The Christmas Program

Tonight was the church Christmas Program, Sofi's first. She wore a halo and a cute little white robe and stood hanging on the altar (as she had been specifically asked NOT to do) just staring at all of the people staring at her. Which is actually not so bad for her age, At least I did not see her pick her nose or poke her neighbor or lay down on the floor (oh wait, she did do that during rehearsal this morning).

I (Mary) am involved with the church Christmas program teaching the songs and helping to get the kids to do what the paper says they should do. It is a bit like herding cats but harder mainly because everyone is watching you try to do it. Also it's their little darling that you need to coerce into doing something they don't see a need to do, and you must do the coercing extremely kindly and sweetly, even when you feel like just hog-tying the child and propping him up against the pulpit.

Parents love it. If not for the beautiful time tested story, or the cute costumes, then just for the hilarity of watching it all. Tonight I overheard the spectacle being compared to a movie. Hmmmm perhaps something by Mel Brooks along the line of "Airplane". The rehearsal room before the show closely resembles the set, almost as if someone cued the little boys with fake swords chasing each other around the piano or the little girls in angel wings running and screaming their heads off. The kids were literally bouncing off the walls in their excitement. I believe it was physically impossible for them to stand still and be quiet, so singing a calm melody and inviting them all to join in was my only ticket to sanity.

Ah the Christmas Story. I'm sure it's always been exciting, "Did you hear?! They say a king is born! A King! In our town! Can you believe it?!" Perhaps people were bouncing off the walls and crowding in that little cave to visit the baby and see what all the fuss was about that night too. Sharing stories and gossip, gawking and dreaming of what this might mean. After all it was pretty busy in Bethlehem that night...and I imagine poor Mary just needing to rest!

We all need a rest after tonights re-enactment of the spectacle of that miracle.

Visit Flickr for a few more non-family photos of the Christmas worship service.