Before there was a Christmas, there was the journey of a young couple. Before there were presents under a tree, there was a young wife about to give birth to her first son, who would be the greatest gift of all. In our rush to celebrate Jesus’ birth, Journey Through Bethlehem gives us the opportunity to appreciate what life might have been like for that young couple. So why not come visit them in Bethlehem, LCC-style, to get a feel for what the town of Bethlehem might have been like, and how they would have experienced it.
This year, LCC will present Journey Through Bethlehem on Saturday, December 2 from 4-6 p.m. on The Point. We will have many fun activities for people of all ages, including lots of workshops for things such as jewelry making, a sweet shop, a bakery, shops for weaving, toys and music, and lots more. There will also be an Advent Labyrinth that you can walk and pray through. And of course, we will once again have our live Nativity Animals petting zoo, featuring a donkey, sheep, goats, and who knows what else!
Last year, over 350 people joined us in our Bethlehem, and this year we hope to have even more. There are still volunteer opportunities available if you would like to help with some of the shops, or with set up or tear down. Please let Lynn Cropper know if you are interested in helping.
But whether or not you can help, please join us at this free, family-friendly event. This year, we are supporting the important work of the Humane Society of Pinellas, so if you can, we ask you to consider bringing a donation with you that will go directly to the shelter. The Humane Society of Pinellas is the largest no-kill animal shelter in the county, and in addition to monetary donations, we will also accept for them donations of dog or cat food, dog or cat toys, and used, clean towels for the shelter.
Journey Through Bethlehem was a huge success last year, reaching many in our community with the story of Christ’s coming into our lives. We hope to make it even bigger and better this year, and to do that we are counting on you.