Reflections on A Night in Bethlehem 2015

Reflections on A Night in Bethlehem 2015

Fast becoming a yearly tradition, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held ‘A Night in Bethlehem’ on two consecutive nights to commemorate and celebrate the birth of the Saviour.

Stake members volunteered time and resources to create a live event depicting some of the major events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. Held at the Stake Centre, members of the public were treated to performance, song and supper. Enjoy some of the reflections from visitors and participants who attended some of the sessions.

“A truly marvelous opportunity for us to reminisce and reflect on the events leading to the miracle birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“A truly marvelous opportunity for us to reminisce and reflect on the events leading to the miracle birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The purposeful dimly lit scenes and enactment brought the scriptures to life. The quiet atmosphere added reverence and significance as each event unfolded before us.

The purposeful dimly lit scenes and enactment brought the scriptures to life. The quiet atmosphere added reverence and significance as each event unfolded before us.

The Angels Room was exceptionally spiritually. The scene with the angels and their sweet voices momentarily transported us to heaven.

The Angels Room was exceptionally spiritually. The scene with the angels and their sweet voices momentarily transported us to heaven.

The climax was at the nativity scene where we saw Baby Jesus and His earthly parents in a lowly manger. This scene always invokes a sense of awe and heartfelt emotions.

The climax was at the nativity scene where we saw Baby Jesus and His earthly parents in a lowly manger. This scene always invokes a sense of awe and heartfelt emotions.

For us the scriptures came alive as we journey through time to revisit the wonderful and joyous birth of Jesus Christ.”

For us the scriptures came alive as we journey through time to revisit the wonderful and joyous birth of Jesus Christ.”

Gordon Foo (visitor)

Gordon Foo (visitor)

“There was a spirit of reverence when we entered the 4th level. I was very touched as I saw the youths dressed in their costumes leading the visitors. They did their job wonderfully. I could tell a lot of effort went into the various scenes, including the market place and the nativity display. They were very beautiful and helped to create a magical feeling of 'a Night of Bethlehem'!”

“There was a spirit of reverence when we entered the 4th level. I was very touched as I saw the youths dressed in their costumes leading the visitors. They did their job wonderfully. I could tell a lot of effort went into the various scenes, including the market place and the nativity display. They were very beautiful and helped to create a magical feeling of 'a Night of Bethlehem'!”

Jean Kwan (visitor)

Jean Kwan (visitor)

A Night in Bethlehem was not only a place to feel the spirit of Christmas but also gave me the opportunity to do missionary work. While queuing up I came to know two ladies who had been approached by a ward sister but unfortunately she was not there to meet them. I took the opportunity to talk about our church and the gospel of Jesus Christ and introduced them to the missionaries for further discussion.”

A Night in Bethlehem was not only a place to feel the spirit of Christmas but also gave me the opportunity to do missionary work. While queuing up I came to know two ladies who had been approached by a ward sister but unfortunately she was not there to meet them. I took the opportunity to talk about our church and the gospel of Jesus Christ and introduced them to the missionaries for further discussion.”

Dalicia Leong (visitor)

Dalicia Leong (visitor)

“This experience really reminded me of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. It was a really good way to feel the spirit and it was really fun and exciting to be able to see the shepherds, the three wise men, and hear the angels sing. It is definitely an experience I will never forget.”

“This experience really reminded me of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. It was a really good way to feel the spirit and it was really fun and exciting to be able to see the shepherds, the three wise men, and hear the angels sing. It is definitely an experience I will never forget.”

Abish Sempio (visitor)

Abish Sempio (visitor)

“I was supposed to join with the angels the first night of the nativity. However, the friends I had invited requested me to wait for them, which meant I missed participating that day.

“I was supposed to join with the angels the first night of the nativity. However, the friends I had invited requested me to wait for them, which meant I missed participating that day.

Like the rest of the visitors, we waited at the Stake Centre, eager to see what’s inside. I may not have been dressed in white robes of an angel announcing and leading people to witness the birth of the Lord 2000 years ago, but I helped in my way by leading my friends towards their course to find the church and discover that day in Bethlehem where the Savior of the world was born.

Like the rest of the visitors, we waited at the Stake Centre, eager to see what’s inside. I may not have been dressed in white robes of an angel announcing and leading people to witness the birth of the Lord 2000 years ago, but I helped in my way by leading my friends towards their course to find the church and discover that day in Bethlehem where the Savior of the world was born.

The simple 30-minute nativity pageant brought different experiences and feelings to many. Some guests were amazed, others wondered, and others still remained silent. 

The simple 30-minute nativity pageant brought different experiences and feelings to many. Some guests were amazed, others wondered, and others still remained silent. 

As we now have His gospel now in our lives, let this be our gift to the Lord - to be committed to tell this good news that will give great joy to people.”

As we now have His gospel now in our lives, let this be our gift to the Lord - to be committed to tell this good news that will give great joy to people.”

Sharon Obcena (visitor)

Sharon Obcena (visitor)

“I was very excited about the nativity activity at the church. My first impression of the Angels Room came as we were helping to prepare the different rooms before the activity started, and I entered the unfinished room of angels. I was surprised by the feeling of peace and quiet, very different from the busy preparation outside. The room looked beautiful and pure. I thought it could not get any better.

“I was very excited about the nativity activity at the church. My first impression of the Angels Room came as we were helping to prepare the different rooms before the activity started, and I entered the unfinished room of angels. I was surprised by the feeling of peace and quiet, very different from the busy preparation outside. The room looked beautiful and pure. I thought it could not get any better.

I was wrong. As I entered the room again during the activity, all the amazing actors dressed in white made it perfectly divine. I truly felt glimpses of what happened during the Bethlehem night as they were talking, sharing, quoting and singing the birth of Christ. All the people that came loved it, and wanted to go back through the tour just to relive this great experience one more time. I am so grateful for the preparation and the performance that night. I can't wait for next year’s Christmas nativity.”

