Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312160364
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I love recycling," she said, "and I love those little nitpicking jobs that make something out of nothing.
"I'm telling all the Senior Highs who take part to wear long johns under their costumes," she said. "I don't want to see shivering angels, like last year."
On Sunday evening, Raleigh Court will make its second Journey to Bethlehem. Last year, more than 500 participated in this variation on the live Nativity, organized by Sheila Houck's husband, Dewey Houck of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church.
"We wanted to make the Nativity more visible, for a wider area," Dewey Houck explained. "As the processions move through the neighborhood, we encourage the young people to join in, in costume if they wish. Those who don't want to walk may watch from their windows."
Three groups - Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Wise Men - will set out from different places in the neighborhood and head to "Bethlehem Inn" - Raleigh Court Presbyterian, where angels congregate on the roof and animals move about in pens outside the stable.
When Dewey Houck proposed the first "Journey to Bethlehem," some members hesitated to tackle such a task.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about," he said. "Just do it."
They did it. Built the inn, the animal pen. Hauled the hay. Organized. Advertised.
He distributed 1,500 flyers to every house in the neighborhood, inviting residents to join in the journey.
"We do a walk-through on the Sunday before the journey," Houck said. "Mary and Joseph must arrive first, so timing is important."
When all the groups have arrived, a narrator tells the story of the birth of Jesus. The crowd sings carols, then enjoys hot chocolate and cookies in the fellowship hall.
"When we planned the first Journey, we had no idea the crowd would be so large," Houck said. "This year, we hope to have a tent outside to help in serving refreshments."
The narration at the manger, written by Phyllis Wohlford, will be improved, with professional lighting and sound system. Live animals - sheep and a donkey - add to the program.
"Last year, Tupper [Raleigh Court pastor Tupper Garden] and I rode around in the country looking for pastures with sheep," Houck said. "We found some in the field of a man I knew. I had forgotten he had them."
The man was Ed Robinson, a Virginia Tech professor who has a farm in the Catawba Valley. He was happy to lend four sheep, and will make them available this year.
Pedro, a donkey provided by Frank Layman of Franklin County, participated spontaneously last year. During the narration, he began to bray after spotting his reflection in a window.
The committee was unable to find a live camel, but Martha Edmunds managed to provide a stuffed one, named Clyde.
Edmunds spotted Clyde in the Roanoke Christmas parade and followed him and his owners to a civic club in Northwest Roanoke.
"They were the nicest men," she said. "They were more than happy to let us borrow Clyde, and some of them even came to our pageant."
Edmund hopes to borrow Clyde again this year.
Mary and Joseph will leave the intersection of Dudding and Sherwood, in front of Woodrow Wilson Middle School, at 6 p.m., walk south on Sherwood to Grandin, then west to the church.
The shepherds will leave the Church of Christ at Brandon and Carleton at 5:54 p.m., walk south on Brandon to Grandin, then east to the church.
The Wise Men - coming from the East, of course - will leave Bluemont and Winborne at 6:05 p.m., walk north on Bluemont to Grandin, then west to the church.
All should be at the church by 6:15 p.m.
by CNB