Trek to Bethlehem

On Friday night, we participated in a Christmas activity with our ward called "The Trek to Bethlehem". We were all advised to present ourselves at the gates to the town with a can of food or toy as our tax. Most everyone came dressed in Bethlehem garb. There were many shops in the town - a head dresser in case you didn't have the proper head covering - a pottery shop - a fruit and cheese shop - a jewelry shop where you made your own bead jewelry - a shop where you made a family christmas activity (that was the Primary's shop that we had a hand in) - a hot chocolate shop - a fried bread shop - a music shop - even a shop where you could have your feet wash after the long walk to Bethlehem.

Here is Dan getting his feet wash by our local podiatrist, Tom Hale.

This is Michelle along with Julie Hanks manning the Primary Shop where we made a Family Home Evening kit with a manger (made from a toilet paper tube), straw, a baby Jesus (made from a peanut and a strip of material) and a story telling each family to add a piece of straw to the manger when they did an act of service for someone.

There were musical performances, warm fires to stand by, bales of hay to rest on, a pen of goats to feed and pet (if you dared), and then came a path lit by luminarias leading you back to a small stable where we found Mary and Joseph and the babe.

Our niece, Brittany Cotter, her cute daughter, Macey, and Johnny Reading (Brittany's brother-in-law -- our nephew-in-law) took one of the turns in playing Mary, Joseph and the baby.

It was a marvelous evening. Our ward had invited everyone in our ward boundaries to come and participate. It was exciting to gather together to celebrate this wonderful season.

The highlight of the evening was at the end when we all gathered at the stable. The wisemen came, we sang "Silent Night" and knelt in prayer to close the evening.

A night to remember.