AUBURN — Tara Nelson of Auburn has been involved in the Christmas Spectacular, a show put on by the East Auburn Baptist Church, for half her life.

This year, she took her involvement to new heights.

From Nov. 29 through Dec. 9, she was one of four angels watching over baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the church’s annual sold-out production.

The show’s producer, Randy Corey, said this year the church added new lights and new angel wings. The combination “really has taken that particular scene to a whole new level,” he said.

Megan Fortin, left, of Turner, Wendy McCann of Auburn, Tara Nelson of Auburn and Kim Ray of New Gloucester spread their wings around Aaron Tripp (Joseph), Addy Avery (Mary) and Elliott Fortin (baby Jesus) during the Christmas Spectacular at the East Auburn Baptist Church. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

As Nelson and three other angels — Kim Ray of New Gloucester, Megan Fortin of Turner and Wendy McCann of Auburn — raised their arms, Christmas tree lights behind them and lights above shone through wings created from oversized sleeves. Made of translucent material, they gave off an ethereal, heavenly feeling.

Randy Corey is the director of the Christmas Spectacular at the East Auburn Baptist Church. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

It’s important, Corey says. After all, angels are a critical part in the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, since it was the angels praising God’s glory and announcing the birth to shepherds.

After watching the Christmas variety show and Nativity number, audience member Jeff Chandler of New Gloucester was all smiles, saying it was well-done. “The message they were giving, the message of Christ and what Christmas is all about, was well-received.”

His wife, Cathy Chandler, said the angels’ performance inspired her. Even though the birth of Christ was more than 2,000 years ago, “it felt like you were there,” she said.

Ray said she debuted as an angel 20 years ago in the church’s Easter production. Since then, she’s played a role sometimes, and sometimes she’s coached others on how to be effective angels.

On stage, angels have to move with grace and spread their arms and wings just right, flowing at the right second — such as when four angels turned with wings spread high, creating ripples.

Your face should have a serious but gentle, pleasant look, Ray said.

She gets involved in the Christmas show, in part, to offer others an opportunity “to feel the power of Jesus, the message of hope he’s given the world.”

Fortin, whose 5-month-old son represented baby Jesus, said she’s been an angel several times in the performance.

“I like the example we are giving to the community and the guests who come,” she said.

She hopes their performance helps spread the message of Christmas and helps others “feel the presence of God.”

Megan Fortin, left, of Turner, Wendy McCann of Auburn, Tara Nelson of Auburn and Kim Ray of New Gloucester get ready shortly before their Christmas Spectacular performance at the East Auburn Baptist Church in Auburn. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

With rehearsals going on for two months, playing the role of angel rubs off, Ray said.

“It creates your focus to be back where it’s supposed to be,” she said. “I’m in my Bible more.”

McCann agreed, saying acting the part of an angel has prompted her to have deeper thoughts.

Tara Nelson of Auburn and her 5-year-old daughter Paisley perform together during the Christmas Spectacular at the East Auburn Baptist Church. Tara Nelson is one of the four angels in the 23rd annual event. (Sun Journal photo by Daryn Slover)

“Being in something like this, it’s hard not to,” McCann said. It’s made her “try to be more like Jesus, every day. Sometimes I fail.”

Christmas isn’t Christmas, the angels said, without the story of the birth of Christ.

“More people need to get back to knowing what this is, and not making it commercialized,” McCann said. “It is the reason for the season.”

There’s a line in the moving “Noel” song performed by Lucy Reynolds during the manger scene that struck a chord with Nelson.

As lights focused on the baby in the manger, a woman with a powerful voice sang, “See what God has done.”

Initially the lyrics didn’t sink in, Nelson said. She was busy focusing on her movements in the act.

But then one of the mothers in her church pointed out the words. It hit her, she said. “‘See what God has done.’ It’s a powerful line.”

The fact that the demand for the show’s tickets were so high — all 8,500 tickets were gone in three hours on Nov. 10 — tells them the community wants and needs not just holiday joy and entertainment, but the Christmas message, Ray said.

“It’s bringing them to church and bringing them to Christ,” she said.

Christmas Eve services are at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com