WHAT STARTED as a Sunday
school event in 1985, has

‘a become an annual Christmas
tradition in West Vancouver
that drew 4,000 people last
year.

The West Vancouver Baptist
Church invites all North Shore resi-
dents to what has become one of the.
truly unique events of the season.
The Walk to Bethlehem takes place
on Friday, Dec. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m.;
Saturday, Dec. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m.
and 7 to 9 p.m.; and on Sunday,
Dec. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9
p.m.

First put on by Sunday school
students for their families, the pro-
duction has grown to encompass the
whole congregation as participants
and the entire North Shore as spec-
tators. :

The Sunday school will do their
own production today (Sunday,
Dec. 4).

. Next weekend, visitors to the
main event will be escorted, in
small groups, on a 35-minute Walk
to Bethlehem. Led by shepherd
guides, they will visit seven scenes
and watch the drama of the first
Christmas unfold.

‘The production includes a cast of
more than 50 fully costumed youth
and adults, along with claborate
scenery, scents, sounds and live ani-
mals that help to to recreate the
events in vivid detail.

Prior to their journey, guests can
view displays depicting the modern
day Holy Land with historic infor-
mation on the time lines of the
events they will see.

A children’s activity area with
Christmas videos and crafts will
entertain and inform children before
the tour.

Once the walk begins, visitors

Superior quality

POINSETTIAS

Add gorgeous colour to
your hisliday iestivities.
A much-appreciated gift.

will first enter a market scene in
Jerusalem, 700 years before Christ's
birth, and hear the prophecy of
Isaiah delivered to a frightened pev-
ple as an enemy approaches.

They will then witness the
Annunciation by an angel to Mary
in Nazareth, followed by Joseph
and Mary’s attempt to find room at
the Inn at BethIchem. On a hillside
close by, shepherds guarding their
sheep are startled by the appearance
of angels telling of the Messiah's
birth and then are given instructions
to go and visit him.

In Herods court, the fifth scene,
the Wise Men seek directions and
alert a dangerous and paranoid king
to the possibility of a usurper.
Lastly, the audience will enter the
stable to contemplate the wonder of
the birth of Jesus Christ.

After the tour, visitors can view
a multimedia presentation contain-
ing interviews with the volunteer
actors they have just seen. These
people will talk about their involve-
ment with the production and how
the historic events affect them
today.

Admission is free and refresh-
ments will be served. Your children
will especially enjoy the live ani-
mals and the awe-inspiring sets.

West Vancouver Baptist Church
invites you to make Walk to
Bethichem a part of your Christmas
celebrations with family and friends
this year. It is their Christmas gift to
the North Shore.

The church is located just north
of the Upper Levels Highway and
east of Taylor Way at 450 Mathers
Ave. Access from North Vancouver
is off Freeway at Exit No.!3 (Taylor
Way). Access from West Vancouver
is off Hadden Dr.

For more information. call 922-
0911.

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

MEMBERS OF the West Vancouver Baptist Church, such as Blain Good, are preparing sets and
costumes and rehearsing Jines for their annual volunteer-run Walk to Bethlehem. They will bring

the Christmas story to life, with tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ghsrtstrrcs bulletin hoard ent

COMMUNITY EVENTS
Compiled by Pamela Lang

Comniunity Bulletin Board is a free service
provided for non-profit groups, Please fax a
press release for your community event to
985.2104, The News tries te ensure iteras
anpear in the paper at least once before the
event takes piace, but space constraints may
limit the number of submissions printed.
For guarantced publication contact classi-

fied (986-6222) or display advertising (980-

0511).

CAROLS FOR KIDS... This chari-
table event, featuring 12 choirs, is
presented by the North Shore Chorus

. COMPLETE
DO-IT-YOURSELF
SUPPLIES!

Fresh or artificial

WREATHS

Decorate your home or
office with the scent of
forest! Also garlands,

swags and tablecentres.

to raise funds for Canuck Place and
to provide food for the North Shore
Harvest. Hear your favorite carols
and sing zlong with a choir of 500
voices. Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. at
the Sportsplex at Capilano College,
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver.
$8 for adults, $5 for children, stu-
dents and seniors, plus one item of
non-perishable food. Tickets are
available through Ticketmaster at
280-4444 or the North Shore Chorus
at 929-2146.

CAROUSEL CHORUS... The cho-

rus brings you a gift for Christmas on
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. at
Mount Seymour United Church,
1200 Parkgate, North Vancouver.
Admission is $5, $3 for seniors and
students. Refreshments are included.

ees

LIGHTS FOR KIDS... help rekin-
dle the Christmas tree at 12th Avenue
and Marine Drive in West Vancouver
by donating $1 per light or $25 for a
string. Donations can be sent to the
West Vancouver Community Arts

See more page $4

CHRISTMAS

TREES

Fresh cut trees, living

trees or artificial

trees...we've got ‘em all!

Hae pe ae
i roaeee

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