Sunday, December 15, 2002
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Sunday, December 15, 2002 |
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Journey to Bethlehem 2002 By REV. DR. KNOX
HERNDON Don't miss our live Nativity scene with live animals and "Journey to Bethlehem" performed two nights, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 19-20, from 6-9 p.m. This rustic and realistic "First Christmas Eve" (performed outside) will thrill your heart. You will drive to the Church parking lot (Ga. Highway 85 South near Senoia) and be met by "Shofar" the guide. Shofar will board you on a wagon with seats, where you will be driven on a seven-acre torch-lit pathway on your "Journey to Bethlehem." The guide is a professional actor who has agreed to perform with us during this Christmas season. This year we will have Roman soldiers form local Georgia re-enactor groups who will be in Bethlehem during this "tax season," to ensure the crowds cause no trouble. You will stop at the "No Room Inn" and feel the rejection Mary and Joseph must have felt on that lonely road that night. You will eventually end up at the live Nativity, where Jesus was born, and witness what the Son of God endured even from birth for you, your family, and the world. You will see the live animals who were the first companions to see the baby Jesus. Remember, everything was symbolic. Jews had certain animals they could not even touch because they were considered "unclean." Jesus was also wrapped in "swaddling clothes" which were actually burial cloths. In a setting like this, it is a very rustic, very realistic teaching point for anyone and especially the children. If you have young children, don't miss this event. Since it is held outside, be sure to dress warmly. In the "No Room Inn" there will be a warming fire and another one at the manger. Following this moving and meaningful spiritual event, you are invited into our new mission church building for fellowship with Christmas cookies and apple cider and hot chocolate. Folks, it doesn't get better than this. My fondest childhood memories were always my family's total involvement in the Christmas pageants around the manger. Since Dad was an Army Chaplain, we were always involved in the Chapel programs and, of course, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, were always wonderful events. Just think, if you were a lonely soldier away from home for probably the first time and missing your family at Christmas, you could walk to the Chapel and there have a full Christmas program and fellowship much like your own home church. We would always invite the soldiers to our home to share Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter with us. Those were some of the fondest memories I can remember. Isn't it interesting that what the Bible says about it being "more blessed to give than to receive?" Isn't it also interesting that what I witnessed my parents doing with these live Nativity manger scenes we are still doing today? There is another Biblical truth surfacing again. "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." It was always so funny when it got down to "costumes" and who was going to wear what. Our parents would all go into our closets and get out the bathrobes, pajamas, sandals, head towels and pieces of old rope. We would all be forced, coerced, and threatened into wearing these 2000-year-old fashions. We always heard, "Honey, you look wonderful" in your bathrobe for the entire world to see especially your friends who were savvy enough to skate out of the pageant. But when it was all over, I believe they were secretly a bit jealous that they didn't bite the bullet and be a part of the pageant. Which, I might add, always turned out beautifully, no matter how embarrassed we were, or how terrified we were even if we were the one who stumbled and knocked over the manger. Somehow, I know that in the throne room of Heaven, Almighty God, in all His majesty, glory and splendor, smiles when a church, regardless of size, continues to honor Him in showing the world that we are serious about His birth, death and resurrection. It is wonderfully freeing to be totally unashamed of the Gospel. I feel He further blesses the nation, societies, and individual families that continue to honor Him this way. Maybe the ACLU will come one day to attempt to shut us down and turn from their ungodly empty quests and find the Christ child in the manger and then turn to doing good for America. It is my prayer that you and your whole family will experience this rustic, realistic and spiritual Christmas in attending one or both nights. I know you will be blessed to attend all of the pageants and programs this Christmas in our south metro churches. We are in this world not only in "United we stand as a Nation," but also "United we stand as Christians." Maranatha Come Lord Jesus! If you need additional information please call our Church office at 770-719-2365. If you would like for your child to participate, call ASAP and we will get them a bath robe! The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is pastor of His House Community Church (SBC). The Rev. Greg Mausz is senior associate pastor. The Rev. Dr. Lydia Herndon is the Sunday School superintendent, Bible study coordinator and teacher. The church is just below Fayetteville, on Ga. Highway 85, a mile south of Ga. Highway 16, just below the fire station. Visitors welcome. Church office and prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail KHERN2365@aol.com. The church's new Web site is www.hishousecommunitychurch.com.
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