Bethlehem In Monticello

This weekend marked the busiest weekend for us in December. We have a live Nativity, commemorating the birth of Jesus. Over 60 church members participate as actors, musicians, and workers in this two night production. Margaret and I work with our friend, Lynn, in costumes. Dean works before, with many men from the church, setting up the town; he is a "wise guy" during the production, and then, he and the "crew" tear it all down on Sunday. Over a thousand people traveled through the road, along with three wise men, two camels, and Mary and Joseph,on a donkey, looking for a room in the Inn. There are carpenters, marketplace sellers, a census taker, shepherds, angels, a story teller, an innkeeper, women at the well,townspeople, a beggar and a star over the manger, where the baby sleeps.

This labor of love continues in our Family Ministry Center, where ladies of the church have spent weeks collecting cookies and then serve them with love, and hot chocolate or hot apple cider. While our visitors are eating and sharing, they are "royally" entertained by guitarists, pianists, flautists, clarinetists, violinists, and singer"ists" !

On Sunday night, we all go out to the Finlayson's house for their Christmas "Sing"! This tops off a great weekend, that prepares our hearts for the season to come.

Here are some of the things that will be in my memory from Bethlehem 2008:
1. Maddie Powell, our young friend who loves the horses, transformed from a
"cow girl" into a beautiful angel.
2. Bob Freeland, age 97, singing Ave Maria.
3. Marjorie Finlayson, the hostess with the "mostest" singing O Holy Night.
4. My friend, Sheila and I, staying in tune on our clarinet duet
5. Seeing our friends from St. Pete, Fred and Joanne and Laurie Harrison,enjoying the camels and donkeys.
6. Our friends, Ed and Sylvia Russell, who have now moved to Monticello,enjoying
their first Bethelehem.
7. Dean Jerger, my most favorite "wise guy".
8.Caroline Mueller ...she rode in her homecoming parade, as a first time contestant,and she rode on a donkey as a first time Mary...beautiful both times!
9. Sitting next to Daddy, as he sang along with " I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
10. Watching the entire Finlayson Family share their love for each other and their God, with the entire community.
11. All the children's faces, as they traveled the torchlit streets of Bethlehem.
12. The costume ladies, as they tried to fit all kinds of bodies into a variety of costumes...Margaret, kind of reminded me of wrapping Christmas presents at Russell's :)
Finally, the Cook family, our pastor Wayne (storyteller), his wife Janet(towns person), son, John(Joseph, leading the donkey) and daughter, Lindsay....what a wonderful addition to our church family...they are always there, adding hope, faith and love to every "family outing"...Thank you, Cooks!!

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