A Walk Through Bethlehem

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” –John 1:14 (The Message)

MANY years ago, when the church was on Oak Street, I wrote an interactive event we called "A Walk through Bethlehem." The church volunteered and worked together to take community visitors through a series of scenes culminating in the manger scene.

The purpose was to get our players to read the bible and become a person actually involved in the events. Vignettes included the Bethlehem village, census takers, angels announcing the birth, Herod, shepherds, the inn, wise men, and a live baby with the parents in a manger.

Two young boys were in the group I was guiding. They began acting very silly and playing around, but the angels got their attention. They were more and more fascinated throughout, until they reached the manger. One of them reached his hand toward the baby, and the baby grasped his finger. The baby held on for about 30 seconds.

The boys were stunned. As they walked out of the sanctuary, one boy looked at his friend and said, “You know what, this really happened!”

--Merle Rose