Bremen Holy Walk will be virtual-only
Bethlehem will still have a home in Bremen for the 40th annual Holy Walk, despite making some key changes due to COVID restrictions.
The completely virtual event will take place at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11 on the Bremen Holy Walk website and social media pages.
“After working and implementing a safe health plan, the county health board was not able to approve the event because of the number of COVID cases in Marshall County,” organizers explained in a press release. “But God’s people will not be stopped.”
Organizer Mary Grebe said that while
the group was disappointed to not be able to proceed with the event as usual, they believe in the importance of hosting the event as best they can.
“I think — we all think — (the Holy Walk) is almost more important this year,” Grebe said. “There’s so much going on that we want to offer people the chance to remember His story and feel that peace.”
The Holy Walk will be live-streamed, and also available to view at any time after the event.
The highlights of the annual tour of “Bethlehem” following the birth of Jesus will be largely the same.
The Holy Walk provided an overview: “You will visit with Mary and Joseph that you met on the road. Further down the road you will stop to rest with some shepherds when a heavenly host appear to tell you ‘Fear Not…’
“Your family keeps going but the Roman soldiers stop you to be counted so they can tax you more the next year. Getting tired, you stop at the Inn, but ‘No Room.’ As you continue through the village of Bethlehem your family shops for supplies for your journey back home. Finally, you get to the tax tent to pay your taxes. You pray that you have enough money, or the Roman soldiers will not detain you or your family as slaves.
“Finally, you breathe a sigh of relief, and exit the tax tent and head to the synagogue to pray for providence and thanksgiving. Leaving the synagogue, you notice a bright star and it is shining over a stable. Your family walk over to it and find a young couple with a new baby. You wonder, ‘Is this the child the angels were speaking of?’ You feel a special peace and joy.
“As you continue you are surprised by three men traveling from the east. They were following the star to lead them to a King. You think the walk has ended but your family stops at a dark spot in the woods and there is a small light that shines on a wooden cross. Your family guide tells you that the baby that was born in Bethlehem this holy night will die on that cross for you. He grew up to save the world by dying for us. He came to earth to give us everlasting life.
“The final stop is a new addition to the Bremen Holy Walk. On this 40th year, the whole story will be told. You will see it added to the video.
Big Clue: Jesus Christ does not stay in the tomb!”
The Holy Walk website is at http://bremenholywalk.com. You’ll find photos of past events, more information on the tour and — come Dec. 11 — watch this year’s event.