NATCHEZ — Natchez is not the little town of Bethlehem, yet in its streets — the intersection of Jefferson and Union streets — has shone this week a scene highlighting what the classic hymn calls “the everlasting Light.”

Jefferson Street United Methodist Church’s youth group has, for nearly 30 years, had a living nativity scene on that corner during the Advent season, and Thursday the church’s teens donned biblical costume to reenact the scene that unfolded the night Jesus was born nearly two millennia ago.

Youth group coordinator John Hudson said the living nativity has become an “institution” with the church and the town, and it is always included in planning when the group starts preparations for the year in the summer.

“We are never at a loss for students who want to do it,” Hudson said. “The question is always, ‘Where will we get the animals?’”

The animals — two sheep and a donkey — for this year’s scene  were found through members of the church, and they joined the cast shortly after dark Thursday.

Alli Smith, 14, portrayed one of the shepherds who — on the word of angels — showed up shortly after Jesus’ birth. She held a halter rope for one of the sheep, something to which Smith said she had been looking forward.

“I like animals,” she said. “Me and my friends look forward to doing this, because it’s something for the whole community.”

The scene is meant to be a living picture, and while the students don’t have lines to speak, they often interact with those who stop by. So do the animals.

“With the small children, (the living nativity) almost always turns into a petting zoo,” Hudson said.

But while the scene is for all to see, that’s not to say the students don’t take something away from it. Mary Evans Kelley, 13, said doing the scene last year — she reprised her portrayal of Jesus’ mother, Mary, for a second year — gave her a chance for introspection about what it must have been like to have a new baby in a barn on a cold night.

“It really gave me an appreciation for what they did,” she said.

Chase Brooks, 13, stood by as Joseph, the loyal husband of Mary and step-father of Jesus. “I signed up to do this because I really love my church, but it’s also cool to be Jesus’ dad for a while,” he said.

The live nativity will continue from 5:30 to 8 p.m. today.