Christmas story told in Bethlehem

BLESSING: Road to Bethlehem cast includes Trevor Goldstone, Razmik Cachatoor, Samantha Wright, Murray Jennings and Jodi Duncan. Photo/Daniela Brown

Bethlehem is the perfect place to tell the story of Christmas.

The Road to Bethlehem combined churches community project returns to retell the sometimes harrowing, poignant story of the birth of baby Jesus.

The annual walk-through Christmas production is at Tauranga Adventist School on Moffat Rd starting this Sunday. Road to Bethlehem tells the leadup to the birth of Christ in a series of elaborate scenes starring about 200 actors (with about another 50 behind the scenes).

Road to Bethlehem marketing director and Tauranga Seventh-Day Adventist Church associate pastor Jesse Herford says the event has proven to be a wonderful way to give back to the community. The show is in its eighth year.

"One of the ways we have discovered we can really give back to the community is to give them a really fun experience for families at Christmas time, and we believe in the power of the Christmas story and the true meaning of Christmas."

The Road to Bethlehem idea was brought to Bethlehem from Melbourne by pastor Pat Downey.

People watch the Christmas story unfold by walking through scenes set in Israel. The scenes include in Nazareth when Mary finds out she will bear a child, a complex market scene, the scene where governor Herod attempts to eradicate the child by slaughtering babies, the famous shepherd and angel scene, the inn followed by the nativity scene in Bethlehem where the baby is born.

The sets are elaborate in the hope of giving people an insight into early century middle east.

"People will experience the sights and sounds of what it would be like to be in an ancient city like Jerusalem," Jesse says.

Production director Daniela Brown says the crew is excited to bring the true meaning of Christmas to Tauranga and wider community.

"We are empowered by the concept of being hope dealers and in this Christmas story we inviting all who come to this event to lay down the hurt and brokenness of our world and step into the reason for the season. When we get a revelation of who God is and why he brought his son into this world, it changes everything for us."

The free shows run every 10 minutes between 6.30-9pm (last at 9pm), with a duration of about 40 minutes. Food is available and entertainment for children.

THE FACTS
Road to Bethlehem
Tauranga Adventist School
Moffat Rd
December 17-20,
from 6.30pm
Free event