Christmas Pageant 2014
Christmas Pageant “Nativity Scene”
In the midst of getting
my Shop’s ready for Christmas, filling Custom Orders, etc., my main goal during
the Christmas Holiday, is the preparation of our annual Christmas Pageant in
our Parish Church. This year marks my 25th year of organizing the Pageant,
which started when my boys were very young. In the beginning we would
average about 15 children participating in the Pageant.
 |
| Baby Jesus |
Angels
Since that time, we have
now grown to 70 children. This year we had 27 little Angels, as well
as our group of Little Shepherds. The planning of our Pageant begins in early November
and by the beginning of December, our little Committee of 3, my daughter, Kelly
Baker-Wolfe, Jan DeLeo, and myself, start assigning the parts. The
children range in age from 3 to 12. I should add that the youngest was 5 mo, playing the part of Baby Jesus (we always have a real baby!). The older children are given the
main parts of Mary, Joseph, the Angel Gabriel, Wisemen, led by the Star Angels
guiding their way while carrying the “Star” they follow. Something our little
Angels and Shepherds look forward to as they progress from year to
year. Once the parts have been assigned, without hurt feelings, and
the comments from a few of the parents, who want their child to have one of the
“main” parts, the Practices begin!
Shepherds
The past
few years, I have turned the Directing over to my daughter Kelly, while I
concentrate on getting all the costumes ready for the children, making a few
alterations here and there. This year with so many little Angels, I had to
quickly order new Angels Costumes for our “main Angels”. It is
amazing to see how well Kelly works with the children - by the end of the first
practice, all the children know exactly what to do, where to stand, and all
their cues.
 |
| Wisemen |
 |
| Star Angels |
The
success of the Pageant is well noted as the Narrators (children grades 5-7)
begin to tell the story of the Nativity, and you look at the smiles on the
faces of each parent. Although our little angels, who range in age from age 4 -
7, completely steal the show; along with our little shepherds of the same age
group, the other children are so professional, as they kneel so reverently
portraying, Mary and Jesus from the time they are approached by the Angel
Gabriel, to the birth of Jesus, and the arrival of the Wisemen. Our
youngest participant this year was just 5 mos. old, playing the "Infant
Jesus”, love the little Bonnet on the Baby with the pacifier in her mouth.
Although
our little angels, who I said were only 3 and 4 years old, completely steal the
show; the other children are so professional, while they kneel so
reverently as they portray, Mary and Joseph, from the time they are approached
by the Angel Gabriel, to the birth of Jesus, and the arrival of The Three
Wisemen.
The final
scene begins with the Children’s Choir singing “The Little Drummer Boy” (this
year we had 2 Drummer girls, and one little Drummer Boy all just 4 yrs. of
age. They walk so very slowly down the
center aisle playing their drums while the choir sings. The Little
Drummer with the hat is my grandson, Zachary. The most adorable thing is not
only watching them, but watching the little Angels singing their hearts out -
pa rum pum pum pum, I could continue talking about the beauty of the children
in the Pageant, but the pictures tell it all.
.jpg)
Group Shot of the Pageant Children
A lot of
the credit goes not just to the Director, but to the small group of parents, as
well as a few students, two of whom, Olivia and Alyssa, who both portrayed Mary
a few years ago; who dedicate their time each year helping with the Pageant.
They each automatically assume the various jobs that they have taken over
each year; assembling the little Angels, Shepherds, and Wisemen, as well as the
Drummer Boy’s and Girl. It is this team work that makes this so successful.
I hope
you enjoy looking at the pictures, visualizing each child in their part; as
much as I enjoy working with these little ones, while already thinking ahead of
next year’s Pageant!
 |
| Zachary - Little Shepherd - Age 3 |
Although I am the
Coordinator, I am also a proud “Grandma” who has watched little Zachary start
at age 2 mos., as “Baby Jesus, only to graduate to a Shepherd at age 2 -3 then
the “Little Drummer Boy”!
.jpg) |
| Zachary.Drummer Boy- age 4 |
 |
| Zachary.Baby Jesus 2 mo |
