MVAS Presents The Bethlehem Inn 400 Community Members Attend The Mat Valley Adventist School (MVAS) hosted a Christmas feast and program for more than 400 people from the Palmer area, including John Combs, Palmer mayor, and Ken Crawford, Alaska Conference president, at the Train Depot in downtown Palmer on Dec. 3, 4 and 5. Directed by teacher Sherry Daily, the 34 MVAS students and eight home-schooled students, ranging from preschool to 10th grade, presented The Bethlehem Inn, a lively theatrical production of the Christmas story, as told from the crowded dining hall of the inn. As "travelers" ate a traditional evening meal, and a burly Roman soldier kept the peace, servants at the inn notified the harried innkeeper of a young couple desperately seeking a room for the night, of the birth of a baby, of shepherds and wisemen, and of an incandescent star shining directly over their stable. This is the first time we've done a community-based program for this many people, said Daily. Everyone was very supportive of the event, including the school board, fellow teachers, church members, the Palmer Arts Council, who provided props, and the donor who paid for the catered meals. "The play," says Daily, "is a unique opportunity for students to witness to others. We hope to make it an annual event."
MVAS Presents The Bethlehem Inn
400 Community Members Attend
The Mat Valley Adventist School (MVAS) hosted a Christmas feast and program for more than 400 people from the Palmer area, including John Combs, Palmer mayor, and Ken Crawford, Alaska Conference president, at the Train Depot in downtown Palmer on Dec. 3, 4 and 5.
Directed by teacher Sherry Daily, the 34 MVAS students and eight home-schooled students, ranging from preschool to 10th grade, presented The Bethlehem Inn, a lively theatrical production of the Christmas story, as told from the crowded dining hall of the inn.
As "travelers" ate a traditional evening meal, and a burly Roman soldier kept the peace, servants at the inn notified the harried innkeeper of a young couple desperately seeking a room for the night, of the birth of a baby, of shepherds and wisemen, and of an incandescent star shining directly over their stable.
This is the first time we've done a community-based program for this many people, said Daily. Everyone was very supportive of the event, including the school board, fellow teachers, church members, the Palmer Arts Council, who provided props, and the donor who paid for the catered meals.
"The play," says Daily, "is a unique opportunity for students to witness to others. We hope to make it an annual event."
The students of Mat Valley Adventist School present a theatrical production of the Christmas storyThe Bethlehem Inn. (Bryan Dale)
An excited servant girl (Kyla Olson) tells the innkeeper (Josh Jewitt) about the star. (Bryan Dale)
