While many things in Malibu change over the years, there is one constant that has stood the test of time and that locals can count on during the Christmas season — the Malibu crèche. For more than 50 years now at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Webb Way, the tableau of the baby Jesus’ birth has stood as a testament of faith and community spirit.
On Sunday, for the 53rd year in a row, Christians from different churches in Malibu gathered around the crèche, some sitting on hay bales, to hear words of inspiration from church leaders, pray, meet longtime neighbors and sing Christmas carols which, for many in the community, is a longstanding tradition filled with the spirit of the season.
The Malibu crèche was started by a small, dedicated group of parishioners from Our Lady of Malibu and their nonprofit organization Keep Christ in Christmas. According to longtime volunteer Bob Sutton, the late Mary Kupper of Malibu bought one statue at a time using money she secured through donations. From then, the crèche grew to include beautifully hand-painted figures of the baby Jesus, an angel, a lamb and all the other figures in the manger.
Over the years, the wooden figures have been stored in various places throughout Malibu during the off-season for their protection and, according to the 90-year-old Sutton, there have been some “strange happenings.”
“Many years ago, the crèche was stored at Roberts Ranch, but one year the ranch burned,” Sutton told The Malibu Times. “Lo and behold, the crèche was unaffected.” Calling it a miracle, Sutton also reflected, “It was also blown down twice in gusty wind storms, but it was still saved.”
The crèche has also had its brushes with some shenanigans from vandals. One year the angel was stolen. While some statues have been stolen and were lost forever, some were stolen and then later returned. That was once the case with the figure of the baby Jesus, according to Sutton, who said it was eventually returned, but damaged. To prevent further trouble, the crèche is now protected with mesh fencing and a camera. The pieces are then stored at Serra Retreat in a temperature-controlled room. Every year, volunteers then haul it to Malibu’s Civic Center to recreate the tradition they hope brings joy to people from Malibu and beyond. But it takes volunteers and, at age 90, Sutton is hoping some younger volunteers can step in to assist. While still involved, Sutton said, “I’ll never retire from this. I’m blessed.”
Through Advent, every Sunday at 1 p.m., area churches will take responsibility and lead the community through ecumenical prayer and song at the crèche. Sunday, OLM and Calvary Chapel Malibu partnered.
Pastor Brian La Spada from Calvary Chapel, which meets weekly at Juan Cabrillo Elementary, spoke of the divisiveness in his family concerning politics and how he managed it during Thanksgiving.
“We must put family first before politics,” La Spada said. “My wife and I are expecting our first baby. We’re very excited. So that’s what we talked about.
“Christmas is not about shopping,” he added. “It’s about the baby Jesus and bringing families together.”
Father Bill Kerze of OLM, who also officiated Sunday, said, “I was pleased to see the number of folks who turned out. It’s a testimony to our community that the tradition has continued so long — to focus on what Christmas is all about and to focus on the spirit of Christmas. Working with the other churches is a wonderful endeavor.”
The weekly program consists of a Bible reading, a sermon or inspirational words, caroling, symbolic advent candle lighting for children and then the highlight and finale of the program — the community singing of “Joy to the World” facing PCH and Webb Way. Drivers typically honk and wave during this tradition. Then, continuing in the Christmas spirit of community, coffee and treats are shared.
This Sunday, Dec. 4, Malibu Presbyterian will lead the program at the crèche. December 11th will have Serra Retreat helming for the first time and St. Aidan’s Episcopal on Dec. 18.
