The Living

Christmas Tree, produced annually at New Hope Baptist

Church, is no ordinary holiday musical.

With a cast

of 350, a full orchestra, and singing and dancing to

rival the pros at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the

show is a Christmas treat for the senses.

This year's

presentation is no exception. A drama written by Randy

and Julia Jones entitled "A Place You Can Call

Home" will open Thursday at 7 p.m. and play through

Sunday with two matinees on the weekend. Tickets are

free, but are no longer available as the demand has

outnumbered the supply.

Coordinator

for this year's event is Terri Younker, who, along with

minister of worship John Conrad, is running church

members through their rehearsals. Last week, the choirs

led by Conrad practiced downstairs, while set designers

hauled in weighty flats for the play, setting them up

against the partially framed stable. The technical crew,

led by Bill Entrekin, worked on installing microphones

around the towering tree, which will be filled with

singers during the two-hour production.

According

to Younker, plans for the performance began in August

with a Christmas retreat. Rehearsals started in earnest

in September. Every person involved in the mega

production is a member of New Hope Baptist Church, from

the children in the choir, to the adults playing the

leading roles in the play. Even the script was written by

church members, Younker noted. "Months of prayer and

preparation by hundreds of folks have preceded this

event, which involves not only our music ministry but our

entire church family," Conrad said.

The story

is set in 1945. "It's after the war and the soldiers

are coming home to celebrate Christmas. There's a

captain, [played by Joe Stanley] who comes home to his

wife [played by real life wife, Kim]," she

explained. The circumstances that surround his homecoming

and the experiences of a young lieutenant in his search

for a place to call home play out against a background of

swing music, reunions, family and faith.

The

Stanleys are career entertainers who have appeared in USO

shows, theme parks and night clubs around the world. They

now serve as worship associates at New Hope's south

campus at Starr's Mill and maintain a Fayetteville-based

ministry.

The Living

Christmas Tree has become New Hope's annual gift of song

and praise to the community. Now in its 14th year, the

show not only entertains, but focuses the audience's

attention on the "Christ of Christmas."

"For

many, the Living Christmas Tree has been a time of

personal commitment or reaffirmation of the lordship of

Jesus in their lives. As we worship and celebrate

together, we invite you to consider your relationship

with the Christ of Christmas," Conrad added.

The

traditional scene of Jesus, Mary and Joseph at the

manger, surrounded by live animals with a choir of angels

overhead, is followed later by a heart wrenching

crucifixion scene. The song "Mary, Did You

Know?" can wring a tear from the most cynical eye.

Some of the

more familiar songs included in the show are "I'll

Be Home for Christmas," "Chattanooga Choo

Choo," "O Holy Night" and "The First

Noel."

Unused

tickets may be turned in at the church office. To check

on any available seating, phone 770-460-4838.