Bethlehem Village Shares the Gospel of Christ’s Birth

COLD SPRING – “Loving” the fact that they are “sharing the gospel” with the local community, members of the First Assembly of God Church, Seashore Road, welcomed hundred of visitors to the fifth annual Bethlehem Village Dec. 18-19.
The sights, sounds and aromas of Jesus’s birthday were recreated outside on the church grounds.
“I love the fact that we are sharing the gospel within our local community and to many people from outside our community who visit,” said Jerri Christy, of Lower Township, who has organized the event since its beginning, “It’s all about Him and bringing His glory into our community.”
The Rev. Leo Dodd, pastor, said about five years ago he and the congregation were looking for a way to bring the “true message of Christmas” to the area. His hometown had created a similar village and after visiting it, his congregation decided to create it here.
“The first year was difficult,” Dodd and Christy recalled. Tents were put up to house different shops such as the wood worker, potter and Inn keepers. “The night before we were to open, the Cape May winds hit us and knocked everything over,” Dodd said.
“Everything was a shamble,” Christy added.
“But we put the word out and that morning, over 40 people from the community showed up to rebuild the village in a day,” Dodd said. “We understand that Cape May wind now, so we have wooden structures that are here year-round and won’t collapse when it’s windy.”
The entrance to the Village is flanked by a census taker, who registers visitors and gives them a gold coin that they eventually give to the tax collector. Visitors enjoyed a cup of lentil soup as they visited the wood shop and learned how fingers were used to measure in Biblical times, created whatever they want at the pottery shop, or learned how to make a lavender sea salt hand cream. In addition, crafts were available, and fruit and oil shop owners explained the health aspects of items such as olives, lavender, grapes, figs and walnuts. Hot bread baked in an outside brick oven and visitors to the Inn were greeted with pizzelles (traditional Italian waffle cookies), hot cider and other goodies.
Everyone was dressed in period garb and performed their role as if living at the time Jesus was born.
“I’ve researched oils, spices and foods that were available to eat back then,” Christy said, “and it’s interesting to learn how they helped keep your body healthy or had healing aspects. It’s God’s Pharmacy, and what an awesome way to get information to people about this.”
While Christy admits it’s “alot of work” to pull the Village together, she is quick to add that she receives “alot of help from the congregation in decorating and pulling it all together.
“It was raining on Thursday and our wood for our fires was laying out in the rain,” she said. “One of the men said ‘not to worry’ because he had plenty of dry wood that we could use if we needed. It’s just amazing how people are so willing to help with the Lord’s work.”
The volunteers who take on the roles as shop keepers are careful to keep their character within the Biblical period, according to Christy. A young couple, Dori Chambers, of Court House, and Daniel Hand, of North Cape May, performed as Mary and Joseph for the second year in a row.
“It’s quite an honor to be Mary and Joseph,” Chambers said, noting she doesn’t mind that it’s a non-speaking role.
The couple, who plan to marry in October 2018, said they ran the church’s children’s choir program this year for children in kindergarten through sixth grades.
“It’s a small church,” Dodd said, “so we try to find the best volunteers to play each role. Some of our shop keepers have done it since the beginning.” Dodd, who just finished his fifth year as pastor at the church, said the congregation numbers about 100 weekly. 
Farm animals are donated for use at the manger by No Frills Farm, of West Cape May, and friends, Dodd added.
“It’s such a positive experience,” Dodd said. “I know that some of our visitors are not all involved in a church, but they appreciate what they are seeing and what they are learning.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.