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Mormons celebrate Christmas with spirit

Congregations in Dade City and Lutz are holding holiday events like a peanut butter play and a tour of Bethlehem.

By MICHELLE JONES
Published December 2, 2006

DADE CITY - Two congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are reaching out to their communities with special treats for Christmas

And although peanut butter is not a typical Christmas confection, the play A Peanut Butter Christmas is one of the treats.

The one-act play, which is 45 minutes long, will be performed at 6:30 tonight by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 9016 Fort King Road in Dade City.

"A family of five runs into difficulties and are stranded in a hotel after their van has been robbed and all their gifts are lost," said Lora Morrison, who handles public relations for the church.

"Since there is no electricity, they have to eat peanut butter sandwiches by candlelight," she said.

Morrison said the situation makes the family think about what Christmas is really about.

A Night in Bethlehem is a gift from the Lutz congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The live nativity and a tour of Bethlehem will be presented every half hour beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

"There will be an entire re-creation (of the city) of Bethlehem and people will go through the city on the way to shepherd's hill where they will witness the unfolding of the night of the Savior's miraculous birth," said Jim Gillen, media relations spokesman.

Jacob, the village storyteller, and his wife, Isabelle, will greet visitors and tell them a story that took place on a night "just like tonight."

A neighbor of the church donated some animals for the live nativity scene. There will be donkeys, sheep and horses.

"We couldn't get a camel," Gillen said.

Emily Packard, a local opera singer who plays the Virgin Mary, will sing to her newborn baby. Afterward, visitors can join in singing with the choir and shepherds as they proclaim the birth of the king.

The children of the church have been making special gifts to present to 3,000 visitors they expect to come to the free presentation during the four nights.

Refreshments will be served, and the youth choir will provide Christmas music after each tour.

People are asked to bring a can of food for a donation and dress in Bethlehem attire, if possible. Call (813) 838-3497 for free tickets.

After the Peanut Butter Christmas production, visitors will be treated to a peanut butter birthday cake as they sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Upbeat music and a different version of Jingle Bells will have everyone joining into the celebration. As people leave, the congregation will pass out Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

"We want people in our community to know we believe in Christmas too," Morrison said.

[Last modified December 1, 2006, 23:23:06]