Christmas Pageant 2005

page two

Christmas Eve day dawned with warmer weather than we'd had for a few weeks, and the cast gathered at the church at 10 AM for a final rehearsal.  Here are a few pictures: (remember to click on any of the pictures to see a larger version!)

With rehearsal over, and the smaller kids going home for lunch and a nap before the performance, Rachel helped the Rector get the hymn board ready for the Pageant itself:

Offstage some drama was occurring too.  We had started the day with a real, live Baby Jesus and no fewer that two understudies for the role.  In the space of no more than two hours, we found ourselves with none, due to the ailments to which babies are subject.  It's almost a matter of pride that, despite the small size of our parish, we have a live baby for pageant.  What to do? 

Would Trinity's tradition of a live baby finally end?  Would Angel Gabriel have to hand a doll (dressed in swaddling clothes, of course) to Mary?

The answer was no!  We are truly grateful to Genevieve Kohn (and to her parents, of course) for her appearance as Baby Jesus. 

It was time to get ready for the real pageant:

Getting the small angels ready	The arrival of the baby who would play Jesus was noted appreciatively	Two of the animals arrived, with parents and grandmother	The Angel Narrator was ready
Two more small angels ready!	The small angels discover the heat vent in the crossing	Another animal arrives

We try to hold a "photo op" before the Pageant itself, and this year the players got excellent paparazzi training -- but they were more than equal to the challenge.  There is no single official "cast picture" this year because with a cast this size it's almost impossible to capture every player at his or her best.

Cast photo, attempt #1	Attempt #2	Attempt #3	Attempt #4
Attempt #5	Just the small angels, this time	More small angels

It was finally time for the Pageant to proceed:

The Annunciation	An Angel speaks to Joseph in a dream	Reading the Gospel	Baby Jesus!
Pageant continues	The animals and the smaller angels can get a little restless	The Angel Narrator during one of the hymns	The shepherds have arrived.

...and then the Pageant was over.  The Rector asked for (and received) applause for the cast, and a special thank-you to Genevieve for standing in as the Baby Jesus.  The Rector invited the cast to join her at the Altar for celebration of the Holy Eucharist, and, as they say in sportscasting, Pageant 2005 was one for the history books.

Except for one thing!  This year, we're going to present part 2 of the pageant, the arrival of the Magi!  That's set for Sunday, January 1.  We'll bring you pictures of that pantomime too!  Be sure to check back.

to return to Pageant 2005 page 1!

to see our pantomime of the Visitation of the Magi

to return to our main Christmas Pageant page

to return to our Sunday School page