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The Journey on Sunday featured people in costume and live animals, including a camel
BOARDMAN
Jayden Scheibert of Warren was disappointed that a coin given to travelers on the “Journey to Bethlehem” had to be given back to the tax collector, one of the stops along the sixth annual event Sunday at Disciples Christian Church.
“I thought we’d be able to keep the coin,” said Jayden, 8, with a grin, who clearly has had few dealings with real-world tax collectors.
Jayden took the journey with his grandmother, Astrid Philips of Negley, and another of Philips’ grandchildren, Jonathon Philips, 2, of Austintown.
“We are former members of the Disciples Christian Church; we come here each year for the journey and to see the church and all our friends,” Philips said.
The journey included visits with Roman soldiers, King Herod, angels singing from on high, shepherds awed by the angels, the three magi and their live camel, Shadrach, who was very popular with the children, and stable and live animals with actors portraying Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus: Lauren Johnson, 16, and Alex Kluchar, 17, both of Canfield, and Sarah and Mike Grope, a married couple.
Guided tours of the journey, from 1 to 4 p.m., began approximately every 15 minutes, giving children and adults the opportunity to imagine Bethlehem and surrounding areas during the time of Christ’s birth.
The tour this reporter took was led by Anthony Delucia of Austintown, a member of Disciples Christian and a seminary student.
“Our main goal is to bring the message of the birth of Christ to the community,” said Dottie Johnson of Boardman, part of the team that organized the event.
Other journey team members were Kathy Lutz, Deon Vrabel, Mary Ciavarella and the Rev. Matt Kluchar, assistant pastor of the church. The pastor is the Rev. Beth Pass.
The event has become a holiday tradition that rounds out the holiday season for visitors and church members as well, said the Rev. Mr. Kluchar.
“It’s one of those things that brings people of the church together. It’s something they enjoy doing,” Mr. Kluchar said.
The first “Journey to Bethlehem” was for the children of the church. After that it was expanded and opened to the public, said Johnson.
“It’s our free gift to the community,” she said.