FOLLOW THE STAR HELPS ILLUMINATE THE SEASON.

Byline: Posted by Sharon Cotal valleynews.com user

Bethlehem Lutheran Ministries, for the 13th straight year, is preparing to bring Follow the Star to the Santa Clarita Valley! The community is invited to attend this free, outdoor, walk-through or drive-through event, which will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and Sunday.

This year, Bethlehem Lutheran Ministries will be presenting this living pageant of Jesus' life with over 200 costumed participants, and at least 100 behind-the-scenes volunteers. Many people come back year after year to see this exciting and joyful message of God's love. We are also very pleased to see the excitement, as well as the compassion of those attending. While we at Bethlehem Lutheran offer this pageant as a gift, we do accept donations, for the charitable organizations which feed the needy here in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Follow the Star is an emotional, vibrant and inspiring educational experience that illustrates various stages of Jesus' life on Earth beginning with the Annunciation scene, where the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Messiah. This is followed by the Nativity, depicting the humble birth of Jesus - the Savior of the world. Mary and Joseph, shepherds and angels, attend to the newborn baby as he lies in the manger.

Next, guests experience the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus preaches to his followers and teaches them how to live a holy life. This is followed by the joyful Triumphal Entry scene, depicting Jesus arriving in Jerusalem to the cheers and adulation of a crowd of townspeople while several disgruntled Pharisees shout angry accusations at the Son of God.

As guests proceed through the pageant, they next experience a presentation of The Last Supper where Jesus shares bread and wine with his twelve disciples. The next scene is the Garden of Gethsemane, where guests see Jesus handed over to the Roman authorities as he is betrayed by Judas for a few pieces of silver. Pontius Pilate is then seen washing his hands of the responsibility of sentencing Jesus to death.

As guests turn a dark corner, they are impacted by a powerful, moving and dramatic scene as the crucified Jesus hangs suffering on a cross with his mother, Mary, and other followers wailing at his feet. Another scene depicts the anguish that the disciples of Christ felt, as they hid and waited, fearing a similar fate. This is followed by the joyful Resurrection scene, showing Jesus' tomb open and empty, demonstrating that he has risen and is victorious over sin, death and the power of Satan. The disciples of Christ are relieved, and Jesus proves his resurrection to his doubting disciple, Thomas.

Jesus later appears as he ascends to heaven to take his place next to the Father. We are then brought back to the present day as we see a family studying God's word and praying in their home. This scene represents the power of the Holy Spirit working today in all of our lives, and the power of teaching this in the home, during this season of Christmas.

After experiencing the pageant, visitors are treated to live music from carolers in our courtyard and an opportunity for refreshments and fellowship. We ask that everyone please consider bringing canned or nonperishable food or monetary gifts to be donated to various Santa Clarita charitable organizations. Last year over a ton of food and more than $2,000 were donated to assist the needy in Santa Clarita, thanks to the kindness and generosity of our Follow the Star guests!

For additional information, please contact Pastor Marty Brauer at [phone] or visit us online at www.followthestar.com.