Community Can See the Wondrous Christmas Story at Glen Mar

In the hustle and bustle of decking the halls, shopping for holiday gifts, and baking delectable treats, sometimes the wondrous story of the first Christmas gets lost in the shuffle.

To keep the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus front and center during the busy holiday season and to present a gift to the community, Glen Mar United Methodist Church will stage its third annual Walk to Bethlehem Dec. 4 and 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. Drop in anytime during these hours and allow about 60 minutes to soak in the atmosphere and magnificence of the free event.

Led by guides, guests will journey through six outdoor settings where actors, dressed as Roman soldiers, shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and the three wise men enact the events leading to and immediately following the Messiah’s birth. Live farm animals will add to the rustic settings.

Of course, the star of the drama - the baby Jesus – has no speaking role although a whimper is possible. Played by a real mortal infant, the baby will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and will be held by one of his parents in the manger scene.

Following the outdoor theatrical production, attendees will amble inside the warm church to hear the glorious sounds of carols sung by Glen Mar choir members and visit a marketplace as it looked in Jesus’ day. In the marketplace, folks can observe an artist working on a pottery wheel and an actor performing pantomime while beggars and thieves pretend to scavenge for money. The marketplace will also provide a veritable feast for the senses – attendees can feel period fabric, see jugglers perform, smell incense, as well as hear storytellers and strolling musicians play recorders, flutes and drums.

“I’ve had people tell me that attending Glen Mar’s Walk to Bethlehem is the best thing they did at Christmas,” said Glen Mar’s Minister for Children and Family Margaret Prechtl. Some people who attended in past years were so impressed by the event they dug out their cell phones and called their friends to tell them to drop what they were doing and dash to Walk to Bethlehem as soon as they could get there. Despite snow on one of the production nights in both 2008 and 2009, at least 1,500 people attended each year. “We’ll hold the event in rain or snow or sunshine,” said Margaret, who is serving as event producer for her third consecutive year.

Walk to Bethlehem is an activity families can enjoy together, including grandparents and tots in strollers. The grounds are wheelchair friendly. The church is located at 4701 New Cut Road in Ellicott City. While the experience is free, there will be a basket in the marketplace to voluntarily place donations to defray expenses.

For more information, call the church at 410-465-4995.