As we have done in previous years, our Heritage Christmas event will invite guests to glimpse into a Christmas past. We will present four historical dramatic sketches in different buildings across our campus, and, over the course of an hour, visitors will progress between these scenes. Each scene features a different set of characters to show how various people faced the circumstances surrounding one particular Christmas Eve.
First produced in 2022, our original program in the Heritage Christmas series is entitled Watchman Tell Us of the Night and is set on Christmas Eve, 1864. Last year, 2024, we introduced the sequel program entitled This Solid Ground which is set on Christmas Eve, 1871. This year, 2025, we are delighted to introduce a new prequel program entitled Rise Up and Follow which is set on Christmas Eve, 1859. All of the programs in this series have been specially written for us by Liz Beachy Hansen.
Rise Up and Follow is set on Christmas Eve, 1859, just before the outbreak of the Civil War. The play follows Brethren and Mennonite families considering what the developing conflict will mean for them and their neighbors. The characters struggle with the problems of slavery, building support of broader faith communities, and rudimentary methods of healing.
The play will be staged December 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st, with showings lasting one hour and starting every 15 minutes from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. The last show will end at 5:30pm. Each showing can accomodate up to ten people at a time, so reservations are required. Please email info@brethrenmennoniteheritage.org or call 540-438-1275 to reserve tickets or for more information. For any reservation, please include a range of available times, the number of people in your group, and contact information in case we need to make changes in the schedule.
Online registration is free, but donations will be taken at the event; our suggested donation is $10 per adult, $5 per student, and children 5 and under free. All proceeds will support the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center.
Many thanks to the business sponsors who have helped make this year’s event possible!
