By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
BATH — An event celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ was presented at Bath’s Ormond Amphitheatre Friday and Saturday evenings.
“Back to Bethlehem” was produced by Walk in the Light Productions Inc., together with several Bath-area churches.
“We had people from four different churches involved in this,” said Judy Downey, Walk in the Light president. “There were tons of people making cookies, putting up scenery — I don’t know how many it took to do this.”
The idea for the Christmas program began to take shape nearly a year ago and the actual hands-on work was done over the last month or so, Downey said.
“This is our first time, but we’re hoping it will become a tradition,” she said. “We’d like to include more churches next year.”
The churches taking part in the effort were Bayview Community Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Bath Christian Church and River City Christian Center, according to Downey.
The presentation featured a guided, 20-minute tour through scenes from the Bible, culminating with the nativity. Live animals joined actors portraying Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men, angels, the innkeeper, shepherds and others important to the story surrounding Jesus’ birth.
“We took everything from the New Testament,” Downey said. “We wanted to present this as it possibly looked during that time in Bethlehem.”
Also featured were traditional Christmas carols and hymns performed by choirs from area churches.
Admission to the event was free, but guests were encouraged to bring along canned items to be donated to a local food bank.
Downey expects 2010 to be a busy year for Walk in the Light Productions.
“We’re putting together a fundraising concert for May, and we’re hoping to get the Blackbeard play up during the summer,” Downey said. “That’s going to be the big thing.”
For more information about Walk in the Light Productions and the Ormond Amphitheatre, visit www.baththeatre.org.