PHOTOS: Capitol Nativity

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About 400 students from local schools took turns providing four hours of Christmas music on the Capitol steps inside the Capitol Rotunda, as part of the 10th annual Nativity at the Capitol celebration, sponsored by 40 Days for Life Columbia and the Team P.L.A.Y. faith-based effort to end abortion in Missouri.

Groups of parents from each school gathered around the outdoor steps, then filed into the Capitol Rotunda, where another Nativity was set up on a stage filled with greenery and lights.

Participating schools included: the St. Peter Preschool in Jefferson City; Our Lady of the Snows School in Mary’s Home; St. Peter School in Jefferson City; Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City; St. Martin School in St. Martins; St. Joseph School in Westphalia; St. Thomas the Apostle School in St. Thomas; Immanuel Lutheran School in Honey Creek; St. Francis Xavier School in Taos; and St. Joseph Cathedral School in Jefferson City; along with fifth-graders and the high school and middle school bands from Eugene High School and Bob and Sheila Thompson of the Rusty Strings ensemble. (68 photos)