Community Church Children's Holiday Pageant 2024
"Jesus, the Refugee"
Sign-Up Form
This year’s pageant was first written and performed in 2018. That was the year in which the performance was delayed 2 weeks because of a snowstorm! As for the story of the pageant, it will begin where most previous ones ended: at the birth of the Baby Jesus. We will follow the events that occurred after that night in Bethlehem, centering on the flight into Egypt, and ending with the Holy Family back at home in Nazareth.
With so many current refugees all over the world, including the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central and South America, it’s a good time to remember that Mary, Joseph and Jesus were also refugees, forced by Herod’s decree to leave their home and seek asylum in Egypt. And they faced many of the same hardships and challenges. As Pope Francis said in his Christmas Eve sermon in December of 2017, “So many footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary. We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones. In many cases, this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future; yet for many others, this departure can only have one name: survival. Surviving the Herods of today.” He goes on to say that “Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity.”
As you can see from the cast list, we will follow the Holy Family, along with their Nursemaid, Salome, on their journey. After a scene in the court of King Herod and their encounter with the three Magi, they begin their journey on the advice of an Angel. Along the way they encounter robbers, hostile townspeople who mistrust them, others who welcome and care for them, sailors on the Nile river, a magical palm tree, a cave full or dragons, and, after taking up temporary residence in Egypt, a teacher who ends up learning a lesson from Jesus. Finally another Angel appears to Joseph to tell them they are safe to return, and they journey home, met by their friends and neighbors back in Nazareth.
As usual, the pageant will be created especially for the children of the congregation, and will include original songs, dances, and plenty of acting opportunities for everyone who chooses to be involved.
Preliminary rehearsals will begin the week of December 2, with fuller rehearsals starting on Saturday, December 7. The pageant itself will be presented at both services on Sunday, December 15.
Rehearsals will take place mostly on weekends, and weekday afternoons and early evenings, with the exact schedule created around the availability of the participants. The only is exception is for the Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, December 14, from 12:30-4:30pm, which will require the entire cast to be present for a good portion of that time.
Please fill out the Sign-Up Form below to request that your child be a part of the pageant. Scripts and sheet music will be made available early next week (Dec. 2-6).
Thanks,
Glenn
Glenn Mehrbach
Pageant Director
With so many current refugees all over the world, including the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central and South America, it’s a good time to remember that Mary, Joseph and Jesus were also refugees, forced by Herod’s decree to leave their home and seek asylum in Egypt. And they faced many of the same hardships and challenges. As Pope Francis said in his Christmas Eve sermon in December of 2017, “So many footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary. We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away but, driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones. In many cases, this departure is filled with hope, hope for the future; yet for many others, this departure can only have one name: survival. Surviving the Herods of today.” He goes on to say that “Christmas is a time for turning the power of fear into the power of charity.”
As you can see from the cast list, we will follow the Holy Family, along with their Nursemaid, Salome, on their journey. After a scene in the court of King Herod and their encounter with the three Magi, they begin their journey on the advice of an Angel. Along the way they encounter robbers, hostile townspeople who mistrust them, others who welcome and care for them, sailors on the Nile river, a magical palm tree, a cave full or dragons, and, after taking up temporary residence in Egypt, a teacher who ends up learning a lesson from Jesus. Finally another Angel appears to Joseph to tell them they are safe to return, and they journey home, met by their friends and neighbors back in Nazareth.
As usual, the pageant will be created especially for the children of the congregation, and will include original songs, dances, and plenty of acting opportunities for everyone who chooses to be involved.
Preliminary rehearsals will begin the week of December 2, with fuller rehearsals starting on Saturday, December 7. The pageant itself will be presented at both services on Sunday, December 15.
Rehearsals will take place mostly on weekends, and weekday afternoons and early evenings, with the exact schedule created around the availability of the participants. The only is exception is for the Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, December 14, from 12:30-4:30pm, which will require the entire cast to be present for a good portion of that time.
Please fill out the Sign-Up Form below to request that your child be a part of the pageant. Scripts and sheet music will be made available early next week (Dec. 2-6).
Thanks,
Glenn
Glenn Mehrbach
Pageant Director
CAST OF CHARACTERS
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