Jackie Sutton never imagined that the simple act of setting up a life-size nativity scene for the Malibu community each year would result in so many tales of intrigue and adventure after 51 years, but she has plenty of stories to tell.
This is Sutton’s last Christmas season as president of Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC), the non-profit group that began over a half-century ago to bring the nativity to Malibu, accompanied by weekly church-sponsored caroling programs the month before Christmas. The season always culminates with awards given to Keep Christ in Christmas art and essay contest winners from the local schools.
KCIC was founded in 1963 by Mary Kuepper and Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) and taken over by Sutton shortly thereafter.
“Although OLM started it, we got as many churches as we could [to participate],” she said.
The statues used in the nativity scene, which are over 50 years old, were originally made in Switzerland.
“They’re priceless,” Sutton said. “You can’t get stuff like that anymore.”
They were stored at Roberts Ranch during the off-season until a wildfire burned everything but the statues.
The statues were then moved to the Franciscan friars’ Serra Retreat, which burned in the 1993 fire.
Once again, “Everything burned but our statues,” Sutton said. “That’s the second time they were spared, so I’m thinking the Lord really wants these things up there!”
In the earlier days of KCIC, Sutton said there used to be a procession with live farm animals and locals dressed as Mary, Joseph. It would go past City Hall to the nativity scene site at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Civic Center Way.
One year, when the procession ended, “Just as Mary was getting off the donkey, it bolted across PCH!” Sutton said. Everyone had to chase the donkey until it was recaptured, before it could hurt itself or cause an accident. Sutton believes that was the last time they held the procession.
Over the years, various statues in the nativity scene have been stolen.
“The Sheriff’s Department has been very kind to us,” Sutton said.
One year, the angel was stolen.
“The [thieves] would’ve had to put up a ladder to get it!” she exclaimed.
The baby Jesus has been stolen twice, and local actress Roma Downey paid $2,000 to have the second one replaced. Another time, a lamb was stolen and later found on top of someone’s mailbox. A missing sheep was never recovered. Sutton said a business in downtown L.A. has provided some replacements. In addition, her husband Bob found someone willing to hand-carve a new lamb.
In order to help prevent future thefts, Sutton said they “finally put in an alarm system” and put screening around the figures.
During the annual ceremony honoring art and essay contest winners, KCIC puts on a program with entertainment. Sutton said one of the biggest highlights of all her years at KCIC was the time the entertainment canceled, and Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastix agreed to come in and perform at the last minute.
“Dick Van Dyke and his guys gave an unbelievable show for the kids,” she said.
Sutton finds fulfillment in her efforts whenever she hears how much the nativity scene means to people.
“A pastor told me one day he saw a family kneeling in front of the crèche with their children.”
In another instance, people were driving down PCH, saw it, stopped, and offered to help.
“We even have people coming all the way from Agoura and Beverly Hills because we sing the music and we have the beautiful crèche scene,” Sutton said.
Sutton is grateful for all the community support over the years.
“We get private donations, no organization gives us anything,” she said. “Everything comes from our friends and family, and a list of churches and donors.
Help also comes from volunteers with trucks who pick up everything, transport it to the site and then assemble it. It even comes from places like the Malibu Feed Bin, which donates bales of hay.
Sutton will be handing the reins over to local Mary Motley, and is very grateful that someone finally volunteered to take over the responsibilities.
“I already gave all of my stuff to the new gal,” she said.
