Christmas skits

Sunday School Christmas Program

When I was growing up our church only had a handful of Sunday School students and when it was time for the Christmas Program all were assured of receiving either a Bible verse, song, poem or a part in the little traditional Christmas play. My sisters, brothers and I would get short Christmas pieces the Sunday after Thanksgiving and would faithfully rehearse them every night.

As the December Sundays rolled along there was discussion by the church ladies about the costumes for the children in the play. Usually one or two ladies would offer bathrobes of different sizes for the shepherds and Wise men. One or two creative mothers would make lamb costumes for the the tiny children who played the part of the sheep.

Finally the night arrived for the Big Program and my sisters, brothers and I were all on "pins and needles" Parents and students arrived long before the program and those in the play would gt ready.

Some of the little shepherds would roll up the bathrobe sleeves and try to gather up the extra fullness in with tight belts. The minister would help the three gangly pre-teen boys who were the Wise men put on their bathrobes and paper crowns with sparkly jewels. Several mothers would dress the little girls in white bed sheets, add some paper wings and a silver halo of Christmas tree rope and suddenly they became angels. From somewhere a tiny cradle would appear and be placed in front of the church.

In one corner in front of the church was a tall freshly cut tree glittering with colored lights and under it were mysterious paper bags full of treats. As the minutes passed the church filled to overflowing with parents, grandparents, relatives and church folks. All the twittering children were "sh-ss-ed" and seated in the front pews.

Someone in the back of the church turned off most of the lights, the pianist sat down at the piano and played the prelude. The congregation sang several traditional Christmas songs and then those of us with pieces were introduced one by one. As each of us stood up; suddenly all the friendly faces became strangers, the tiny church grew into a gigantic hall and our bodies didn't seem to belong to us anymore. The steps to the platform became the sides of a mountain. All the well-rehearsed lines flew out of our head, Our voices croaked and quivered but somehow each of us made it to the end of our piece without too much prompting and before we knew it we were back in our seats amidst thunderous applause.

Then came the shepherds, the tiny sheep knelt in the correct spots on the platform, the small angelic angels bowed their heads and folded their hands; the solemn Wisemen stood in the back and a radiant Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus came forward. An adult read the Christmas story and the congregation sang "Silent Night"

For a few minutes we were all caught up in the holy story of Christmas.