What do a Sicilian donkey named Ebenezer, a prophet who gets thrown in the sand pit, the Roman census, a dove release, an unnoticed miracle and hot apple cider have in common? Answer: They all have a part in Mountain View United Methodist Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk.
Located at 2300 Jamerson Road in north Cobb, this will be the church’s 20th anniversary of the event, which covers two weekends beginning Dec. 1.
This Christmas tradition isn’t the only one of its kind in the country, but it is perhaps one of the largest in terms of participants and oldest in terms of years. Over 175 volunteers are involved in what Cindy Thorne of the church’s ministry tells me is their “Christmas present to the community.”
And what a gift this has turned out to be. Thorne summarizes Bethlehem Walk as a “two-acre interactive play set at the time of the birth of Christ.”
In this scenario, church members and others from the community recreate the city of Bethlehem to provide a realistic impression of life in those times. This is accomplished by the many volunteers who dress in period garments and move about the complex as Roman soldiers, or operate booths simulating the various shops common then.
The participants are well enough versed in the shop they represent that they’re able to describe in detail what visitors are seeing. One of the featured areas visitors will see is a potter who makes pottery from scratch.
A typical night will feature up to 30 shops ranging from an apothecary, a blacksmith, a fabric shop, a leather shop, a scribe, a fish market and inn keeper. A basket weaver’s shop, wine shop, carpenter, and fruit stand will also be displayed. Visitors can ask any questions they want, which will be answered based on scripts carefully researched and studied.
Other volunteers help build the town and provide support in different ways, to include operating a shuttle from Davis Elementary just down the road. Volunteers provide apple juice for the 30 gallons of hot apple cider served each night and to hand out bread. (Bethlehem means the city of bread.)
The church’s pastor is Rev. Bill Burch. He said in a written release that, “This wonderful holiday event provides everyone with a superb opportunity to experience the goodness of the season with our neighbors and the members of our congregation.”
Bethlehem Walk will begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 and goes until 9 p.m., with a repeat Sunday, and then the following weekend. On Dec. 7, the preschool morning performance will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon, when the doves are released.
Admission is free but there will be an opportunity to contribute to the Bethlehem Walk ministry. To learn more, visit www.mvumc.org or email this year's committee coordinator Tonya Cannon at mvumcbw@gmail.com. For more Atlanta Holiday Events, visit the Atlanta Holiday Guide.
