DECEMBER 14, 2015

Church has been doing production since 1995…

Please click on photo for Lazer video/slideshow

Burnaugh, KY – Christmas plays are a normal part of the holiday season for churches this time of year, depicting the story of Jesus Birth. Most of them tell you a story in an environment where you sit down to watch. One Local church, Burnaugh Baptist provides a different experience to the story of Jesus. It is one in which visitors are a part of “The Journey to the Manger”.

The journey begins with the narration of Caesar Augustus decree that all the world should be registered. Individuals there to observe the story foretold filled out a Census sheet upon entering their journey.

As the story begins to unfold you hear about the Roman soldiers who were adamant about keeping people in line. Along the journey you stop and hand in your census sheets and then pay your taxes to the collector. Once the taxes are paid you begin your journey to the market where you see dancers and merchants, live animals and smell the aromas of baking bread and other sweet fragrances.

Participants visit the different merchants. Then before the journey to the inn you visit the synagogue. All throughout the market you hear about the birth of a baby who has been called the Messiah. The Rabi in the Synagogue tells this story. Finally you visit the Bethlehem inn where you stop to talk with Inn Keeper and finish at the manger scene.

This year Burnaugh Baptist hosted their production for the first two weekends in December. According to Mary Miller the church has hosted the production off and on since 1995 mostly on odd numbered years. Mary stated that the church began preparing their gymnasium, built in 2007, for the market in October. Men from the church go out and cut wood to help build the market. Women from around the church sew the costumes.

Mary reports that it takes a minimum of 70 people to put on the production. Mary said the last time the church put on the production was in 2013 and they thought it would be the last year because the attendance was down. But the new Pastor, Chris Workman wanted to put on the production again and so Mary gathered together people and they began to plan. Mary’s husband Pete Miller retired in March after pastoring the church for 41 years but they continue to work and serve in the church.

If you missed the production this year I encourage you to look for it in future Christmas seasons it’s a Journey you don’t want to miss.

Merry Christmas!