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'A Simple Reminder'

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: December 13, 2008

ODESSA - It's not easy to ask people to volunteer at the busiest time of the year.

But as he watched the live rehearsal of his church's "Night in Bethlehem" event, coordinator Eric Ramsey could see how hard work and sacrifice had paid off for the 200 or so cast and crew members.

"When I first heard about the program, I didn't catch the vision right away. But now I see it clearly," Ramsey said. "This is just a simple reminder of why we celebrate Christmas. This has nothing to do with the commercialism. It has everything to do with the message of the gift God gave to us."

For the third year, the Tampa stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which represents 11 congregations, has produced "Night in Bethlehem" on the church's sprawling property in Odessa. The free outdoor presentation opened Thursday and continues tonight and Sunday from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The program starts in a replicated version of a Bethlehem marketplace, with bread bakers and candle-makers working at their crafts in period costumes. "Census takers" won't be taking tickets to the show, but they will accept nonperishable food items to be donated to the needy.

Spectators then follow a path to a scene where Joseph leads a pregnant Mary on a mule in his futile search to find a room at the inn.

The second installment moves to a scene in a manger built on a hill. A narrator recounts Christ's birth, with a choir of angels, live sheep with shepherds and a glowing star of Bethlehem that lights the night sky. The audience is encouraged to sing along with some of the familiar Christmas hymns, and then stop inside the stake center for dessert and hot chocolate.

The presentation cycles every 30 minutes.

Ramsey acknowledges that putting on a program like this can help dispel some of the misconceptions that people have about the Mormon church.

"We're Christians who believe in the birth of our Savior," he says. "We don't offer this program to broadcast our beliefs, but if we can show others that our church is a lot like theirs, then that's a great side benefit."

For information, call (813) 926-9748.

See scenes from a "Night in Bethlehem" on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" segment on the 9 a.m. newscast Sunday on WFLA-TV. She can be reached at (813) 259-7613.

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