In this 2011 file photo, Meredith Lang and her daughter Amelia, 8, stopped by the Centenary United Methodist Church, 245 N. Fourth St., Saturday to view the Festival of the Nativities.

Christmas lights hang from the ceiling, lining the perimeter of the Upper Room at the Centenary United Methodist Church in North Lawrence. Ornaments and wreaths hang from the walls, and garland lines the numerous tables, on which sit countless nativity scenes.

These 350 scenes are different shapes, sizes and colors and are made from different materials. They represent 38 countries across five continents, each telling the story of Christmas, of Jesus’ birth, with a different perspective.

“I honestly don’t know how many we have,” said Connie Hadl, who heads the church’s nativity committee. “We put out 350 for sure, but I know we have more than that.”

The public can view the display at the 19th annual Festival of Nativities, located at the church, a small building tucked into the corner of Fourth and Elm Streets.

Hadl said a “find it” game, much like a scavenger hunt, is available to anyone viewing the nativities. Participants are given a list of certain pieces to look for, challenging them to observe the details of each scene.

“You can see the sets, but once you start looking a little bit closer, then you can really see them in a different perspective and a different light,” Hadl said.

All in all, it takes more than 300 hours to set up the display. But those hours are worth it, Hadl said, when she hears what the public has to say.

“We have people that are new, who have never heard of it, and they say, ‘I have to go home and tell my mother, or my neighbor,'” she said. “We have families that come every year who really look forward to it, and we have quite a few people from out of town.”

Hadl has been active in the nativity committee for ten years now, and has served as the chairwoman since 2005. She has seen hundreds of nativities come and go, each telling the same story in a different fashion, from a different perspective, each with a special significance. But when asked which was her favorite, Hadl had a surprisingly quick response.

“I have a miniature marble set that I just love,” she said. “It’s from Chile, and it’s just a tiny little thing that you can put in the palm of your hand.”