For our Advent activity on Wednesday Dec 5th,
we visit Bethlehem!
The Antioch Baptist church in Conway does this really cool reenactment. Every year for 3 days they have mock up of what the city of Bethlehem would have looked like during the time of Jesus' birth, in a field out by their church.
First they have you register. We got our number for the group we would be touring the city with and then head into their auditorium to listened to some fabulous live worship and Christmas music until our group was called.
When our group was called, we all wondered through their church halls until we came to the side exit that lead outside to the city they'd built.
{sorry for the cell phone pics...can you believe I forgot my CAMERA for such a cool outing?!?}
The Prophet Isaiah started us out with the telling of the coming of Immanuel.
Our kids were mesmerized!
When they guided us into Bethlehem they gave everyone shekels to spend as we tour the ~2o fun vendors they had in town.
There was story time.
Izzie was of course Pumped about the livestock they had roaming the streets.
We had the kid's names written in Greek.
The kids bought bells and toys from different shops.
We listened to the Prophet reading from the book of Isaiah concerning the coming of the Messiah. Straight up reading the Hebrew text off a scroll no less!
We make candles!
The poor boy didn't feel good most of tonight.
We visited the fish market. Izzie toted this dead fish around showing it to everyone as if it were a hamster or something.
Passed up the apothecary but stopped by the fabric vendor for some headbands, bandanas, necklaces, and "hats" all made from strips of fabric and then off to let Maggie help make bricks. This guy said he'd put in a good word for her with Caesar. Lol
We tasted goodies and even picked up a recipe.
Maggie made these women tell her the name of every single herb/spice on the table.
The Bethlehem Revisited was awesome. I'm thinking this definitely needs to be an annual family trip!
The grand finale.
Maggie was so exited to go though the Inn, hear the announcement a birth and then heading out to the stable to see baby JESUS!
Is there something cool that people do in your town?
What kind of family tradition do you have?
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