L’Arche hosts drive-thru Bethlehem event
IRON MINES — If you're out for a drive in Iron Mines on Saturday evening, slow down and roll down your window because there will be a woman standing at the end of L'Arche Lane with a question for you.
“'It's a strange night, we're looking for information on a baby born in Bethlehem, have you heard anything?' or something to that effect,” said Josephine MacEachern of how visitors will be welcomed into drive-thru Bethlehem.
Unlike the many events that now aim to keep us social distancing in our vehicles, drive-thru Bethlehem predates COVID-19.
L'Arche Cape Breton has been hosting the event for five years.
“It's our way of giving back to the broader community for all the support we receive throughout the year,” said MacEachern.
Visitors are directed through the lanes of the community for people with intellectual disabilities to a series of seven stations where they can talk with L'Arche members acting out characters from biblical Bethlehem.
There's a market where rowdy merchants will try to pitch their wares, Roman soldiers, shepherds wondering if the census is just a tax grab, and inevitably the manger scene.
It has become an event Inverness County looks forward to — with between 50 and 60 vehicles coming each Christmas season for the two-hour event.
L'Arche Cape Breton has 25 members with intellectual disabilities and another 28 live-in assistants. They all pitch in.
They have been busy building the sets, getting costumes together and practising their characters.
On Saturday from 6-8 p.m., it will be show time. Everyone is invited. And it's free.
“It's a joyful occasion,” said MacEachern. “Everyone is having fun while at the same time talking about the true meaning of Christmas.”