A Night in Bethlehem

A few weeks before "A Night in Bethlehem" at the ward building we received a tax notice, requesting all to come and pay their taxes, parking their donkey to the left of the building. Our taxes were to be food for the city food pantry. We were to come with our family and register. After signing the town registry our family received a bag of tokens, in which we could by food. We placed our blanket on the floor and headed out seeking food and drink. There was fruit, pita sandwiches, cheeses and dessert. Once we had visited each stand to gather our food, our family went to our blanket to eat.

I felt as if this may have been what it was like in Bethlehem. The simplest provisions and over crowded, families together...
Two families visiting. See the background? The entire room was decorated!
Here was the sandwich stand.
Once we ate, the little ones made crafts. I just love how their starts turned out!
Back to our blanket for the program. Kaylie and Calder looking in on Baby Jesus. Soon it was time to start. Someone read from the Scriptures about the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph made their way through the crowd and settled next to us in a manger, where Mary lay sweet baby Jesus.
Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. We would sing a song, hear more of the story, and sing another song. Sheppard's then made their way through the crowd, followed by an

Angel and the Wise Men. One of the wise men is heading our way, he is bearing the gift of a Jacob's ladder. This particular wise man is the Bishop.

(When Kaylie say him she exclaimed, "The Bishop, is a WISE MAN!)

After the Wise Men made their way to the manger and left their gifts, we sang Silent Night! At the very end each family was presented with a gift. It was a small wooden cradle. We are to take this cradle and work hard being kind in our family. With each kind deed we are to add straw to the cradle, so that there will be a comfortable bed for baby Jesus on Christmas Morning.

Several times I was just overcome with the Spirit. I am so thankful for this wonderful activity, what a blessing it was to our family! I am grateful for the opportunity to live in Jesus time, if only for a minute!