Experience the Wondrous Christmas Story

Glen Mar United Methoidst Church will share the glorious news of Jesus' birth with the community at its fourth annual Walk to Bethlehem Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 at the church, 4701 New Cut Road in Ellicott City.  Come anytime between 4 and 8 p.m. and allow about an hour to experience the wonder of the greatest story ever told.   

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

The star of the drama – the baby Jesus – will have no speaking role.  He will be played by a real mortal infant who will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and held by one of his parents. 

Following the outdoor theatrical production, attendees will go inside the warm church to sing carols led by Glen Mar choir members and visit a marketplace as it looked in Jesus’ day. In the marketplace, artists will work on pottery wheels, actors will perform pantomime, and thieves will pretend to scavenge for money.  In addition to making history come alive, the marketplace, with its aroma of incense and sounds of musicians, is a treat for the senses.   

Glen Mar considers Walk to Bethlehem, which conveys the essence of the Christmas season better than any material present, the church’s gift to the community.  Walk to Bethlehem started in 2008, the year the church experienced the blessing of moving to a larger site and building than the previous facilities about a mile away. The new site, with its spacious level ground and ample parking, set a fantastic stage for Walk to Bethlehem.   

Two hundred fifty Glen Mar members and friends volunteer for Walk to Bethlehem in various capacities that include building sets, acting and singing.  Their efforts have attracted more than 1,500 attendees each year. Many were so impressed that they notified their friends about Walk to Bethlehem before they drove off the parking lot. 

While Walk to Bethlehem is free, there will be a basket in the marketplace for those who want to give donations to defray expenses. 

For more information, call the church at 410-465-4995 or visit www.glenmarumc.org.