The Greatest Story Ever Told

The 15th annual Bethlehem Walk, a free guided outdoor walk through an exciting and realistic Nativity, will be held December 5-8 at Christview Christian Church.

Christview Christian Church, located at 2525 S. Garnett, is pleased to present the 15th annual Bethlehem Walk to the Tulsa community. The Bethlehem Walk is a 45-minute guided outdoor ­walking tour through an exciting and realistic Nativity scene. The path is lighted, and golf carts are available for those who are handicapped or ­disabled. Performances will be held December 5 and 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and December 7 and 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

    The presentation features a cast of more than 150 authentically dressed Roman soldiers, beggars, lepers, ­heavenly angels, shepherds, and Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child. The church maintains a costume room with hundreds of costumes made as authentically as ­possible. Live camels, sheep and donkeys add to the authenticity of the greatest story ever told.   

    Reservations are ­requested, and large groups are welcome. Admission is free. The Bethlehem Walk attracts thousands of ­attendees each year from a six-state area.

    Individuals and groups congregate in the church’s auditorium. Everyone is assigned to a family and a guide who is also the “family head.” Some participants will be given Roman coins with which to pay taxes as they enter Nazareth. You may even be hassled by Roman guards along the road as you march to Bethlehem. You will soon figure out, everyone becomes part of the ­production. A tax collector receives your family’s taxes, and your family representative will be asked to “make his mark” in the record book. Don’t try to hold back any coins for yourself – tax ­collectors can get nasty!  

    Along your route, you will encounter angels with ­silvery white robes and ­shepherds kneeling in fields. You will visit three wise men and their camels, and will be asked if you have seen the star in the east. As you enter the bazaar, you will enjoy ­tasting some of the food ­samples. The bazaar area houses several shops with baskets, jewelry, fruit and nuts, rugs and more. Half the fun of the evening is ­interacting with the ­characters, especially when the shepherds invite you to join them at their camp to enjoy their nice warm fire.

    As you journey on, you will likely see beggars and lepers. Please don’t touch! To do so is “punishable by death.”

    You will discover that there are no rooms available in Bethelem. One innkeeper announces that he actually put up a man and his wife with child in a stable down the street. It was the last available vacancy in the city.  

    Near the end of your walk, you will fast-forward 33 years as you encounter three crosses on a hillside and visit the tomb area where the body of Christ the Savior has gone missing. An angel will appear and read from the scripture.

    At the conclusion of your walk, you are invited back to Fellowship Hall, where you will visit homes and courtyards of ancient times. Children may make a fabric doll, play games, and pet farm animals, while everyone is welcome to enjoy cider and cookies.

    The evening is entertaining and educational for all, plus a tremendous outreach to the Tulsa community by Christview Christian Church.

    The reservation hotline is (918) 232-3587. Operators are on duty from 6 to 9 p.m. each evening, or you may send a text message anytime and an operator will contact you and schedule your time. Please advise the operator if someone in your group is ­disabled and will need a golf cart. You may also visit www.christview.org, click the Bethlehem Walk picture or link, and make your ­reservation. Check them out on Facebook as well at www.Facebook.com/christviewchristian. 

For more information, contact

Christview Christian Church

2525 S. Garnett

Tulsa, OK 74129

(918) 232-3587

www.christview.org