You need to check out a Living Nativity-w/photos
I just took my family to a Living Nativity. If you are a Christian and have one of these nearby, take the time to check it out.
For those that don't know, a Living Nativity is put on by a church and is like a live play of the night of the birth of Jesus. The one we just got back from went like this.
You drove to the church. They welcome you and sit you in the church with several hundred people. They tell of a decree of Caesar Augustus to take a census of all the people. They tell of the angel coming to the shepherds to proclaim the birth of Jesus.
A speaking angel is projected onto the roof of the church who tells of a child king born that night. He sends glad tidings of great joy and tells of a savior born in Bethlehem.
While you wait your turn to be called, Christmas music is played and people sing along. While waiting and singing, guards and shepherds dressed in period costumes walk through the church. (They told us they had people from 3 years to 91 years old helping to act this out. They had over 100 actors at any given time for the 3 night performance.)
When your group is called, you go outside with a family leader who takes you on a path into the snowy darkness and tells you about the night of Jesus' birth. He is dressed in period shepherd costume. You become his family and follow him as he leads you on your journey.
You come upon shepherds who tell you of an angel that appeared to them, informing them of the birth of a savior. They warn you to be careful who you tell of this as the soldiers may have you arrested and taken before Caesar.
You encounter guards and soldiers as you continue your journey.
You encounter a marketplace with live animals and people bartering for food or clothing. All were dressed in period costume including the small children. You must be careful because you need your money to pay your taxes. There were live animals at this one, donkeys, sheep and even a live camel. Breads and fish and vegetables were at the marketplace. Jewelry and perfumes are also being bartered for. There are fires burning for heat and light.
You are (mildly) jostled by the soldiers and are forced to pay your taxes to the tax collectors. Your leader pays the taxes and you are given a scroll to show your taxes paid.
You continue on your journey and come to a guard station who checks your scroll and then stamps it. You are yelled at by the soldiers and forced back out into the darkness.
You continue on your journey and come to an inn. Your family leader bangs on the large wooden door until the innkeeper opens it. Your leader tells him you have traveled far and asks for a place to rest. He tells you his inn has been full for several days due to the census and directs you to a manger down the road. He informs you that he sent a lady with child and her husband there earlier this night and tells you that you may find a place to rest there.
As you walk further down the path, you see a bright star above the manger and encounter Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus along with more live animals corralled in the ends of the stable. A voice tells you of the birth of Jesus. You take it all in for a few minutes and then are escorted to the end of your journey and the church hall.
You leader thanks you for coming and you then go inside for Hot Chocolate, coffee, punch and cookies. You then have time to read the stamp that was placed on your scroll. It reads "Your sins-PAID-through Christ".
It was a great experience for young and old alike. The outdoor portion of the journey was about 30 minutes. It was cold and there was snow on the ground so it added to the effect. The cost-$0-they tell you that the performance is their gift to you. (They will accept a donation if you wish to help cover their costs.)
I snapped some photos. Here are a few.
If you get the chance, you really should experience this for yourself.
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
For those that don't know, a Living Nativity is put on by a church and is like a live play of the night of the birth of Jesus. The one we just got back from went like this.
You drove to the church. They welcome you and sit you in the church with several hundred people. They tell of a decree of Caesar Augustus to take a census of all the people. They tell of the angel coming to the shepherds to proclaim the birth of Jesus.
A speaking angel is projected onto the roof of the church who tells of a child king born that night. He sends glad tidings of great joy and tells of a savior born in Bethlehem.
While you wait your turn to be called, Christmas music is played and people sing along. While waiting and singing, guards and shepherds dressed in period costumes walk through the church. (They told us they had people from 3 years to 91 years old helping to act this out. They had over 100 actors at any given time for the 3 night performance.)
When your group is called, you go outside with a family leader who takes you on a path into the snowy darkness and tells you about the night of Jesus' birth. He is dressed in period shepherd costume. You become his family and follow him as he leads you on your journey.
You come upon shepherds who tell you of an angel that appeared to them, informing them of the birth of a savior. They warn you to be careful who you tell of this as the soldiers may have you arrested and taken before Caesar.
You encounter guards and soldiers as you continue your journey.
You encounter a marketplace with live animals and people bartering for food or clothing. All were dressed in period costume including the small children. You must be careful because you need your money to pay your taxes. There were live animals at this one, donkeys, sheep and even a live camel. Breads and fish and vegetables were at the marketplace. Jewelry and perfumes are also being bartered for. There are fires burning for heat and light.
You are (mildly) jostled by the soldiers and are forced to pay your taxes to the tax collectors. Your leader pays the taxes and you are given a scroll to show your taxes paid.
You continue on your journey and come to a guard station who checks your scroll and then stamps it. You are yelled at by the soldiers and forced back out into the darkness.
You continue on your journey and come to an inn. Your family leader bangs on the large wooden door until the innkeeper opens it. Your leader tells him you have traveled far and asks for a place to rest. He tells you his inn has been full for several days due to the census and directs you to a manger down the road. He informs you that he sent a lady with child and her husband there earlier this night and tells you that you may find a place to rest there.
As you walk further down the path, you see a bright star above the manger and encounter Joseph, Mary and the Baby Jesus along with more live animals corralled in the ends of the stable. A voice tells you of the birth of Jesus. You take it all in for a few minutes and then are escorted to the end of your journey and the church hall.
You leader thanks you for coming and you then go inside for Hot Chocolate, coffee, punch and cookies. You then have time to read the stamp that was placed on your scroll. It reads "Your sins-PAID-through Christ".
It was a great experience for young and old alike. The outdoor portion of the journey was about 30 minutes. It was cold and there was snow on the ground so it added to the effect. The cost-$0-they tell you that the performance is their gift to you. (They will accept a donation if you wish to help cover their costs.)
I snapped some photos. Here are a few.
If you get the chance, you really should experience this for yourself.
Oh, and Merry Christmas!
0
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Sounds like something that would happen to you on a bad acid trip.
Merc0 -
That is really extraordinary.
May I ask where you Worship ??
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!
Doug0 -
That is really cool. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Mercury
Sounds like something that would happen to you on a bad acid trip.
Merc
+10 -
This was not held at my church.
My wife and son went to it last year because my son's girlfriend and her dad were both volunteer actors.
This was the 11th year their church has put this on. They have had over 26000 people come to it over those years.
It is put on by the Immanuel Ev Lutheran Church of Frankentrost, Michigan. Frankentrost is just north of the famous Frankenmuth (Little Bavaria) area. It is open to everyone.
I may even volunteer to work at this one next year.
Here is the website- www.frankentrost.org
Oh and for the record, I am Catholic.0 -
Pretty cool. I liked the GP Medium set up for shelter[8D] 0 -
Thats only about 12 miles from here. Next year I'll visit Saginaw. I always go out to the one in Midland. 0 -
Yeah, a local Baptist church around here does "Walking Through Bethlehem" every year, and we occasionally go. It's a lot of fun and VERY inspiring. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by GUNFUNCO
Looks like an excorcism may be in order for the sheperd on the left. [:D]0
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