Christmas is upon us and with all the hustle and bustle of planning parties, shopping for presents, wrapping them and cooking meals — it’s nice to know a little church in Becker is doing all they can to keep people grounded for the Christmas season.

 

Oakwood Church just completed holding their seventh annual “Journey to Bethlehem”, drive-thru nativity Wed., Thurs. and Fri. of this week. 

 

Thirty-five to 45 volunteers played different acting roles in the drive-thru and several others helping to make hot chocolate and snacks for the cast and crew after each production.

 

Nine stations in the drive-thru depict epic scenes from the Gospels as the actors tell the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger. The first station has several Roman guards at the gate who ask the visitors if they had their taxes ready to pay Caesar at a later stage. (When guests arrive in their cozy vehicles, an actor gives the guests two gold coins and a script of what the Journey to Bethlehem entails.

 

At the second station, a census taker issues a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. Everyone was required to go to their own town to register, which is what Mary and Joseph did.

 

The third station depicts a young Mary meeting the angel Gabriel in which Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive and give birth to a child through the Holy Spirit.

 

The next station showed townspeople at the international market place approaching vehicles to “sell” their wares and tell people of the coming of the Messiah.

 

Lots of angels and shepherds are gathered at the fifth station including some real sheep. The Oakwood actors see an angel and are told of the good news.

 

 

At the seventh station, King Herod appears with his henchmen and asks if anyone has seen a young child because he wants to go worship him (we all know his devious plans, however).

 

The three Wiseman appear in the eighth station and they proclaim, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

 

At the final station is the manger, where children from Oakwood play the roles of Joseph, Mary and some angels. Mary recites from Luke 1:46-55 in which she says “all generations will call me blessed.”

 

Joseph recites from Matthew 1:22-23 in which he says, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.”

 

As the vehicles leave the nativity scenes, they are given a cup of hot chocolate and a candy cane with a reminder verse of what the candy cane represents at Christmas.

 

Many of the costumes the actors wore were made by a congregant years ago and some have been purchased over the years. Carol Gulbranson took on the task of making costumes recently and told Pastor Gerry Bass “she is happy to be doing something that will share Jesus with people.”

 

The sheep (as well as a calf) in the scenes were donated by Rod Eggink and Emmit the miniature donkey was brought in by Tanya Schulte. Mary Jo Mosher and Bob Dingmann supplied the horses to give the drive thru depiction an authentic feel.

 

Last year, the church of Oakwood performed for over 400 vehicles in the three-day event. Pastor Bass and his staff have been praying they’d reach over 500 this year and by the looks of it, they just may have accomplished that.

 

With the frigid cold spell in the area just last week, it was a relief for the church members that a snap in the wether came just when the show was about to go on.

 

“We feel so extremely blessed by the weather the Lord has given us,” said Rev. Bass.  “There were a lot of people asking if we were still planning on going through with the drive-thru nativity this year when we hit the cold spell.”  

 

Bass says the weather can definitely be a factor even though the actors are bundled up and fire pits are blazing in and around the production.

 

“Two years ago we had to cancel a night because of the extreme cold,” he said.  “As much as we want to be out sharing about the birth of Christ, there has to be wisdom about the safety of the people who are out there.  There would have been no way for us to be out in the elements safely last week, but once again that shows the grace of God by the weather He blesses us with.”

 

Pastor Bass and his flock have thoroughly enjoyed bringing this unique story of Christmas to the masses every year and they certainly plan to continue the trend.

 

“The best part of having this (nativity event) is the opportunity for people to remember the reason for Christmas,” said Bass.  “We can become so bogged down with all the activities but just to keep the reason for the season in perspective in Becker (is important).

 

Another thing Bass loves is that it gives each person participating a great opportunity to share the story about Christ in a very fun and interactive way.  

 

“The most trying aspect is the uncertainty of what the weather will be, but it gives a great opportunity to exercise our faith,” he said. 

 

The drive-thru nativity is a free event and the church accepts no monetary donations during the three days.

 

“The greatest involvement people can do from outside the congregation is keep coming out and bring people with them,” he said.  “We do not accept donations and if we are asked, we encourage people to give the donation to their local church.”  

 

Bass says if they do not attend a church, Oakwood welcomes them to come to their services and/or give to a local charity.  

 

“This year we had a business in Becker donate to us, but we don't want to do this so we were able to bless the Foster Closet with this donation,” Bass said.  “This is an opportunity to give back to the community.  

 

Churches have received some bad publicity about always asking but we want to be a body of believers that gives back to the community.” 

 

The Oakwood drive-thru nativity obviously impacts the locals but sometimes the event makes an impact on those from far away. Just like the bright star that guided the wise men and angels to the manger, the drive-thru nativity at Becker Furniture World is steering people to Becker.

 

In 2015, the lights and activity in the parking lot off Hwy. 10 compelled a woman to swing off the road and find out what was going on.

 

“As she did (the drive-thru) she was brought to tears,” said Bass.  “As our people were visiting with her, she informed them that she was from the Rochester area and that she was coming back the following night with as many of her family that would come up to it.  She was back the following night with an SUV full of family.”

 

That’s how the story of Christmas continues to make an impact on people throughout the world.

 

Oakwood’s drive-thru nativity brings the merry to Merry Christmas.