I was wrong. As I entered the room again during the activity, all the amazing actors dressed in white made it perfectly divine. I truly felt glimpses of what happened during the Bethlehem night as they were talking, sharing, quoting and singing the birth of Christ. All the people that came loved it, and wanted to go back through the tour just to relive this great experience one more time. I am so grateful for the preparation and the performance that night. I can't wait for next year’s Christmas nativity.”

Elder Cocq (visitor)

Elder Cocq (visitor)

“As I relive the moment I entered the Angel's Room all I can do is close my eyes and smile.

“As I relive the moment I entered the Angel's Room all I can do is close my eyes and smile.

When I was young I tried to imagine how an angel looks and sounds, and I had a glimpse of that as I entered the angel's room.

When I was young I tried to imagine how an angel looks and sounds, and I had a glimpse of that as I entered the angel's room.

It was ethereal! All I did was smile, looking and listening to the people performing. It brought such a beautiful feeling. I could really feel that they sung from their hearts and for our Saviour.”

It was ethereal! All I did was smile, looking and listening to the people performing. It brought such a beautiful feeling. I could really feel that they sung from their hearts and for our Saviour.”

Abby Arguelles (visitor)

Abby Arguelles (visitor)

“Just a few days before the nativity event, I was losing my voice. I could barely complete a short sentence. I started to worry about not being able to sing with the angels after much practice. 

“Just a few days before the nativity event, I was losing my voice. I could barely complete a short sentence. I started to worry about not being able to sing with the angels after much practice. 

The two-day event of the nativity was an important occasion I was really looking forward to. I was scheduled to sing with the angels on the second day but my voice sounded even more helpless on the first day of the nativity. 

The two-day event of the nativity was an important occasion I was really looking forward to. I was scheduled to sing with the angels on the second day but my voice sounded even more helpless on the first day of the nativity. 

Feeling a little discouraged, I was wondering if I should still join, however my desire to participate was stronger than my discouragement.

Feeling a little discouraged, I was wondering if I should still join, however my desire to participate was stronger than my discouragement.

On the second day of the nativity, before I entered the Angel's Room, I said a sincere prayer. I asked our loving Heavenly Father if I could please be given the privilege of singing on this special event. He understands the desires of my heart… and that gave me courage to get to that room and trust Him.

On the second day of the nativity, before I entered the Angel's Room, I said a sincere prayer. I asked our loving Heavenly Father if I could please be given the privilege of singing on this special event. He understands the desires of my heart… and that gave me courage to get to that room and trust Him.

When the angel’s “act' started, I still couldn't even utter a clear word. I started to lip sync the Christmas hymn, when all of a sudden, I found myself actually singing the chorus part! That is when more voices are needed! Each time we sang the chorus part, my voice was just restored. Two of my friends in the audience said I was singing well and they didn't notice anything unusual in my voice.

When the angel’s “act' started, I still couldn't even utter a clear word. I started to lip sync the Christmas hymn, when all of a sudden, I found myself actually singing the chorus part! That is when more voices are needed! Each time we sang the chorus part, my voice was just restored. Two of my friends in the audience said I was singing well and they didn't notice anything unusual in my voice.

As soon as the Nativity was over, my voice was gone again. I knew, without a doubt, I was given some Heavenly help from a loving Heavenly Father when I was in the Angel's Room. I am grateful for that experience.”

As soon as the Nativity was over, my voice was gone again. I knew, without a doubt, I was given some Heavenly help from a loving Heavenly Father when I was in the Angel's Room. I am grateful for that experience.”

Rain Macapagal (participant)

Rain Macapagal (participant)

“As an angel participating in the live nativity, I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the church's effort to let people know the reason we celebrate Christmas. I felt the Spirit strongly as we sang songs about Christ's birth; my testimony was strengthened. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I am grateful for His love, His Atonement and His teachings. I will continue to participate in missionary efforts to share the good news that Jesus Christ lives!” 

“As an angel participating in the live nativity, I felt so grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the church's effort to let people know the reason we celebrate Christmas. I felt the Spirit strongly as we sang songs about Christ's birth; my testimony was strengthened. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I am grateful for His love, His Atonement and His teachings. I will continue to participate in missionary efforts to share the good news that Jesus Christ lives!” 

Peteza Rose Lopez (participant)

Peteza Rose Lopez (participant)

“I never thought that participating as an angel in the live nativity would have a great impact in my testimony. I was one of the angels who had a script and I thought it was just about memorizing and delivering the words to all who would enter the Angel Room.

“I never thought that participating as an angel in the live nativity would have a great impact in my testimony. I was one of the angels who had a script and I thought it was just about memorizing and delivering the words to all who would enter the Angel Room.

But as the event started, I felt the spirit so strongly. I cried as I had a deeper understanding of my script and had a better realization about how important it was to tell all the people around the world about the birth of our Savior. I had a greater desire to share this wonderful news that happened 2000 years ago to everyone. I know that missionary work is important. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, He lived on earth and atoned for our sins. I know that He died for me, for you, for us, so that we can live with our Heavenly Father again someday. I am grateful that I could be a part of the live nativity.”

But as the event started, I felt the spirit so strongly. I cried as I had a deeper understanding of my script and had a better realization about how important it was to tell all the people around the world about the birth of our Savior. I had a greater desire to share this wonderful news that happened 2000 years ago to everyone. I know that missionary work is important. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, He lived on earth and atoned for our sins. I know that He died for me, for you, for us, so that we can live with our Heavenly Father again someday. I am grateful that I could be a part of the live nativity.”

Danica Patiag (participant)

Danica Patiag (participant)