Bethlehem Bound

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Bethlehem Bound

Details: Published on Thursday, December 18, 2014

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Rivers Baptist Church was used Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening for two showings of Bethlehem Bound, a comical pageant which tells the biblical Christmas story, with some modern twists. Marty was travelling with his wife Ramona, who was planning to audition at Bethlehem Star Search and become the next big name in entertainment.

They were lost but because of their One Star (like On Star in today’s vehicles), they were directed to Bethlehem, to the stable where Jesus was born. While on their journey they encountered other rock stars heading to Bethlehem Star Search, some “wise guys” (the wise men), angels and shepherds.

Marty and Ramona were brought to life by Stan and Sheila Runions and the groups of people they met were 30-some members of the church’s Grade 5-8 youth group. While the action took place on and in front of the church stage, One Star was a mysterious voice which boomed from the sound system, courtesy of Dan Cowell who, from a corner at the back of the church, spoke into a microphone which had been adjusted to make the voice not entirely his own.

The Dec. 13 performance was enacted primarily to parents and grandparents of the youth group while the Dec. 14 pageant played to a standing-room-only sanctuary. The 30-minute presentation was the entertainment portion of the church’s fourth annual community outreach banquet. More than 80 people enjoyed the free turkey supper served at the church. (The meal was served to nearly 130 after the youth group and adult workers were fed.) The pageant was recorded by WCG-TV Rivers Channel 12 so turn on that station during the holidays and maybe you’ll catch it there. (Channel only available to subscribers of Westman Cable.)

Bethlehem Bound was supplied by the same company that provides vacation Bible school material for the summer camp co-hosted by Rivers Baptist and Rivers United churches. Colourful posters, sound tracks, script and props were all part of the package.