The reason for the season will come to life once again this weekend in Taylor.
The community is invited to walk through Bethlehem and experience the miracle of Christmas as Immanuel Lutheran Church in Taylor presents “The Pilgrimage to Bethlehem: A Live Nativity” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11, at The Church on the Hill’s location at 411 CR 401.
“(People should come) to hear the story of Jesus being born,” said Bonnie Gordon, the coordinator of the production. “It’s the meaning of Christmas. It’s why we celebrate.”
As they have for more than a dozen years, attendees can witness the story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in a spectacular production that includes a cast of more 130 participants representing about 20 area churches, wearing authentic first-century period costumes sewed by Gordon and her family members.
Gordon said the experience begins in the sanctuary.
“They come into the church, and we have a choir that sings Christmas carols,” Gordon said. “The audience can join in because they are common carols. And then we have guides, so the tour is narrated. We have cast interaction.”
But it soon takes the form of a guided tour.
“And then we have guides, so the tour is narrated,” Gordon said. “We have cast interaction. So you walk through Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph live, and they are visited by the angel Gabriel, and then you go into our marketplace, which is held in our fellowship hall, and we have the market set up with the inns and at the backdoor, you see the shepherds and the angels that came to see them, and then the stable with Mary and Joseph, and then the wise men visit.”
Gordon said the tour lasts about 20 minutes. The cost is free, but donations are accepted.
In addition, the church will be raising funds and collecting nonperishable food items for Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry & Community Ministries and the Hutto Food Bank.
For more information, call 512-365-9494.
