Relive The Past At Annual Walk Through Bethlehem
By Carisa Biesecker, carisa@ospreyobserver.com
The city of Bethlehem will be brought to life on the grounds of Kings Avenue Baptist Church in Brandon through the upcoming 23rd Annual Walk Thru Bethlehem this December.This Christmas season, some 400 church members will present the town of Bethlehem – meaning House of Bread in Hebrew – and its humble history behind the birth of Jesus Christ. On Thursday, December 10, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., Friday, December 11, from 6:30-10 p.m., Saturday, December 12, from 4-10 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, from 4-9:30 p.m., residents will have the opportunity to discover the meaning behind December 25 – Christmas Day. According to Pastor’s Secretary Evelyn Brown, the event is coordinated yearly “as a gift to the entire community, and beyond….a time to refocus everyone’s attention on the real meaning of Christmas during this time of extreme busyness that we all get wrapped up in.”Attendees will traverse through a maze of the town’s shops, breathing in the aroma of incense and fresh-baked bread, the sounds of the hustle and the bustle of the city’s residents and tradesmen at work and seeing the towering walls and streets of the city as well as the attire of the time. Walking amongst camels, livestock and Roman guards, passers-by will be introduced to a few figures portrayed within the pages of the Bible: the Three Wise Men, the woman at the well and its keynote inspirer, Jesus Christ as a newborn. News of his birth will be whispered throughout the city, with guests able to feel the excitement of the coming Messiah. Tours average 25 minutes per groups of 10-15 people. During visitors’ wait time, various musicians’ music will echo through the church’s sanctuary, while those hit with hunger pangs can pick up a snack at the concession stands. Get there early as last year’s event brought more than 7,000 residents through the doors of the church, located at 2602 Kings Ave. S. in Brandon. “Kings Avenue Baptist’s goal is to remind everyone of the real meaning of Christmas…the birth of Jesus Christ. Walk Thru Bethlehem was started 23 years ago by congregational members who saw a similar production elsewhere…it isn’t a staff-driven event. It’s a gift of love from Kings Avenue Baptist Church to the area,” concludes Brown. For more information, go to www.kingsavenue.org or call 685-3095.
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