Description
It is census time in Bethlehem. Emperor Augustus Caesar has decreed that all must be counted in the city of their birth, which creates a range of emotions as people flock to the hometown of King David. Bethlehem has become a very busy place, as the local people of the town are forced to interact with the onslaught of visitors, but also the arrogant Roman officials responsible for the count.
The kids of Bethlehem love their town, and all the people in it. Young Titus has just been through a harrowing experience delivering a census letter to Simon the shepherd, but he is not going to let his unimpressed sister Ebony or the doting Eve know it. Keen to impress Eve with his courage, he leads the three town kids into the dirty stable behind the Bethlehem Inn, after being challenged by Ebony.
Tabitha and her husband own the Bethlehem Inn, which is filled to capacity during the census period. But despite her busyness, she too is forced to conform to the endless, meaningless questioning by the census authorities keen to extract as much information from their subjects as possible – which she handles with a feisty confidence. Some might call her nosey, but Tabitha just has a deep yearning to learn of people’s stories and where their life journeys have led. She is captivated by the young couple who have travelled the hard road from Nazareth and are being harassed by Magnus the census official, which leads her to offer them a place to stay, despite her Inn being full.
Simon the shepherd is tired, weary and frustrated. His whole life he has spent studying the writings of the prophets of old and believing that before he died he would get to see the Promised Messiah. Not only would he get to see him – he believed he deserved it because of the dedicated life he had led. But, life was passing him by and there wasn’t even the slightest sign, and he has become very disillusioned. He deserved better. His life now involved mentoring a younger group of shepherds, who had no idea of the prophesy fulfilment Simon so richly cherished. Jeremiah has just come back from the city with a young lady called Lily, on her first ever venture outside of the big smoke of Jerusalem, and is looking to introduce her to his fellow shepherds and the charms of living the country life. However, his shepherding mate Jethro is more interested in getting his sheep dip mixture to the right consistency before heading out on a big date night.
And then, they experience the encounter, each in their own way – and life will never be the same again.
Each person has their own story. All will experience their own encounter.
