Oakwood Church in Becker featured their eighth annual Journey to Bethlehem live nativity this week in the parking lot of Becker Furniture World. Pastor Gerry Bass and his host of congregants braved the elements — where the temperatures on Thursday were around the low 20’s with slightly colder weather coming Friday and Saturday. 

 

Each year Bass’s congregation volunteers to dress up as one of the vital characters in the story of Jesus’ birth. They do it — not to promote their church — but to remind people the true reason for the season.

 

The drive-thru nativity has grown through the years and is free of charge. Guests — all warm in their vehicles — enter a gate and slowly move through the production to each station of actors and Biblical characters. At the end, three children and a doll stood around a manger to represent an angel, Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

 

The 10 stations depict the days leading up to Jesus’ birth and they include greeters, Roman guards, a census taker, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, the marketplace, angels and shepherds, King Herod, the inn keeper, wise men and the manger.

 

The “actors” in costume march up to the vehicles and entertain and educate people on what the Bible teaches about God becoming man over 2,000 years ago.

 

The drive-thru takes less than five minutes and featured a crowd favorite, Emmit — a live donkey amongst live sheep, horses and cows.

 

The drive-thru visitors are given candy canes with a poignant message at the end of the stages and are also invited to gather at the church just a few steps away to warm up with delicious refreshments of hot cocoa, coffee and cookies in the church.

 

With the continued success of the Journey to Bethlehem live nativity event, the church congregants have no problem standing out in the elements to bring the true message of Christmas to those who are willing to see and hear.

 

And they do it all in the name of the one whose birthday they celebrate this time of year. 

 

Jesus Christ.