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Tag: Bethlehem Walk

No vacancy at Bethlehem Walk

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Anna Maria, Churches, Community News.

The Virgin Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem was re-enacted in Anna Maria on Sunday evening, with Roser Church members, residents, visitors and a menagerie of farm animals and pets during the annual Bethlehem Walk.

Families dressed as shepherds, angels and townsfolk journeyed down Pine Avenue into neighborhoods and past restaurants full of puzzled diners with a llama, a donkey and several goats, chickens and dogs in tow.

At each stop, Mary and Joseph asked for shelter and were told, “No vacancy,” but everyone sang carols in between destinations, and finally found shelter for the Holy Family at Roser Church, where a living nativity scene preceded a celebration with desserts and fellowship.

Owen Serra, left, and Asher Patel dressed as wise men in the Bethlehem Walk. – Cindy Lane | Sun
The Holy Family was turned away at an ice cream shop in Anna Maria. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Becky Bixler, left, and Lesley Foulk donned angel-wear for the Bethlehem Walk. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Robin Kollar and Kujo the llama participated in the Bethlehem Walk. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Even a local real estate company was unable to provide lodging for Mary and Joseph on the Bethlehem Walk. – Cindy Lane | Sun
Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the living nativity scene at Roser Church. – Cindy Lane | Sun
The Bethlehem Walk evening began with a beautiful sunset at Roser Church. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The Bethlehem Walk evening began with a beautiful sunset at Roser Church. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Roser Church Pastor Dirk Rodgers carried a goat for part of the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Roser Church Pastor Dirk Rodgers carried a goat for part of the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Owen Serra took a goat on the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Owen Serra took a goat on the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Kujo the llama went on the Bethlehem journey. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Kujo the llama went on the Bethlehem journey. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Revvy the donkey journeyed with Mary and Joseph at the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Revvy the donkey journeyed with Mary and Joseph at the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Saylah Harding brought a chicken on the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Saylah Harding brought a chicken on the Bethlehem Walk. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Walking to Bethlehem

Walking to Bethlehem

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Family fun, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – One of the most anticipated events of the holiday season took to the city’s streets on Sunday evening as dozens of participants came out to Roser Memorial Community Church to take the annual Bethlehem Walk.

Encompassing one city block, the interactive event invites community members to dress up and follow Mary and Joseph as they search for a room at an inn where Mary might rest and give birth to the Christ child. After making several stops and enjoying singing Christmas carols, the group makes its way back to Roser, where the Christ child is born.

This year a crowd took the journey escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies for safety. Participants were accompanied by a whole host of live animals, from the donkey walking with Mary and Joseph to chickens, bunnies, a potbellied pig and even a miniature horse. Children and adults alike dressed up as shepherds, wise men and women, angels, farmers and more. All of the animals and costumes were provided by the church.

After the nativity scene on the steps of the Roser fellowship hall, it was time to return the animals and enjoy treats provided by the church’s staff and members, including cookies and lots of hot chocolate.

The Bethlehem Walk takes place annually the first Sunday in December.

Each stop along the Bethlehem Walk was accompanied by a prayer for the holiday season. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Each stop along the Bethlehem Walk was accompanied by a prayer for the holiday season. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rev. Dirk Rodgers, accompanied by a chicken, welcomes everyone to the 2023 Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Rev. Dirk Rodgers, accompanied by a chicken, welcomes everyone to the 2023 Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey, arrive at the first stop on the Bethlehem Walk to ask if there is any room for them at the inn. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Mary and Joseph, accompanied by a donkey, arrive at the first stop on the Bethlehem Walk to ask if there is any room for them at the inn. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Jackson Glasscock and Xyza Jaworski ready to take the Bethlehem Walk as a shepherd and an angel. Live animals also were brought to the church for participants to cuddle during the event. Xyza chose a chicken. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Jackson Glasscock and Xyza Jaworski ready to take the Bethlehem Walk as a shepherd and an angel. Live animals also were brought to the church for participants to cuddle during the event. Xyza chose a chicken. - Kristin Swain | Sun

This group of Bethlehem Walk attendees dressed the part for the annual recreation of the birth of the Christ child. - Kristin Swain | Sun

This group of Bethlehem Walk attendees dressed the part for the annual recreation of the birth of the Christ child. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Dozens of people took to the streets of Anna Maria, escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Dec. 3 for Roser Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Dozens of people took to the streets of Anna Maria, escorted by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Dec. 3 for Roser Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One couple brought their own animals to this year’s Bethlehem Walk, a rubber chicken and a stuffed horse. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One couple brought their own animals to this year’s Bethlehem Walk, a rubber chicken and a stuffed horse. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Bethlehem Walk has very happy ending

Bethlehem Walk has very happy ending

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Churches, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – There are plenty of inns on Anna Maria Island, but the “No Vacancy” signs were out for Mary and Joseph as they walked with their animals and several angels searching for shelter in Anna Maria on Sunday.

