Synopsis
Westminster Presbyterian Church (“WPC”) is putting on the Bethlehem Experience (“BethEx”). The winds last night had done damage last night, but WPC called “all hands on deck”, got things back in shape and BethEx is on tonight, and tomorrow night.
The city gates will be open to drive through between 5:00pm and 9:00pm each night. There is no charge for visiting Bethelhem. Due to the large number of visitors, carpooling is encouraged.
BethEx is a drive-through theatrical reenactment of “life in the little town of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.”
Attendees of BethEx are encouraged to bring canned and packaged goods for Manna mission. BethEx volunteers will collect these donations on site.
Full Details from WPC Announcement
BethEx is a rich and meaningful part of the WPC ministry. “It’s our gift to the community and to ourselves,” says Dick Thompson, Senior Pastor at WPC. “It’s a time when we take a needed break from the holiday rush to focus and celebrate what is truly meaningful about Christmas.”
At each offering, more than 2,000 children and adults from Pasadena to Santa Barbara visit this unique, historical pageant in order to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Ancient artisans, storytellers, Roman Sentries, tax collectors, kings and merchants bustle about their activities as you drive through the town. Shepherds tend to their sheep as families lead livestock to market and nomads rest and water their camel. Of course, the most famous event of all unfolds as you reach the manger and Nativity scene before exiting the village.
This year’s performance of BethEx will be Friday and Saturday, December 12th and 13th. The city gates will be open to drive through between 5:00pm and 9:00pm each night. There is no charge for visiting Bethelhem. Due to the large number of visitors, carpooling is encouraged.
BethEx will be held in the parking lot of Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361. The church is on the corner of Lake View Canyon & Watergate Road.
BethEx supports Manna mission
This year, BethEx will again support Mannaa local Conejo Valley food bankby accepting donations of canned and packaged goods as people visit Bethlehem. Pastor Thompson said the following about joining BethEx with the Manna mission:
“BethEx is our gift to the community, and the event is free to the community. We think people fundamentally understand that Christ’s birth is God’s gift to humankind. Christmas evokes gift giving more than taking. We also know from experience that contributing creates a sense of belonging. Those who drive through Bethlehem this year will have an opportunity to help out people in need in our community by giving gifts of food through Manna.
Preparations
It takes over 500 WPC members and friends to make the drive-through pageant a reality. Members of the press are invited behind-the-scenes to cover the “Blitz Build” as a potential human-interest piece and photo opportunity. Known as “Blitz Build”, the WPC church grounds will be transformed into the little town of Bethlehem of Zero A.D. in a single day on December 6st, 2014.