By Robin GOLDSWORTHY

For the holiday season, on Sunday afternoon the community was invited to CVCHURCH to Explore Bethlehem and learn what the historic city was like on the cusp of Christ’s birth.

The parking lot of the church was outfitted with booths of every type, teaching participants how to tan leather, make pottery and dip candles – all skills that were popular at the time.

“We’ve done this event more years than I can count,” said Kathe Wood, pastor of innovation at CVCHURCH.

The free event takes months to plan and the people of the church fundraise to make it available at no cost to the community.

“We’ve established a budget specifically for this event,” Wood said. “Our people love setting it up and doing it.”

Anna Engstrom is from Glendale and came to Explore Bethlehem for the first time.

“We’ve had a great time,” she said. “The organization [of the event] is terrific. This is wonderful.”

Many of the CVCHURCH congregation were populating the booths, providing demonstrations and offering food and drink. The popularity of the event may have been evident in how quickly the food and drink supplies were exhausted; near the end of the festivities all the apple cider – 32 gallons – had been distributed.

A highlight of the event was the petting zoo where many of the children could be found, petting and holding the piglets, goats and ducks. Also popular were the camel rides where parents and children would mount the beasts then parade through the west side parking lot.

Midway through the event, “Roman soldiers” proclaimed that the people were to return to the towns of their birth for the census. The soldiers included John Nelson, who made the proclamation, Chuck Holler, who paved the way for Nelson, and several younger soldiers-in-training.

Though it was hard to know how many people attended Explore Bethlehem, administrative pastor Rick Whitlow estimated that 750 came to the event.

“It really warms my heart to see everyone having a good time,” Whitlow said, adding that the goal of Explore Bethlehem is “demonstrating that Christianity, as a whole, is about healing … and is inclusive.”

“After all,” he said, “that’s what the Christmas season is all about.”

  robin goldsworthy