“O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in they dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.”
–Rector Phillips Brooks (1835-1903)
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago on the night that Jesus was born?
The little town of Bethlehem is much more than a Christmas carol that we sing every December, and this year you have the opportunity to take a trip back in time and experience the era and area for yourself.
The members of Liberty Baptist Church invite the community to bring friends and family to their campus to enjoy a first-century experience called “A Night in Bethlehem.”
“A Night in Bethlehem” is an interactive tour of Bethlehem town and its busy marketplace. Visitors will see and better understand what life was like back then by meeting Bethlehem citizens dressed in period attire while walking through and touring different stations where citizens demonstrate some of the different trades and crafts of the time.
“We’re excited for people to experience the sights, sounds and excitement of that very first Christmas the way it may have appeared when Jesus was born in a manger,” said Eric Johnson, Assistant Pastor at Liberty Baptist. “This will be the fourth year that we have done this. We have had such a great response every year, and people come from all over Southern California. We’ve doubled in the number of guests each year, and we’ve added more hours to accommodate the growing interest. Most of the tour is indoors, so the weather isn’t much of a factor.”
“One of the big attractions of ‘A Night in Bethlehem’ is that it focuses on what Christmas is truly all about,” he continued. “There are plenty of holiday parties going on all around, but this
takes people back to the main reason for Christmas in the first place. Christmas is about God loving us so much that He was willing to come in the humble form of a little baby, to come to earth in an unlikely time, and in an unlikely way. This reminds us of Who the source of all that cheer, hope and joy truly is.”
Johnson explained that the construction, operation, and manning of “A Night in Bethlehem” are all done by volunteers from Liberty Baptist because they are thrilled to be able to offer such a tangible and memorable way to help get the message of Christmas out to the community.
“Plus, the event is free, which is also unbelievable,” Johnson added. “One of the main comments we hear is how much people are thankful for an event that is true to Christmas.
Young and old enjoy the experience and they’ll get to enjoy a delicious treat from Bethlehem. They’ll also get a free photo from their visit.”
“A Night in Bethlehem” runs Friday, December 13 from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, December 14 from 5 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, December 15 from 5 to 8 p.m.
To see a video trailer of “A Night in Bethlehem” or for further information, go to libertybaptistchurch.org.
Cindy can be reached at cindy@onthegrow.com.
