Ranger – Excitement is in the air as word is spreading that the long-awaited Messiah has been born in the Town of Bethlehem.
“One Night in Bethlehem” will be presented this year from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Cherokee County Mountain Folk Center, 9275 U.S. 64 W. of Murphy.
Visitors will park and walk through the Town of Bethlehem, which will be bustling with biblically-clad first century merchants, Roman soldiers and shepherds telling their exciting story of an angel proclaiming the birth of the Christ. There will also be the Wise Men, census takers, innkeepers and others.
Preston Mashburn, pastor of Household of Faith and coordinator of the event, told how God gave him the vision for a Bethlehem marketplace during the time when Christ was born. The first year, 400 visited the site. Last year, it drew 1,100 people. It may be even bigger this year as the largest number of volunteers in the five years of the event attended a recent planning meeting.
Three times during the night a live Nativity of baby Jesus will be presented. There will be singing and narration.
There will be booths that offer free food, including barbecue, hot dogs, fruit and cookies. Drinks will be offered. There will be a petting zoo with live animals. There will be games for children and adults as well as crafts. There will be a carpenter shop and a blacksmith shop.
Attendees can have Christmas photos made. Many area churches and businesses are involved.
“We don’t sell anything at Bethlehem. Salvation is free,” Mashburn said. “This is a rain or shine event. The world offers Santa Claus. We offer Jesus.”
The Mountain Folk Center is a great place for the event, as it is covered, protecting people from the rain. Heaters will be set up in the marketplace to keep market-goers warm. There will be no problem with lighting or parking, Mashburn said.
“It will be interactive Bethlehem as role players will tell about their parts in the event,” Mashburn said. “The focus is to get out the true Christmas story.”
“It is amazing to see the good work that has gone into this,” said June Hensley, who helps coordinate the event. “We put effort into so many other things. So we also want to put effort into Jesus.”
“God gave me the idea for this,” Mashburn said. “It is unbelievable how God works in bringing multiple denominations together to celebrate the birth of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas.”
Details: Call Preston Mashburn at 828-361-6598.