Travel The Road To Bethlehem At Woodcrest

"This is the second year in a row we have a brand-new scene," said Adam Fox, summer camp director at Woodcrest Retreat. Last year, Journey to Bethlehem organizers added a final scene featuring the wise men. It was so well received that another change was made for 2021.

"At the beginning of the show, Mary has learned she is pregnant, and she is wrestling with that and the social consequences of that," said Fox of the new scene. He explained Joseph and Mary will be together and discuss the ramifications of Mary's role as an unwed mother in first-century Palestine. "We want the audience to feel the emotions that Mary and Joseph would have felt," said Fox.

Now in its 11th year, Journey to Bethlehem differs from other live Nativity presentations because participants are given the opportunity to become part of the Christmas story as they follow Mary and Joseph from the time they receive the news that Mary will give birth to the Christ child to the arrival at the stable where Christ was born and beyond. The 2021 event will be held at the retreat center, 225 Woodcrest Drive, Ephrata, on Fridays, Dec. 10 and 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays, Dec. 11 and 18, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

The live Nativity is interactive in that adults and children who attend may participate in specific scenes. As they travel with the characters from the Bible, participants will witness the walk to Bethlehem, where they will experience the disappointment of finding there is no room at the inn. The journey will also take attendees to a marketplace, where they may spend a shekel to purchase raisins or crackers, and then to a field, where they will gather with shepherds to hear the angels announce Christ's birth. Finally, visitors will arrive at a stable to see the Christ child in the manger. The final stop is now a live presentation that takes place in the palace of one of the wise men.

Fox noted that about 3,000 people attended the 2020 event. Because Journey to Bethlehem is held mostly outside and participants are divided into small groups, it was not too difficult to abide by COVID-19 restrictions last year. The cost to attend will be discounted for children ages 4 to 16. Children age 3 and under will be admitted for free. In addition, a special price will be available to members of an immediate family living in the same household. Reservations may be made at https://www.woodcrestretreat.org/events/journey. Readers who have questions may call 717-738-2233.

All funds raised by the event will benefit the ministry of Woodcrest, a nonprofit retreat and camp center that serves more than 1,400 children each year. In the case of inclement weather, those planning to attend Journey to Bethlehem should check http://www.woodcrestretreat.org for information.