On the last Sunday before Christmas 1983, the members of Oak's First Community Church held a rather unconventional Christmas program. That was not unusual for the church under the leadership of Pastor Henry Knotts. The year before the program was built around the showing of photographic slides taken in 1943. In 1983 the program was held in the basement of the church which had been decorated to resemble Bethlehem at the time Jesus Christ was born.
The congregation gathered in the sanctuary as usual where the pastor began the program by asking them to think back to what it was like in Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. He then led the congregation down straw and dirt covered steps of the churh and into the building's basement.
At the basement entrance Vic Schmidt, dressed as a Roman official, required each to sign the Roman Census book. Jerry Schmidt, dressed as a Roman soldier, made sure everyone did as they were instructed.
The basement walls had been covered with paper and painted to resemble an ancient Bethlehem street scene. Gwen Samsula, Vicki Knotts and Pam Buresh were responsible for the painting. Market booths were built along the corridors with tilted hedge posts covered with old bed sheets. Vendors were eager to sell their wares which included wicker baskets, assorted poultry, pieces of cloth, breads, cheeses and other food items. There were youngsters playing in the street. All attempted to dress in authentic Biblical costumes,
LaVon Schoof was the innkeeper and just as the night some 2,000 years ago, the inn was filled to capacity.
The tour ended with a live manger scene. Eight little girls dressed as angels were standing on the stable steps, four shepherds were at the manger with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. All helped Vicki Knotts sing the songs of Christmas. Live chickens roamed the stable and nested on the bales of straw. Plans to include live lambs were canceled because of the weather.
Pastor Knotts led in devotions before those attending were served a lunch by Lola Ferguson, Merna Buresh and Gwen Samsula. The youngsters were each given a bag filled with candy, nuts and popcorn balls.
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