Manitouwadge Travels to Bethlehem

Written by admin on 13 December 2011

Pharmacist David Bodunde and his wife are Joseph and Mary at 'A Night in Bethlehem', left 'Shepherd' Davey Gillman. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

MANITOUWADGE, ON – Saturday, December 10th, Manitouwadge residents were treated to a very special experience as members of the Bethnay Pentecostal Assembly presented their 2nd annual ‘A Night in Behtlehem‘ as their gift to the community.

Months of preparation culminated in an incredible evening full of authentic sights, smells and sounds as would have been experience in Bethlehem thousands of years ago at the time when Jesus Christ was born. Visitors were greeted with ‘Shalom’ at the high School lobby as they wand provided with coins and paperwork that would need to be presented to officials along their way including a tax collector and census taker. Prior to embarking on their tour, participatnts were offered the opportunity to dress in traditional robes and headwear for a photo in a staged backdrop which included elements of the tour they were abeginning. The photographer on hand took photos which were sent out by mail the following week as a souvenir of the evening.

Guides provided historical information while leading groups through the high school hallways which had been transformed into the desert roadways near 1BC Bethlehem complete with shepphards and beggars along the papers be presented before children and adults continued through the marketplace where they visited bakers, Blacksmiths, Letaher workers, and others each offering crafts representative of their wares (and the bakers offering samples of their breads). The tax man was near the end of these, waiting to be paid and presented with paperwork which had been verified along the way.

Finally the guide to of a star which had led wise men to a stable and, behind the curtains of the stage the manger where Joseph and Mary doted over their new baby son Jesus.

Though the experience could likely be enjoyed in abou60 tot 90 minutes from beginning to end, it took me the betcloser to 2 hrs. So many things to enjoy, so many sights to absorb and crafts to make the volunteers had definately outdone themselves incredibly improving on the previous year’s spectacular event. Volunteers were proud to say that the buildings and many other elements of the presentation from the 2011 evening whad been made to be re-used. The entire set could be dismantled and will be kept in storage until 2012. Manitouwadge residents, more than 100 attending approximately double last year’s attendance,arere clearly making the evening a part of their holiday traditions; a great reminder as the holiday season begins of the meaning of Christmas and where it all began.

Congratulations & Thank You to the members of the Bethany Pentecostal Assembly for a very succesful night that particpants are sure to remember fondly throughout the holiday season and into the New Year.