement. “I thank God for the leadership and the commitment of so many individuals who faithfully volunteered to restore this local icon. We hope that it can once again remind everyone the true meaning of Christmas is not found in shopping or decorating, but in the Christ child’s birth.”

Saddleback Church took over the property from the bankrupt Crystal Cathedral.  You can read further in the article to find out about the volunteers who took on the project of completely rebuilding the scene so we could all enjoy it. Thanks!