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Photographer:  Ruth

After Joe worked on our friend Karen’s computer in Salisbury, he planned to meet Ruth and our neighbors Elsie and Rose Anne (mother and daughter) to “travel back in time” at the Matthews United Methodist Church invitation for visitors to step into the day surrounding the Christmas story, bustling with life: more than 300 costumed actors, a camel and a donkey, some goats and sheep—and behind the scenes, hundreds of workers.

Upon arriving, those who pass inspection from Roman soldiers receive a bag of ten shekels for the journey. Half goes for taxes to register with the census-taker and enter the town gateway, the other half is yours to “spend” as you traverse pastures past Roman soldiers at their campfire on your way to the indoor market place. Rose Anne decided to drum up a deal and “bought” one of the sheep for 5 shekels. From colorful candles at one of the stands I selected a handcrafted keepsake, for 1 shekel. Indoors along the wall-to-wall booths we mulled over spices, smelled frankincense and myrrh, browsed the baskets, and we exchanged a shekel for a sampling of fruit. My last shekel secured me a pretty little clay pot, a young merchant's careful handiwork.

The “reason for the season” is tucked “away, in a manger”— the Holy Family, previewed by the early arrival of Wise Men and accompanied by tender sweet-singing angels — a crowd-pleasing stretch of good news packed into a virtual nutshell. [The appearance of angelic beings surely must be a frightening sight:  the first thing they often say is, “Fear not”. The Bible never mentions if the angels sang. Mary and Joseph had moved Jesus from the feeding trough into a house before an impressive assemblage of magi arrived to worship the young child at home.] Nibbling animals awaited fodder at the stable, and Rose Anne helped make their day.

We marveled at 6-week old Anderson Caleb Coppage. His sisters Abbey, Emma, and Ellison were born, then their father was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and underwent treatment including surgery and radiation until April 2005. As cancer victims commonly have fertility problems, Greg and Kim hadn’t expected any more children. We delighted at their living, breathing miracle baby, who represented another little miracle baby.

Information on the annual free event (3:30-9:00 p.m. today, on Saturday, December 2, 2006):  call the church (801 South Trade Street, Matthews, NC) at 704.847.6261, or visit www.matthewsumc.org.

That evening Joe and Ruth drove to the Stanley Community Singing Christmas Tree to hear Aunt Marie sing, a beautiful end to the day. Choir members some seventy strong came from around the area and rehearsed every Tuesday evening starting mid-September to produce the inspiring program for a capacity audience at Christ's Lutheran Church (203 South Main Street, Stanley, NC), preceded by a wonderful half hour prelude with a hand bell choir and other featured instrumentalists. Great refreshments and fellowship followed.