Would you like to have seen Bethlehem the day Jesus was born? It would have been a long way to travel and very crowded. Would you like to see it today? It is still a long way to travel and very crowded. At all times, it can be dangerous.
How about the next best thing? Let’s bring Bethlehem to Midland. On December 21st, the church will host Christians from Bethlehem. They will share their experience of growing up in the manger town and help us answer the question, what made Bethlehem so important?
We will also have an opportunity to help the Christians families in Bethlehem. Generations of Christian artists have carved olive wood objects for pilgrims. Now, Christians have been forced out of the market by Muslim groups. Most of the olive wood trade is no longer in Christian hands. Bethlehem itself was a Christian town only a few years ago, now it is Muslim.
On Sunday, December 21st, Christians from Bethlehem will set up a special Christmas market in our Atrium. All purchases will go to support the families in Bethlehem. We cannot go back in time and offer a place for Joseph and Mary, but we can do the next best thing. We can help the families of Bethlehem this year! Please come shop for Jesus on December 21st. Invite a friend, buy a Nativity set and we will watch the Star rise over Bethlehem again.