Members of the First Christian Church invite the community to step back in time and visit the era of Christ's birth. Their second annual Christmas gift to the community, the event this year will run Friday and Saturday at the church, and immerse visitors in Bethlehem two millennia ago.
A live Nativity scene is the centerpiece of the event as more than 50 church volunteers plus other entertainers and presenters recreate the manger scene as well as shops, food and games from the Biblical era. Live animals including two camels, Jerusalem donkeys, sheep, goats and pigeons populate the manger and town. The camels — one an adult male and the other a baby — are from a farm in the Thumb area of the state that event coordinator LeAnne Sleder located thanks to the Internet. They will be there only Friday night this year, housed outside under tents that lead to the church's entrance.
Belly dancers, musicians and craftsmen of old will also be on hand throughout the evenings, all in authentic period costumes made by church members. These volunteers pulled together more than 30 costumes, adding a number this year to accommodate a second night.
Declining to charge admission and absorbing all costs, the church puts on the event
with two missions in mind.
"This is a Christmas gift from us to the community to tell the real story, the true meaning of the season,” said Sleder. "And we're trying to reach the unchurched in a way that's warm and inviting and non-threatening.”
"This is something you can stay at for five minutes or for two hours if you want,” she added.
The Sylvan Winds trio will provide a musical taste of the era, even though their instrument — the recorder — had not yet been invented.
"We'll play a selection of music that descended from early church music, not familiar hymns,” said Richard Curtis of Traverse City.
The church began the Taste of Bethlehem five years ago just for members but expanded it and welcomed the public last year. The overwhelming success of that endeavor inspired them to make it a tradition and extend it to two nights.
A host of committees has been planning every detail of the event for the past year. Monday evening, volunteers began putting up the murals, stalls, lights, palm trees and other decorations in the Great Room and various other rooms involved. Participants also came in for costume fittings as the final pieces began falling into place.
"It is just amazing to see how many people come together to do this,” said Debra Schlaack, who is in charge of publicity for the event. "It's a lot of love and manpower and elbow grease here to make it happen.”
A new volunteer this year, Schlaack credits last year's Taste of Bethlehem with bringing her and her family back into the church fold.
A member of the First Christian Church for years, Schlaack had been married there and her three children were welcomed into the congregation after each birth. Their interest waned over the years and the family's attendance and participation declined.
Attending the Taste of Bethlehem last year for the first time reignited her faith and rejuvenated her family in the church.
"The passion that I felt for this event brought me back to the church,” she recalled. "What you really felt that night was the Holy Spirit. [A Taste of Bethlehem] brought the Christmas story to life, you just felt it when you walked through here.”
Taste of Bethlehem will be held at the First Christian Church, 3686 S. Airport Road, on Friday from 5-9 p.m. and on Saturday from 4-9 p.m. There is no admission fee but a free will offering will be accepted.