"The more we build the church up in love, the more like our Lord we become."

Ten Days of Bethlehem

Almost a week before the first performance, the setup crew, props committee, and costuming committee get their areas prepared. Groups set aside Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to work. The crew unloads the trailer and delivers everything with trucks to the respective scene areas. Others help the props and costuming committees move all items to the gym area. Everyone can then begin assembling sets and screens. Anything not completed is work for the weekdays and weeknights. Friday, with the final touches, is an important day for volunteers.

Dismantling requires several steps. First, after final prayer at the stable on ARTB Friday, everyone gathers up the props and returns them to the gym. Then, the costuming committee members gather clothing and accessories, put them on the rolling racks and in storage tubs, and return them to the costume room so that the items can be laundered. Prop committee members store items in their storage tubs and cabinets. If necessary, volunteers remove screens to keep them dry before storage. Electrical and lighting crew begin their work which they complete on Monday.

Monday clean-up begins at 7:30 a.m., and ends mid-afternoon with help of many volunteers who bring trucks, hammers, blowers, rakes, brooms, ladders, wheelbarrows, and gloves. Yes, now there is a front-in loader to remove the mulch.