The camera in Mother Mary's hand is the only giveaway that this is not really Bethlehem! It is a wonderful facsimile. It will be exciting to see tomorrow how many people will make their way through the streets of Bethlehem to arrive at their destination -- to witness the birth of Baby Jesus.


At Disciples Christian Church, this has been our tradition for the last 26 years. It feels good to revisit every single year.

One person who will be missing from Journey this year is our longtime member, Don Ehrlich who is on assignment in Mexico this Christmas Don keeps in touch with us at church via e-mail and Facebook. His Christmas will be very different this year as he'll experience Mexican traditions previously unfamiliar to him. Don sent me information the other day about Pastorelas -- religious theatre brought by Spanish missionaries in the 16th century that continues today in various forms. From large professional productions to school children's efforts, these plays take place in the countryside revolving around the pilgrimage of the shepherds to Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ Child. Mixed in with that story is other Mexican folklore telling the tales of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

For an example click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1QimcN4DnA&feature=related Watch at least 1:30 minutes into it to see the Holy Family.

There is a universal love that children have for the Christmas story!





Blessings,

Pastor Kris

A suggestion for your prayers today: for the Disciples who will participate in tomorrow's Journey, and for the hundreds who will be witness to this story that changed the world.