bethlehem walk

another from the series i'm working on from the "prayers and processions"

Just inside a wooden shack, next to the plastic playground, Leah Dickerson, 15, cuddles Jasmine Reyes. Leah's brother, Zach Dickerson, 17, picks up a pacifier and hands it to Jasmine's little sprouts of fingers.
 The siblings play Mary and Joseph - and Jasmine, an African-American girl, plays Jesus Christ - during the Bethlehem Walk at King's Grant Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. It's an unconventional approach to the timeless Christian tradition, but one that draws nothing but admiration by those in attendance.

“I think it's important to share our faith with other people,” said Zack. “Even though it's like a walk-through play, it may change someone's faith in what Christmas really is about. The bible commands us to share our faith with other people and to spread the good news of the gospel, of Jesus.”

This year more than one thousand people walked through the performance, which shows what life was like in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Members from King's Grant and St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church put together the walk-through performance which features dozens of characters, all of which lead up to the main attraction of  Mary, Joseph and Jesus.   “It's an honorable experience,” said Leah. “You have this feeling that people care for you and they want to see baby Jesus and his mother.”

egg nog

photo illustration for a story we did on egg nog

one more sailor

and here's a pic of his after he got home with his wfe and child.

homecoming

we did a story on this sailor who is from kenya and came to america - he's now in the navy and was coming home to see his wife and baby who had just arrived in america. this is moments before he got off the boat.

swimmer portrait

from a recent shoot.

waiting santa

i've started a weekly photo series that takes a look at faith and it's expression in our community. it's called "prayers and processions"

here's the first installment:

A constellation of Christmas lights click and Joe Tursi waits. His hands clasp, except for his thumbs, which part back and forth like wiper blades.

It's a little after 7pm, and no one has come. Yet.

It's been a tough few months for Tursi, a handyman whose work has dropped in the economic downturn. “Mentally I'm keeping faith and hoping things will get better,” said the Virginia Beach resident.

“People have been helping us, and now I'm trying to give back,” remarked Tursi, who decided to dress as Santa. For just two dollars children can get their picture taken with him at his home along Mill Oak Drive. Tursi's pledged to give profits from his venture to St. Mark's Catholic Church. It's his way of giving back.

A few more minutes, Tursi peers outside.

They're here.

Small children gather outside and stare in awe as he steps outside. “They have faith in Santa,” said Tursi. “They believe in him.”

His wife echoes those sentiments and draws a comparison to their belief in Jesus Christ, said Tabatha Tursi. “You know he's going to come one day, like Jesus. We prepare for Santa to come just like we prepare for Jesus.”

i guess naughty

from a photo page i'm doing on santa. went to a local photo studio that was doing photos of santa and locals, and at one point the photographer (not me) asked her to do this.

here's what i'm sure will prove to be an outtake, given the nature of our family newspaper status

thanksgiving servers

folks volunteering their time to serve at a homeless shelter on tday.

newborn

from a story on late-preterm babies we did at the pilot.