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A trip to Bethlehem

The Chestnut Street Baptist Church, which is right on the village green, is the one I used in my quilt “Autumn on the Village Green.” They are now in the 8th year (I think) of having a “Walk Through Bethlehem” on the “Christmas by the Sea” weekend which is organized by the Camden, Lincolnville and Rockport Chamber of Commerce. Apparently folks even travel here for this weekend, which features the tree lighting, Santa arriving by ship, a parade, caroling, late evening shopping at least on Friday, sales before the season kicks of for real, and generally being lucky to live in such a beautiful town.

The “walk” begins when you are welcomed to the church and join in the caroling. You are given a card which identifies you as being with one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In turn, you are called to begin your walk. The first stop is with Isaiah, who tells of the coming of Jesus. The walls of the hallways of the buildings around the church are covered with painted cloth (or something) so that the walls look like stone, with doorways and garden walls. When you enter a room, the character is in a scene, with cloths and costumes suitable to the period. A “Roman centurion” guides you along your journey.

The second stop is the annunciation, when Gabriel tells Mary to “fear not, for you are with child”, while the third is when Mary visits Elizabeth. You get to stop at an inn (suitable held in the church’s big kitchen!) before you get to visit the marketplace. That is when I couldn’t resist and got out my camera…WOW! Look at this…you walk in and there are the weavers

The foodsellers

and some of the food … luscious pomegranate:

The woolspinners and weavers

and the plant-sellers

and the tinkers:

There is a storyteller, who will tell you the story of David and Goliath, and a fabric store (with some of Dianne Hire’s stash to decorate…she and her hubby drive down from Northport to attend this church…about a 20 minute drive)

and even a manger with live goats, calf and donkey!

One Response to “A trip to Bethlehem”

  1. Anonymous Says:

    Wow. I have always loved the Camden Rockport area, but to see that they sponsor this walk while other towns condem Christmas generally speaks volumes about the wonderfulness of the area.