NATCHEZ — Among the chaos of holiday shoppers and pictures of sleighs, reindeer and a guy in a red suit, it can be easy to forget the reason Christmas is celebrated. First Baptist Church in Natchez offers a portrayal of the oldest Christmas story in the book this weekend with the help of volunteer actors in a live nativity scene, the adult and children’s choir, ballet dancers and musicians, said Terry Stutzman, First Baptist’s music secretary.

Truly, the story portrayed is more than just a Christmas story, Stutzman said.

“We’ll be telling the story of Jesus beginning at the Christmas story, but we’ll be trying to elaborate more about his life,” she said. “It’s more than just the Christmas story. It’s the story of our salvation.”

“The Story of Jesus” will be told at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at First Baptist Church in Natchez on D’Evereux Drive. The doors open at 5 p.m. on both evenings and admission is free, Stutzman said.

The show features Ballet Magnificat — a professional ballet group out of Jackson that will provide an interpretation of biblical stories through dance — and music orchestrated by the FBC praise band and other instrumentalists from Jackson, Louisiana State University and Natchez, Stutzman said.

Additionally, adult and children choirs and volunteer actors will tell the story with classic carols and a live nativity performance.

The children’s choirs will also later present their Christmas program in the church sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, with young vocalists accompanied by older percussionists.

Throughout the month of December, Rev. Doug Broome will provide a series of Christmas messages Sunday morning’s starting at 10:30 a.m. that are designed to keep the focus on the “real meaning of the season,” Stutzman said.

“We hope the community will come out and join us in our celebrations,” she said. “… We hope that they take away a renewed appreciation for what Christmas really means and a lot of joy and happiness for what God gave us on that first Christmas.”