Churches celebrate season

Living recreations tell story of Jesus' birth, life, Dec. 12-14

Ten years ago, Lynchwood Church of God’s youth minister Brian Arnold was asked to play Joseph in the church’s annual living nativity scene.

Arnold admits the prospect of standing statue-still for a few hours in the night air held little appeal. Still, he donned his costume and headed outside.

“I remember being bummed out about being in the cold, but it took about 10 minutes to change my mind,” he said. “I saw family after family walk by and heard them share with one another the story of Jesus. That’s what we’re hoping to give people — the story of Jesus is really what it’s all about.”

For the last 28 years, the congregation at Lynchwood has told the story of Jesus’ life through a series of live snapshots. Eleven different scenes, staged near the church on Southeast 174th Avenue, chronicle the journey of Christ from his humble birth to his death and resurrection. The event runs Saturday through Monday, Dec. 12-14, and utilizes a nightly production crew of nearly 140 folks.

“It’s a full-meal deal,” Arnold said. “All of the cast and crew are volunteers. Except for the baby. It’s too cold for a baby. Some of the scenes have livestock — we’ve had sheep, goats. We even had a camel one year.”

The Living Nativity was the brainchild of now-retired Pastor John Kuykendall, who was inspired to bring the Christian message of Christmas to others beyond the church’s main doors. More than two decades later, Kuykendall’s vision to bring Biblical stories to life remains a tradition for visitors and congregants alike.

“It’s the reason for the season, as corny as that sounds,” Arnold said. “But that’s what we’re hoping to give people, because the story of Jesus is really what it’s all about.”

You can drive or walk by Lynchwood Church of God’s Living Nativity from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or between 7-9 p.m. on Monday. A warming room with refreshments will also be open. The church is located at 3818 S.E. 174th Ave.

But you don’t have to brave the cold to capture the religious meaning of Christmas. River of Life Church in Troutdale invites you to step back in time for the sixth-annual “Night in Bethlehem” on Sunday, Dec. 13.

“This is a hands-on experience for all ages,” said Laura Bergerson, activity coordinator. “It’s also a community event for people to kick off the holiday season for the right reason.”

A Night in Bethlehem recreates the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of what a Middle Eastern marketplace may have been like at the time of Jesus’ birth. Along with family-oriented games and crafts, visitors will be able to sample breads, soups and beverages native to Bethlehem, interact with marketplace animals and witness a live nativity.

The event is staged by members of River of Life Church, who work diligently to ensure the recreation is historically accurate.

“We bring in all our own decorations — rugs, tents, lights — for what we envision a market would look like,” Bergerson said. “Families are greeted by an innkeeper and register like Joseph and Mary did in Bethlehem. They get some gold coins and move on in to the marketplace. We even have a ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ birthday party with cake and cookie decorating.”

A Night in Bethlehem runs from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at the River of Life Church, 2477 S.W. Cherry Park Road, Troutdale. There is no admission but visitors are asked to bring a non-perishable food donation for local food banks.