Bethlehem Comes alive in Santa Clara

By Cynthia Cheng - Santa Clara Weekly, December 8th, 2006

Church members donned colorful costumes and head scarves as they slipped into the roles ot townspeople and Biblical characters in the ninth annual Bethlehem event at Santa Clara First Baptist Church held the evenings of December 7 through December 11.

"We're here to give the opportunity for the church to tell about the birth of Christ," says Barbara Blanks, one of the church volunteers. "The story we tell is exactly as it is in the Bible."

The program began with a swarm of costumed Roman guards entering the city to announce a census mandated by Caesar Augustus. Then Joseph and Mary entered the scene searching for a place to spend the night. Eventually, Mary gave birth to Jesus in the stable and the three wise men arrived to celebrate the birth.

To prepare for this event, volunteers covered the church parking lot with over 150 tons of sand and set up a simulated marketplace reminiscent of ancient Bethlehem. A zebra, llama, goats, and sheep peered out of their stalls. Characters walked in and out of life-sized buildings, and paced back and forth on sturdy bridges. A searchlight shot into the sky emulating the proverbial Star of Bethlehem, which the three wise men followed to find Jesus. Seasonal music, such as an angel's solo from the roof of a tower, further highlighted the detailed preparations for this event.

The content of the booths in the marketplace reflected the church's aim to kepp historical details as authentic as possible. For example, while working at the perfume booth Gabriella, 14, explained the way burnt frankincense and myrrh at the booth were used during the Bilbical period.

"Frankincense is used as a fragrance and myrrh is used to heal wounds," says Gabriella. Both frankincense and myrrh are the dried sap from trees in Saudi Arabia.

At the bakery, volunteers distributed bread samples while Marlies Almendarez explained how people used to make bread with oil, salt, and flour.

"This is the same kind of flat bread they made in Bethlehem. We make the dough, roll it all out, and bake it in the brick oven," says Almendarez. She points to a small brick oven heated by coals beside the booth.

Other educational booths featured weaving, wood working, basket making, jewelry and pottery. Due to adverse weather, the Saturday evening performances were cancelled.

"I think this event attracts [people because of] the interaction with the community. There's something for everyone to do, particularly the children," says Pat Graham, a volunteer who has worked at every Bethlehem event for the church since its inception nine years ago.