Journey Through Bethlehem

  Our church was blessed when approximately 400 to 500 people heard the story of Jesus' birth.  Lines started to form well before the scheduled time of 4:30pm, on Saturday, December 3, 2011.  The church grounds were beautifully lit with 3 bonfires, numerous torches and about 70 luminaries.

There were 60 people dressed in costume and about 20 behind the scene.  It was such a joyous event. 

Three new stations were added in 2011.  In the front of the church was a fire pit where Christmas carols and stories were heard.  In the Helen Rutch Ladies'  Parlor, there were 12 small dancing angels.  Another new station this year was the town's people celebrating and dancing around the bonfire becaused they heard from a shephard about Jesus' birth.

Some comments heard regarding the living nativity were:

"My Mom, my kids and I went, and we just loved it!  We sang Mary Did You Know? on the way home in the car.  My Mom told her pastor about it and told him he's gotta go next year!"

"I loved it!  I'm so glad we went.  The gift bags were a great idea and even my littlest granddaughter could remember the story."

"I wanted to do something special with my daughter for Christmas.  I was trying to decide where to take her perhaps to see the Nutcracker in Scranton, but I came to your nativity.  I'm glad I did.  I felt this was the most important thing for my daughter to see (the real meaning of Christmas)."

"Thank you!  What a wonderful production!!  It was a perfect way to start the Christmas season!"

This report was written from excerpts from the report submitted by Terry Lawrence to the Jan/Feb/Mar 2012 Church newsletter.