Pastor’s Nativity Scene Vandalized In Draper

(KUTV) DRAPER Police are investigating the vandalizing of a Christmas nativity scene in Draper.

The interesting thing is, this attack seemed to be by people who knew about Jesus, and wanted to twist the Christmas message.

The nativity scene is now back together in front of the home of Pastor Harry Berg and his family. Pastor Berg leads a church in Draper and feels the vandals attacked his home in a way that could be an attack on his religion.

“It kind of rattled us to the bone,” said Pastor Berg.

The baby Jesus was put back in the manger Tuesday after the figure was taken by vandals last Friday night while the pastor and his wife were helping put together a children's show at their church.

When the Bergs got home that night, a picture of King Herod was taped to the nativity scene, blindfolds had been put on Mary and Joseph, and baby Jesus was missing.

“And the note said King Herod has taken your baby Jesus,” said Pastor Berg.

The note said baby Jesus would be found at the South Mountain Bridge. Pastor Berg called police who went to the bridge, found baby Jesus and returned the figure to the Bergs. The figure had been damaged, they had used red nail polish to signify blood on his hands and feet.

The next night, someone threw trash on the nativity scene, and the night after that, someone knocked over the Berg's trash cans.

Pastor Berg leads the Draper Friends Christian Church, a growing Evangelical Church in Draper. He's upset by the vandalism, but he remembers it’s Christmas and hopes the vandals may still learn.

“We love them and we forgive them, God turns things to good and we hope he will do that with these people, too,” said Pastor Berg.

Police are taking a less forgiving view of the matter, they say this may be a hate crime and they are looking for the perpetrators.