Christmas Pageants for Busy Schedules
November - December 2008
Most people remember the Charlie Brown Christmas special; even today’s young children know that story. Those raised in the Church most likely remember their own experiences with Christmas pageants.
Way back in 1965 Charlie Brown complained about the overwhelming materialism he saw during the Christmas season. Upon Lucy’s suggestion, as his five-cent psychologist, he became the director of the school Christmas pageant — and everything that could go wrong did, and the pageant participants couldn’t keep their minds on the script.
Times really haven’t changed so much since 1965. Advent is still the busiest time of the year, there is a lot of materialism, and it’s hard to get pageant participants to pay attention at rehearsals. That’s why the Rev. John Trump, who has an MFA in playwriting from Columbia University, has written pageants using the following approach:
- Everyone should enjoy themselves
- The season is busy; therefore, practices must be kept to a minimum
- The pageant should be first and foremost for the children, but adults also want to tell and hear the story
- The pageant must be of sound theology
- Sets, lights and costumes should be kept to a bare minimum
- Whenever possible, the congregation should have the chance to participate.
Trump is pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Columbia, S.C. Check out his Christmas pageants at: www.faithdrama.com, which also offers Lenten drams, historical dramas, topical dramas, general liturgical dramas and liturgical resources. Pricing varies.