Annual gift to community: "A Living Nativity" on historic church grounds Dec. 22

In the Parish House at the New Utrecht Reformed Church, in Bensonhurst, Robert Buonvino presents a $1,000 check he received from Maimonides Medical Center to Susan Hanyen, vice president of Consistory at the church, to be used for "A Living Nativity" at New Utrecht Saturday, Dec. 22, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mr. Buonvino, president of Friends of Historic New Utrecht, had received the check on behalf of the church as representatives of 20 parishes and other faith communities gathered at St. Patrick's Church in Bay Ridge for the annual kickoff to the Celebration of Light program. Thanks to Maimonides, in Borough Park, checks were distributed to support outdoor Christmas trees and lights. The New Utrecht church, at 18^th Ave. and 84^th St., has been presenting the Living Nativity to the Bensonhurst community for decades. Each year hundreds are attracted to the manger scene for the program of Christmas carols and live animals, as children and adults take part in an outdoor manger tableau.

Also at New Utrecht, on December 15, a "Peace Lamp," brought from Bethlehem via Austrian Airlines, will be available at the church for anyone who wishes to bring their own candle to be lit from the lamp to take back to their homes for Christmas. That evening, The North Shore Pops Concert Band, with Eric Albinder conducting, presents "Holiday with the Pops," a free community concert beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will be held in the Parish House next to the main church building, closed since Dec. 2003 for a $2 million repair and restoration. The Brooklyn landmark, with its world-known stained-glass windows and pipe organ, was built in 1828.

The following week, at the time of the Living Nativity, the Peace Lamp also will be available for visitors to take light from the flame.

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