Experience the journey Mary and Joseph took to Bethlehem 2,000 years ago with an outdoor, candlelit dramatization of the Christmas story.

For many years, FEFC has brought the message of the birth of Jesus through portrayal of the prophecies and journeys that led shepherds and others to find the Messiah. Due to the recent uptick in Covid cases, with sadness the leadership committee has decided to cancel Journey to Bethlehem for the 2021 year. We welcome you to watch the video noted below from the 2019 Journey.

A brief description of what to expect.

Our Journey begins inside with a brief overview of biblical prophecy, presented through multimedia and short dramatic vignettes (up to 25 minutes), explaining why the Messiah was to be born. Then groups of guests are taken to a carpenter's shop in Nazareth, where they receive their traveling papers and become a family of Jews who, like Mary and Joseph, must return to their hometown of Bethlehem for the Roman census.

The Journey then continues outdoors on candle-illumined walks, leading to a series of historical scenes acted out by more than 50 adults and children of the church, complete with elaborate sets and costumes. The 30-minute tour includes a visit to a mapmaker's shop, as well as encountering the realities of a long trip by foot during that era—beggars, the threat of thieves, and demanding Roman soldiers. Faith is also evident. Travelers are welcomed to warm themselves by a fire and hear a rabbi explain how prophets, hundreds of years ago, told that a Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And there are wise men following a star, convinced it will lead them to the Messiah. Finally, the path leads to fields on the outskirts of Bethlehem, and then to an inn and a stable where Jesus has been born. Travelers will discover that the baby Jesus is God's promised Messiah, that He is the Savior and the true giver of peace to all who believe in Him. At the end of the Journey, guests are invited to warm up with hot chocolate and cookies in the church function hall.