Twas The Night Of The Christmas Play...

Twas the night of the Christmas Play,
And all through the church,
People were scurrying.

The atmosphere was charged,
With nervous twitter,
And all on the verge,
Eagerly waiting,
A message to urge...

    It is our annual Christmas Program, "A Night In Bethlehem".  Because of the snow and traveling, we hadn't been able to have a real practice until only three nights before the opening.

    Somehow, we practiced our lines, cleaned the church, and set up the background.  We were exhausted, but more than ready to perform.  We prayed and donned our costumes, and then it was time!

    My Sunday School class were first up to recite a poem that they had learned in Sunday School.  I had a time making sure they were all lined up in the order they were suppose to be in, with shoes and socks on, and smiles on their faces.  I promised to reward them with chocolate chips if they did well.  The cue came, and they filed down the aisle with perfect precision, lining up in the order I instructed them.  Periodically glancing at the audience, but mostly fixed on me, they recited, "What can I give Him?"  The audience applauded.

    They filed off the stage and into the back room, where they promptly requested their chocolate chips.  Happy with their reward, we helped them change into their costumes and had a brief moment of panic when two of the angel's wings could not be found.  After a frenzied search we located them and slipped them on the children.

    The women at the well began their scene, and it flew by quickly!  They were soon coming back from the stage and preparing for the next scene.  We had the shepherds, with the cute little lambs leaping up the steps and "bawwing" as loudly as they could, oblivious to the trail of cotton balls left behind.  One little lamb became nervous, and at the threshold refused entrance.  A shepherd came to the rescue as he none too gently hiked the reluctant lamb under his arm and hobbled to the front where the rest were waiting for him.

    A roman soldier accosted one shepherd on his way to tell his friends the good news, but was quickly bribed.  The angels came and sang sweetly, twirling their candles as they sang "Peace on earth!".

    The wisemen were next, and the two servant (one of which, I was).  We set up the scene and I said my lines, trying not to stumble over them in my nervousness.  We left the scene, forgetting to change the props and having to hastily remove them during a special.

    One by the one, the scenes were played until we went up for the final entrance in which Brother Branham spoke about the "Great Deliver".

    The audience was blessed that night, as they laughed, cried, and enjoyed each piece.  I was grateful to have our young brother in the AV room who worked tirelessly putting all the audio, videos, sound effects, and music up for each cue.  The older youth really helped keep the younger ones from getting too excited and loud.

    Despite their nervousness, everyone did their best on whatever lines or songs they were suppose to have memorized.  There were some near disasters, that we just managed to avoid, including knocking down a whole house. Hehe.  Oops.

    It was an eventful night, full of blessings and fellowship.  Though we left exhausted, we felt that we were able to show others, what the true meaning of Christmas was.  Jesus, coming to earth in a manger, to begin a journey that would lead Him to His death, and forgiveness for us all.

      God bless you and I pray you had a blessed Christmas, and that God will continue to bless you in the coming year.  Lord willing, "A Night In Bethlehem" will take place in December of 2016 with renewed vigor and better pictures.  I have uploaded more pictures of Google + and a few pictures of our rehearsals (videos are coming soon).  Please enjoy, and thank you for reading.