Norfolk church brings Bethlehem to vivid life

Norfolk Apostolic Church had done its share of holiday shows - over and over and over again.

"And we were getting bored with them," said Carla Wilson, director of the children's ministry. "We were looking to do something different."

Three years ago, Wilson and her staff decided to transform the church's family life center into the town of Bethlehem, with animals, a marketplace and residents in addition to baby Jesus. The "Night in Bethlehem" event will take place this Saturday and Sunday.

The church wants to attract not only families who want a faith-based experience, but also those who want a closer and cheaper alternative to holiday events such as Busch Gardens' Christmas Town in Williamsburg. "A Night in Bethlehem" is free.

"It's just a fantastic way to celebrate the season," Wilson said.

Visitors will be greeted by an innkeeper and must sign up for the census. People will be given a bag of denarii, the ancient Roman coin, and can spend it at the marketplace. The market will have activities for children, such as kneading dough with bakers and working with "stone" with the masons.

"Everything is geared to what they would have done in that time period," Wilson said.

The town will include a live Nativity scene with animals that children can pet, Roman soldiers and a tax collector who might "hassle" people for money. Children and adult choirs will also perform.

Every year, Wilson and her crew - which is now close to 70 - tweak and add to their production. They started brainstorming in August and try to be as authentic as possible. (There are exceptions, however, such as the chance to have a photo taken with a Roman soldier.)

Georgia Barnes, the set director, visits thrift stores throughout the year looking for items such as woven baskets that are similar to what she's seen in reference books about life in the time of Jesus.

For example, she's designed the shops to be tents, which she said she's researched and appear to be how merchants would've hawked their merchandise. This year, they've added a throne room for King Herod and his wife, though Herod's living quarters were not in Bethlehem, she said.

"We are taking some creative license."

Barnes said the production takes months of planning and research, but the results are worth it.

"We've done the scripted plays before, but this is more interactive," she said. "The audience participates and not just observes."

Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504, denise.batts@pilotonline.com