By Sue Martin
Madison Community Church

Over 90 visitors experienced the free “Walk Through Bethlehem” at Madison Community Seventh-day Adventist Church on Elka Lane in December. Visitors began by meeting the census taker and tax collector, then proceeded to the Bethlehem marketplace, which included 10 stands of fruit, vegetable, salt and fish sellers; textile, iron work, carpentry and pottery makers; and finally, basket and bread makers offering warm bread and lentil soup. There was also a synagogue and family home.

After hearing the marketplace abuzz with talk of a baby being born in a stable and listening to the prophecy of the Messiah from the Book of Isaiah, the walk continued past Herod’s palace to the sanctuary where the shepherds and Magi bowed down at the crèche scene with baby Jesus. That was followed by the risen Savior pointing to the cross and quoting John 3:16-17. The event ended with the narrator looking forward to the second advent of Jesus and visitors joining in singing “Joy to the World.”

This first annual Christmas pageant will be repeated for the community again next year. 

At each outreach event, the free-will offering is directed to a community charity. The 2019 pageant donations collected by our Project SMALL (Single Moms and Little Lads) are going to the Shelter from the Storm Ministries, a Christian ministry in Sun Prairie that provides transitional shelter for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness. We thank those who donated to this cause.

The second annual free musical Easter program is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 10 and 11, at 7 pm.