Community Corner
'A Night in Bethlehem' Provides Authentic Christmas Experience
The Forked River Baptist Church presents the fifth annual "A Night in Bethlehem" Thursday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 10
Get into the Christmas spirit this year by walking the streets of Bethlehem as the Forked River Baptist Church presents the fifth annual “A Night in Bethlehem” Thursday, Dec. 8 through Saturday, Dec. 10.
“This family-friendly event allows children and adults to participate in a hands-on authentic Christmas experience,” organizer Darcie King said. “ ‘A Night In Bethlehem’ transforms the Lanoka Harbor church into the streets of Bethlehem on the night that Jesus was born.”
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Visitors have the opportunity to visit various shops from biblical times, meet a Rabbi and his wife to learn about life at that time, taste sample foods from the era and meet Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, she said.
“This year marks our fifth anniversary, and we are so excited to be able to reach out to the community and provide a holiday event that promotes good family values,” King said.
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The Forked River Baptist Church began the event in 2007 as a community outreach opportunity, she said. “Our motto is serving Jesus with a family heart and a community mind,” Senior Pastor George Stephens said.
“A Night in Bethlehem” requires over 100 volunteers from the Forked River Baptist Church, King said. In the past, the church has had babies as young as two months and as old as eight months play baby Jesus.
This year, the event will feature a visit from an angel, a children’s choir singing in Hebrew, new crafts and sample foods.
‘A Night In Bethlehem’ is a drop-in event and takes place at the Forked River Baptist Church, 21 Haines Street in Lanoka Harbor. The hours each night are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
For more information, call the church at (609) 693-2726 or visit the website at http://www.nightinbethlehemnj.com.
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