By Sharon Mager
POCOMOKE, Md—Lynnhaven Baptist Church is having their annual live nativity, continuing this weekend, Dec. 16-18, from 6 to 9 pm each night.
Over 30,000 people have visited “Bethlehem,” as part of the program.
It’s interactive. As groups enter, each person gets a “shekel,” really a penny, laughs Senior Pastor Kerry Hinton, which they use to pay their “taxes.” They’ll go through town shopping areas, experience a little of Bethlehem everyday life, and maybe even interact with roman soldiers.
There’s real sand, and live animals including horses, goats and sheep.
“It’s always a little different,” Hinton said. “We rebuild the set every year.” Over 100 church members are involved in some aspect of the production.
Visitors see the wise men interacting with Herod before making their way to the fields, where shepherds are watching their sheep by night. They also see the angel, who this year, tells the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy…”
Then visitors accompany the shepherds to the manger where they see Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The shepherds are very excited and run off to share the good news.
A guide tells his or her group that there’s more to the story, and so visitors accompany the guide inside where there is a brief presentation of Jesus’ life, and the Gospel message.
At the end, church members serve hot drinks and cookies.