Nation’s largest Nativity Scene on display in Lincoln

Sunday, January 6th is the Christian feast day of Epiphany, or the Three Kings Day.

A local church has a special display to honor it.

Lincoln is home to the largest Nativity Scene in the U.S. 

It can be found at Cristo Rey Church, located near 42nd and J street.

“It’s like a birthday card to everybody here in Lincoln, and a birthday card to baby Jesus,” said Jose Herrero, artistic director of the display.

Jose Herrero has been working on the Nativity Scene for the last 15 years.

The 20-foot display is put up every holiday season.

It will only remain open for a limited time.

“If you haven’t had a chance to come here over the Christmas holidays you can come now because we are going to be open every day from 9 am in the morning until 10 pm at night until January 13th,” said Herrero.

This is a year round project for the church.

It showcases not only the birth of Jesus, but also his childhood as well as everyday life in Nazareth, Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

“It’s free, the doors are open for anyone who wants to come. We do have a donation box because we support an orphanage in Kenya called Nyunbani where we take care of over a thousand children whose parents died of aids,” said Herrero.

The donation box is located right next to the display.

Any amount is appreciated.

Jose travels all around the world getting inspiration for the nativity scene.

Most of the buildings are made of foam, but they are all based off of the real thing.

The display holds over 100 figurines and even has live fish in the water.

If you’d like to learn more about the work that Jose does with children in Kenya, head to www.nyunbani.org.