Evening in Bethlehem

The Wise Men make their way to Nazareth in search of the King.

Before the holiday season gets too far behind us, I want to share pictures of our ward Christmas dinner at church, held way back on the night of December 6th. It was called "An Evening in Bethlehem," to help us remember the real "Reason for the Season."

We arrive at the city gates.

When we arrived, we were met outside the city gates by a Roman centurion, who accepted our taxes (canned goods) and then gave us each a small cloth pouch containing about 40 gold beans representing shekels (tax refund?). With our coin-pouches in hand, we entered at the gate.

A peaceful stable located within the walls of Bethlehem.

On the outskirts of the town, we passed a humble stable occupied by a donkey and some sheep. Before long, we reached a marketplace lined with stalls selling various foods and goods. In the center of town was a well of water (bottles), surrounded by benches where townsfolk could gather and visit.

Market stalls selling breads, cheeses, and desserts on one side of the square.

Stalls selling lentil soup, roasted chicken, fruits and vegetables on the other side.

The village square featured a central well of cool waters.

Beyond the town square, a manger in a stable awaits the newborn King.

My dinner. Oh yes, I cheated. On desserts. And bread. And lentil soup.

See my gold shekels on the left? That's all I had left after shopping the bazaar.

The market stall where fruits and vegetables could be purchased.

The idea was to enjoy foods similar to what would have been served in Jesus' time. The meal started with lentil soup (very tasty) and moved on to an entree of roasted chicken. There were assorted fruits and vegetables, homemade breads served with honey-butter, and a whole booth dedicated to cheeses and hummus. Each type of food was purchased with a shekel from your pouch.

Our friends Amy and Joe sold breads and honey-butter from this booth.

There were also desserts available. While there may have been delicacies such as sweetbreads and seed cakes available to satisfy one's sweet-tooth in those times, I tend to be skeptical that they could have obtained lemon bars, brownies, chocolate cream pie, and chocolate chip cookies among the typical marketplace wares. But I'm not complaining...

A variety of cheeses and hummus were available at this cheese shop.

Since I took my pictures as soon as I arrived, I didn't capture the throngs who wandered the bazaar that night, but the event was well attended. At one end of the hall were many long rows of tables set up, filled with people enjoying a humble meal in a peaceful setting. Despite being surrounded by chatting people and excited children, there was still a sense of hushed wonder throughout the evening.

A variety of desserts were found at this sweets stand.

After the meal, Christmas music was enjoyed, hymns were sung, and the Primary children reenacted the Nativity, using the stable and manger set up on the stage. It was a sweet but fun reminder of why we celebrate the humble birth of the Savior of the world each year.

This young lady taught visitors a game using dreidels.