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Legal Threats Over Nativity Scene Spark ‘Holy Night’ In Jay
December 23, 2014
“O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy night….”
The words to the classic Christmas carol “O Holy Night” echoed across the heart of Jay Monday night as nearly 300 people gathered at a corner lot at the town’s only traffic light. A huge turnout for a town of about 575 people.
“It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth…”
Old and young, preachers, friends and neighbors, Baptists, Methodist — from all walks of life — they gathered to celebrate that night in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born. Their meeting in front of a Christmas tree and a vintage Nativity scene was sparked by a letter a few weeks ago from an attorney for a Wisconsin group that represents agnostics and atheists claiming that a nativity display at the town hall was illegal.
For the first Christmas in about 40 years, the Nativity scene was moved from the town hall and placed on corner lot by the Santa Rosa Ministerial Association. Following the first report of of the Nativity scene’s fate on NorthEscambia.com, emotions in Jay ranged from outrage to disbelief that some lawyer hundreds of miles away would send such a letter, and outage and disbelief that the group claimed the letter was the result of a complaint from one of their neighbors in the close-knit town.
“We can blame this group; we can blame this town, we can blame governments, we can blame all these other people,” event organizer Nick Jackson said, “but look what is doing amongst us.”
They celebrated the fact that thanks to social media, and thanks to extensive media coverage, their little Nativity scene and the message it carries had spread far beyond their little town.
“Look around you tonight. Look what God is doing in this community. Look what God is doing among your church and your household,” Jackson said. “He is stirring us again. He is reviving the believer to stand and to speak out.”
Jackson said the entire episode had sparked revival in Jay and a Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ like none before.
“O night divine, O night when Christ was born…”
For more photos from the event, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
29 Responses to “Legal Threats Over Nativity Scene Spark ‘Holy Night’ In Jay”
Congratulations to Jay for exercising their Constitutional right to freedom of religion, proving it can be done without government endorsement or subsidy! It was very heartwarming to see the community come together to purchase the nativity scene from the local government, the space on private land was donated, and other donations provided to pay for the electricity…exactly what should have been happening for the past 40 years. Seasons Greetings!
Keep His light shining “O little town of Jay”
I believe it is time for Christians to stay up and be counted who is on God’s side who is on the side of the right . The Nativity should have never been moved not because it is not found a even better place but because Someone is bluffing there is all kinds of Layers out there to help with this that stands for God to see our rights are not taken away . When the Devil comes knocking you never run you plant you feet firmly and fight for what is right. Thank God for all those from Flomaton , Brewton and Century and surounding ares that came out to support our Living God and Jesus Christ our Lord. It was freighting to me to see so many that did not show up to stand up for their rights.
Here we go again with misunderstanding the Constitution. It restricted the federal government not state and local governments. States were allowed and did have religious involvement. This is a local government matter not federal.
If you want to have a local debate then fine, but quit misrepresenting the Constitution.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:5-6
separation of church and state was one of the basis of our country when founded… if you don’t like the constitution and what it stands for..,. move to another country. don’t trample on our fallen soldiers who gave everything for freedom and EQUALITY!
Way to go Jay, Florida.
My family and I lived in this little town for over 5 years, this is a good thing. Loved this community, we were all family there. God has always been in this community and the people there show it in many ways. God is good. Now that we have moved back home to Ohio, I can see God is still working in the Community of Jay Florida. Love ya all.
Look at all the young crowd, they are the ones that must carry the torch along with the older folks—shows us HIS message is being spread “viral” to all who are reading about that little town. HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON !!!
Praise the Lord and God bless the citizens of Jay fro standing up and fighting back. Jesus is the reason for the Season.
Way to go JAY!!!! What a beautiful site it must have been. I wish I could have attended this wonderful event. I lived in Milton for 35 years and have many friends in Jay. My Doctor lives in Jay. I have a daughter and grandson living in Milton. I moved to Orlando FL 3 years ago. If I had known ahead of time I would have tried to make it there. Jesus IS the reason for the season. I am so proud of the believers and know that Christ is the only way. I pray for those who are non-believers for they do not know. Thank you for dying for my sins and the sins of others.
May God bless us all and my love for him will only grow.
Jesus had to be born in a barn. They are still trying to attack and stop him today….but thats a war they’ve already lost
All communities should do this. God always using situations like this to Glorify him. There are more people looking at this nativity screen this year than ever before. And the meaning of Christmas. Praise GOD
Way to go Jay Christians!!! I would like to see someone contact Jay Sekulow and get the manger scene put back at Town Hall. Don’t give up so easily major! Christians have rights too!
Way to go Jay!!
I wish I could have been there and by the way MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!! Remember Jesus is THE reason for the season. Thanks FFR for bringing the town together.
To all our brothers and sisters in Christ in Jay, God Bless you all for your stand, May you continue to be strong in your faith and your witness. All your family of God here in Cantonment salute you.
Awesome!!!!!!
God is Great! Way to go Jay, God Bless you all
>>>Why wasn’t the NAME OF THE Wisconsin group that filed the complaint published in the article??????????!!!!!!!!! They know who we are, shouldn’t we know who they are??????
We’ve published several previous stories with complete info:
http://www.northescambia.com/2014/12/nativity-scene-removed-from-jay-town-hall-after-lawyer-claims-its-illegal
What am Honor to see our real true American Christians stand together for OUR
SAVIOR .
I know that OUR Jay neighbors are standing tall for all of us.
THANKS, AND GOD BLESS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Why wasn’t the NAME OF THE Wisconsin group that filed the complaint published in the article??????????!!!!!!!!! They know who we are, shouldn’t we know who they are??????
So proud to have our family there and to see how many others took the time to come and show Jesus STILL IS and always will be the reason for it all!! As Sis Becky McCullough said they can have our nativity scenes hidden away out of sight and our Bibles tossed into the farthest oceans, but that doesn’t change the fact that there was a baby born and placed in a manger. The Lord of Lords, King of Kings and Savior of the world Jesus Christ. One day every knee shall bow at His feet and every tongue shall confess to God that Jesus Christ is Lord. Prayers for the unbelievers that they too will believe.So proud of our community , of our TWA church family and all the area pastors that particiated. It was so awesome to come together for the greatest of reasons!!!
Way to go Jay, FL.
Awesome! I’m so thankful for the Jay community standing up for their rights! Interesting that an Atheist lawyer in Wisconsin is so worried about where the Baby Jesus lays his head in the town of Jay Florida. If he’s that interested maybe we should write a letter to him and let him know the location where Jesus laid down His life for us.
Psalm 1:1″How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers
Psalm 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm
Thank God for the believers in that community. If God is with us who can be against?
Good for you Jay FL.. God is good !!!!!!
This is wonderful! The church thrives best when it is persecuted. We are living in the latter days. Christians prepare yourselves for more persecution and let us use it to glorify God. May God Bless each and everyone! In Christ’s Love, Beth
way to go Jay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Glad you stood up and did what you did, maybe other’s will follow without vilonce.
GOD IS GOOD! THANK YOU JESUS FOR TAKING MY SINS ON THE CROSS AT CALVERY! AMEN AMEN