MARS — It takes a village to tell the story of Christmas. And volunteers are working to create one in the basement fellowship hall of St. John Lutheran Church, 420 Beaver St.

Denise Hager of Mars, the church council president and director of the effort, said “Night in Bethlehem” is an interactive Christmas event for families that tells of Jesus' birth during visits to seven stations representing, among others, a wood shop, a pottery shed and a painter's hut.

As visitors make their way through the village, they will explore Bethlehem and learn the story of the Nativity through hands-on experiences.

Hager said, “They will go to the metal shop and take a piece of foil and spell out their name in Hebrew letters. In the painter's shed they will make an ornament.”

“At each stop, they will hear a piece of the story of the birth of Christ,” Hager said.

The tour ends upstairs in the church sanctuary which will hold the manger scene with the Holy Family.

Church member Alaina Nagel of Mars will portray Mary for the final stop of the village tour.

“I volunteered for this. I have some lines to say,” Nagel said.

Fellow church member Matt Claus of Warrendale, will portray Joseph.

“I would say I was asked because I have long hair,” Claus said.

Families, Hagen said, will enter the church's front doors and go down the back stairs to an area where a photographer will take pictures of them before they start the tour.

The hourlong tour is geared toward families, Hagen said.

“It's for anyone from preschool through middle school. It's for families. They will come through as families. That's the big thing, it's a family activity,” she said.

As for the late Saturday morning, early Saturday afternoon time of operation, Hagen said that was also to be more attractive to families.

“We kind of thought there aren't many Saturdays in December,” she said. “People go to Christmas parties at night. We're having it early in the day so people can go shopping later.”

Hagen said she got the idea for the village from e-mails sent to the church's Sunday school program.

“We're always trying to reach out to the community and I thought it would be a good thing to do,” she said.

Volunteer church members have been working since the beginning of November to convert the fellowship hall into a Holy Land village, working on weekends and after church services on Sunday, she said.

Hay bales, wooden animals from the church's outdoor Nativity scene and awnings come together to give the appearance of a village street.

The Rev. Bob Zimmerman said, “Denise and her gang are the ones pulling it all together. I just nod and smile.”

Zimmerman said St. John received a grant from the Southwest Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America to pay for the “village's” construction.

“We are trying something new,” said Zimmerman. “If it works out, we are going to be saving everything for next year, so I hope everything works out.”

Hagen said there is no charge but the church asks those intending to come to “Night in Bethlehem” sign up for the event.

Those intending to come to “Night in Bethlehem” should call the church at 724-625-1830 to register or register online at stjohnchurchmars. org.

WHAT: “Night in Bethlehem” interactive Christmas eventWHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 10WHERE: St. John Lutheran Church, 420 Beaver St., MarsINFORMATION: There is no cost for the event, but registration is requested. Register by calling the church at 724-625-1830 or register online at stjohnchurchmars.org