Despite all the holiday hype, toy ads, and excitement, kids at St. John’s Presbyterian Church know Christmas isn’t just about Santa.
As the kids in the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant at the church sang: “Jesus is the reason for the season!”
The annual pageant on Dec. 16 attracted a full house, as parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours came out to watch the young performers in The Christmas Express.
The story? A children’s choir, travelling by train to Bethlehem, Pa., to perform in a Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve, was delayed by snow. Throw in a grumpy millionaire, a homeless person, a kind waitress, and a nativity scene, and the stage was set for a Christmas miracle.
There were lines in the musical by Celeste Clydesdale and Susie Williams that set the audience laughing, songs that filled the church with joy, terrific costumes – including the flock of little lambs from the church’s Sunday school, who joined the older performers on stage. And there was a sense of the true meaning of Christmas.
“Who started that gift-giving thing?” grumbled Theodore Higginsworth III.
“God did,” said the kids. “Jesus is God’s gift to us.”
St. Johns Presbyterian, 2940 Sideroad 10, hosts its Christmas Eve service Dec. 24 at 7 p.m., with carols and readings from the Prophet Isaiah, and music led by singer Judy McCoubrey.