The annual Bethlehem Walk, held by Roser Church, portrayed the struggle faced by Jesus’ parents as they desperately searched for and were continuously denied shelter as they walked the streets of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem Walk has very happy ending
Mary and Joseph (Sophie Bernet and Noah Goodkind) are denied a room at the first inn they stop at during Roser Church’s Bethlehem Walk. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

A large crowd followed them as they went from inn to inn until they were eventually offered lodging in a local stable.

“This is an annual event that we’ve been doing for many years to keep Christ at the center of Christmas,” Roser Pastor Dirk Rodgers said. “We just wander the streets of Anna Maria and reenact the story of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay. We wind up back here at the church, which is the manger in our story, then announce the birth of Jesus and then celebrate Christmas here with a little fellowship at the end.”

Mary and Joseph (Sophie Bernet and Noah Goodkind) begin their journey to find a room at an inn with their animals as Roser Church in Anna Maria began their annual Bethlehem Walk on Sunday. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Unlike a Christmas play or pageant, this event is open to anyone who wants to walk the route. The church even pro- vides costumes for those that want to dress the part but don’t have a costume. Many enjoyed walking the route with Mary and Joseph (Sophie Bernet and Noah Goodkind), their cow and donkey and plenty of angels, who also carried animals including chickens and goats.

The animals for the Bethlehem Walk were provided by Addie’s Pony Parties, and were central to the event. There were plenty of children who were happy to carry an animal, and everyone in attendance had to get at least one petting session with the beautiful and docile creatures that seemed to be very comfortable with their roles in the story.

Rodgers said that Roser is unique in the fact that they are non-denominational, and welcome everyone for not only this event, but every service held at the church. He said because the church is aware that many tourists come to the Island and want to go to a church, they are welcoming of anyone from any denomination whether local or from thousands of miles away.

Bethlehem Walk has very happy ending
Participants in Roser Church’s annual Bethlehem Walk stop to sing a traditional Christmas carol for diners at The Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“I just want everyone to know that in these troubled times, Christmas is a message of hope that God is with us through these things,” Rodgers said. “He sent His son to encourage us and help us find hope in these times.”

 

bethlehem walk joseph mary

Bethlehem Walk draws a crowd

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Holiday.

ANNA MARIA – The cool temperature Sunday evening was perfect for a walk around the block, and that’s what a group of worshippers did as they celebrated Roser Community Church’s Annual Bethlehem Walk.

bethlehem walk holding goats
Two baby goats had the attention of these ladies. – Tom Vaught | Sun

The trek included a few stops to ask innkeepers if they had room for Joseph, played by Mark Morse, and Mary, played by Maggie Carlson. Walkers were joined by barnyard animals brought out to Anna Maria for the occasion, including a llama, lambs, baby goats and the donkey that accompanies Mary and Joseph on the way to find housing for the night. The walk covers approximately one block in Anna Maria, ending back where it began at Roser with the revelation of the baby Jesus, this year played by Arianna Wade. Afterward, participants are invited to come into the fellowship hall to enjoy cookies, coffee, hot chocolate and other treats provided by the church.

The Bethlehem Walk began years ago. Nobody remembers when, but it was an opportunity for young and old alike to experience the night Christ was born. Attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the season and the walk by joining the actors in wearing costumes, provided by the church for visitors to borrow for the event, and sing Christmas carols along the way in between stops to visit with innkeepers. This year, patrons of the Waterfront Restaurant, located along the Bethlehem Walk’s path, joined in on the fun, singing along, taking photos and wishing the walking group a Merry Christmas. As the walk progressed, the group was joined by more people who took to the street on foot and by golf cart.

The annual procession takes place typically the first weekend of December and is traditionally begun after sunset. Attendees are always advised to bring a flashlight to help light the way.

Bethlehem Walk

Relive Christmas at the Bethlehem Walk

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment, Holiday.

ANNA MARIA – The Roser Community Church Bethlehem Walk will be held at the church at 512 Pine Ave. starting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2.

The annual Christmas event is an opportunity to re-enact the Holy Night when Jesus was born as Joseph and Mary sought a room at the inn on their way to Bethlehem.

Participants will walk from one inn to the other with them, singing Christmas carols. Everyone is invited to participate. Come in clothing from that era or borrow some at Roser Church on a first-come, first-served basis.

Animals including llamas, donkeys and goats also will make the walk.

When they arrive back at Roser Church, Joseph and Mary will present the newborn Jesus, and everybody will be invited for cookies, cocoa and fellowship.

It’s a great way to bring the reason for Christmas to life for children.

Deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office will escort the walk. Don’t forget to bring your flashlight.

For more information, visit Roser Church, Facebook, or call 941-778-0414.