For many years no holiday season would be complete without attending a reenactment of the events of the night Christ was born. Whether the story is told by a seasoned group community players at a local theatre or by an innocent, untried youth department at a church service, the result can be endearing and move unbelievers to the Savior who came to free the world. Since December 2002, members of Abundant Life Community Church have been presenting the glorious truth of Jesus’ birth at an event entitled Christmas in Bethlehem. More than 5000 people in and around Nevada County, California have attended the program and the outreach ministry has become a Christmas tradition for area residents.

For one week the sanctuary, hallways, fellowship hall, and youth rooms at Abundant Life Community Church are transformed and takes hundreds of hours of planning. The sets are painted to look like mud, stone, and brick.

Construction begins on Sunday at the end of the last worship service and decorative touches are added on Monday evening, with both activities running concurrently until the program begins Thursday evening. Tthe cast members talking and singing make for an unforgettable experience.

The cast of Christmas in Bethlehem is made up entirely of Abundant Life Community Church members. It takes more than 100 people to make the city run. Usually the cast is on “stage” in two-hour shifts each day. Some cast members, are given scripts to follow, but most create their own as the play progresses. Live babies are used to play Baby Jesus in the manger scene.

Much research has gone into the costumes to make them as authentic as possible. The costumes are stored at the church and used exclusively for Christmas in Bethlehem. Members of the Church made all the costumes. It takes more than 150 costumes to outfit the cast. Jewelry, footwear, headpieces, and crowns complete the look of each actor and adds to the specific area where they will be performing.