This holiday season you can visit Bethlehem and not even leave the neighborhood.
The Highlands Christian Church, 9949 McCree, takes people back to the days of Mary and Joseph when it turns its front lawn into the town of Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth.
A variety of shops are set up typical to the time period for families to wander through. A fisherman repairs nets, a baker grinds wheat into flour, a potter works on her wheel, a weaver uses real lamb’s wool to sew, live goats are kept in a stable, and beggars and tax collectors wander the streets.
“It’s very hands-on,” says Cindy Causey, who organized the event with her husband Scott. “It’s geared toward showing kids how things were done. We tried really hard to maintain the flavor of what it would have been like when Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem.”
This is the second time the church has put on Christmas in Bethlehem. Everything is free except for the bazaar area where crafts will be sold. The event takes place Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 from 6-9 p.m.
Mini-dramas take place in the center of the “marketplace” throughout the evening, and Mary and Joseph appear. All the actors are members of the church who volunteered to participate.
“This gives people something other than Christmas lights to look at in the neighborhood,” Cindy says.
