Main Street Bethlehem in Burnet, TX

A new Christmas tradition in Central Texas has become the Main Street Bethlehem exhibit, put on by the First Baptist Church in Burnet, TX. This little town of about 4,000 people, located an hour northwest of Austin, turns into a thriving metropolis on the weekends leading up to Christmas each year.

The Baptist Church in town owns one square block of property, just off of main street in Burnet. They took the property and built buildings that resumble the little town of Bethlehem from the time that Christ was born. They recreated a synagogue, a market with actual blacksmiths, leathermakers, carpenters and rug makers, a jail, a tax office staffed by Roman Centurions, and an inn, that surprisingly has no rooms free. Bethlehem is full of livestock including camels, sheep, goats, ducks, and cattle and shepherds who quietly gossip among the shopkeepers and patrons in town about a miracle that has taken place near the corner of the recreated town, beneath a bright star.

In that corner, you find a young married couple, in a cave, surrounded by livestock, holding an infant trying to keep warm. The only way to see this live nativity scene is to bow down low and peek into the opening of the cave. The imagery of this scene is spectacular as the the only way to truly see Christ is to humble yourself and bow your head low.

The Main Street Bethlehem exhibit is now closed until December 2009, but if you are in Central Texas next Christmas, I urge you to take a scenic drive to the little town of Burnet to get a quick glimpse into the little town of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The experience is truly humbling.

(PS from Michele - We went to the exhibit in December 2008 with our small group from Grace Covenant. It was a great experience to share with friends and we encourage you to think about gathering your friends and going in 2009. Afterward, we had dinner at Jim's in Austin, up on 183 and Balcones Woods - great southern comfort food!!)