Protesters picket 'Living Negativity Scene'

About 20 protesters were on hand as Calvary Free Church members set up their Christmas "Living Negativity Scene" on the church lawn. Pastor Olney Shawshank said the display will focus on the materialism of the season, with scenes of office party debauchery, crass commercialism and overly indulgent spending on gifts to the detriment of aid to the poor and hungry.

Members took their places, some dressed in holiday finery, others as homeless bums or neglected losers spending Christmas alone and forgotten.

The church's neighbors were not impressed. "This makes a mockery of what Christmas is all about," said Sam Stevens, who held a sign that said "Put Christ back in Christmas... Now!"

"How do you expect me and my family to enjoy our holiday when we look out our windows and see them dressed as bums in the gutter? Or look, there's a woman dressed as a drunken call girl," Stevens said. "You can't even see the manger back in the stable."

Pastor Shawshank insists this is the best way to honor Christ.

"Last year they complained about the live camels defecating all over the street," he said, shaking his head. "I'm not sure we'll ever come up with a depiction of the meaning of the incarnation that will satisfy everybody."

• Furl • StumbleUpon • Technorati Tags: Christmas Negativity Scene, Christian humor, satire, humor