THE PAGEANT
'Twas the night before Christmas; that's right, Christmas Eve. The pageant was on and Joseph was played by Steve. And so it goes in countless churches that stage "The Christmas Pageant." I encourage you to seek one out at a church near you.
One thing you may not be aware of are all of the near-disasters involved: Herod in the toilet when his cue went unanswered or the time the rubber "water baby" in the manger shifted, touched the spot light radiating the glory upward, melted and smoked.
The volunteers and staff that say "yes" to producing the spectacle deserve a medal for handling all the dead batteries in flickering candles and wireless microphones, costume malfunctions, loss of wings, unscripted sword play and who can forget the manger sheep that brought her friend with the unicorn costume. "Sure, she can join in too."
We have extra costumes ready for kids who show up and want to take part. It surely takes a sense of humour, but that's not to say we do it because "kids say the darnedest things."
No, we have a Christmas pageant every year because it is the best way we have found to tell the story of Jesus, born of Mary. It is so, well, human. It so beautifully illustrates The Incarnation.
Jesus said, "You must become like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven." Come out in support of any pageant this Christmas where the children are seen and heard. And where you will be blessed by the glorious and human Divine Story.
