Georgia Magazine - December 2022 - 32

Around GEORGIA
Drive-thru Nativities
Don't want to stand in the cold or walk in a crowd? Here
Mountain View United Methodist Church in Marietta also presents a
matinee performance of Bethlehem Walk for schoolchildren.
Continued from page 30
This year's event is scheduled for Dec. 9-11. The walk is the
church's largest community outreach, and members spend long
hours researching their roles for authenticity. It's appreciated
by visitors, like the parents who told Grady that they attended
as children and are eager to experience the scene through their
children's eyes.
Visitors approach the city along a path lined with flickering
luminaries, then walk through the city, listen to the shopkeepers
and peek at their wares. The path turns by the animal stall,
revealing the rustic Nativity.
" One of our actors overheard a child telling his mother:
'Oh, now I get it. Now I know who Jesus is,' " Grady says. " We
are so glad to tell the Christmas story in such a personal and
tangible way. "
Mountain View United Methodist Church,
Marietta
(770) 928-0050, mvumc.org
Mountain View United Methodist Church builds a
replica of the biblical city on its Marietta campus every
December for Bethlehem Walk.
Visitors walk through tall, torch-lit city gates to browse
rows of shops " selling " goods such as fish, perfume and live
birds. They also can sign Caesar Augustus' census and observe
as intimidating Roman soldiers pause their patrols of the city to
demand tax payments from the shopkeepers.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Bethlehem Walk,
and cast members often are told by visitors that the event is an
annual family tradition.
" Everywhere I go, people say, 'That's the church that does
Bethlehem Walk,' " Senior Pastor Joe McKechnie says. " It's
humbling to think that, over the years, more than 300,000
32 Georgia Magazine December 2022
are some drive-thru options that let you experience the fi rst
Christmas from the comfort of your car.
* " The Road to Bethlehem, " Dec. 2-3, Mt. Moriah Baptist
Church, Blue Ridge. (706) 632-3453. bit.ly/fbmtmoriah.
* " Christmas Alive, " Dec. 2-4, High Point Baptist Church,
Covington. (770) 786-5985. hpbccovington.com.
* " One Night in Bethlehem, " Dec. 4-6, First Baptist Church
Thomson, Thomson. (706) 595-4252. fbcthomson.org.
* " A Night in Bethlehem, " Dec. 9-11, Spring Creek Baptist
Church, Rome. (706) 234-1220. springcreekrome.com.
* Live Drive-Thru Nativity, Dec. 9-11, Gray United Methodist
Church, Gray. (478) 986-3668. grayumc.com.
* " 3rd Annual Best Christmas Pageant Drive Thru Ever, "
Dec. 11, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Atlanta. (404) 237-6491.
trinityatlanta.org.
* Live Drive-Thru Nativity, Dec. 16-17, Wesley Chapel United
Methodist Church, Marietta. (770) 993-4919. wcumc.info.
people have been on our campus to see this. "
This year Bethlehem Walk is scheduled for Dec. 3-5. As
visitors make their way through the city, shopkeepers direct
them to the live Nativity, where they see angels, the holy family
and the arrival of the three wise men. After touring the city,
visitors can stop in the sanctuary to hear music, light candles
and share prayer concerns with the church.
When COVID canceled the 2020 performance, the church
produced a virtual Bethlehem Walk that still is accessible on its
website. The live experience, however, is more meaningful for
both cast and visitors.
" In a day and age where there's so much focus on being
entertained and on the 'latest and greatest,' the fact that
something as simple as this is so heartfelt to folks speaks to the
timeless message of Jesus, " McKechnie says.
Rosalyn Dunn is an Atlanta-based freelance writer and
has been part of Bethlehem Walk at Mountain View United
Methodist Church for almost 15 years, primarily portraying
a perfume shopkeeper.
COURTESY MOUNTAIN VIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
http://www.bit.ly/fbmtmoriah http://www.hpbccovington.com http://www.fbcthomson.org http://www.springcreekrome.com http://www.grayumc.com http://www.trinityatlanta.org http://www.wcumc.info http://www.mvumc.org
Georgia Magazine - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - December 2022
