The Christmas Play

 

Ingredients for a great group shot: a stage, a balcony, and a Heidi on a cell phone moving sheep! 

WOO HOO!

This year’s group shot taken a half hour before the Christmas pageant was a huge success! Wait till you see the big print at church on Sunday!

Huge thanks to Heidi, who was arranging people via cell phone, and to all those perfectly blending adult shepherds in the shot (can you spot them?) who were helping position people, and to all those wonderful children in all those adorable costumes.

Also, thanks to Gabe and Mike, who were shining spotlights on the edges to beef up the light on those shadowy sides that always fall away in my photographs.

And then there’s the fact that I have a super nice camera that can handle the depth of field needed to capture this shot without the use of any special camera lights. (No time to set up lights!)

One more group to thank: all the parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors in the congregation who were so helpful in letting us get this shot quickly by being quiet and by not flashing their own cameras while I was trying to get my shot. In retrospect, I think it’s really quite amazing that every person is looking at the camera, smiling, nobody is blinking, and as far as I can tell, I can see everyone’s entire face! That combination of things is nearly impossible in a group shot with over a hundred people, several of them under the age of 6.

I know it’s hard for you to see the details in this tiny blog size picture, so be sure to look for the giant print I’ll have in the narthex next time you come to church! Thank you one and all!

Below, a few more highlights. For more pictures, check out my Facebook page!

 

Big special thanks to our Holy Family! I love this shot. The baby is SO cute!

 

He has the cutest smile!

 

That’s my G-rex! He delivered his line like a PRO! Way to go, shepherd boy!

 

The shepherd staging room actually seemed like controlled chaos this year! Heidi, you are an amazing shepherd leader!

 

I love this shot of Mary and Joseph. They were catching a quiet moment in the “major speaking part” staging room just before our big group shot.

 

The angels were also enjoying quality bonding time as well, and enduring those itchy halos.

 

After the group shot, we all gathered in the chapel to run our lines. The shepherds did such a fantastic job that the rest of the cast applauded them! Go shepherds!

 

One of my favorite things about our little Christmas play is the part where the wise men sing, “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” I think it’s a huge inspiration for the young people to see high school and college men participating as worship leaders.

 

I know it’s not the best angle, but this might be my favorite shot from the whole play. Can’t you just hear the lost sheep “baaa-ing”? I love this picture!

 

The angel Gabriel speaks to Mary.

 

Another angel speaks to Joseph. Nice job on the spotlights!

 

Bradley played the part of the innkeeper who led Mary and Joseph to the stable. In rehearsals, he never delivered his line the same twice, always improvising on the gist of the stable being a warm and safe place to stay. He did an excellent job!

 

Our church is so blessed to have so many volunteers who help pull this service together every year. I love my church family!

 

The angel choir sang beautifully!

 

For the pageant post mortem file — backdrop should be secured so as not to fall on Mary and Jesus. Joseph, I commend thee for smoothly and skillfully saving our savior!

 

This is the part where the shepherds come to see the baby. He was so cute!

 

The wise men did a great job on their solos!

 

With over 100 young people on stage near the end of the service, we’ve learned over the years that a few adult shepherds blend nicely to help keep order.

 

Back in the shepherd room post-play: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

 

And finally, the stage must be disassembled and everything put away before the 11 o’clock service. It’s always a long night, but well worth it. Incidentally, that’s my mom sitting in the pew! Hi mom! This was her first time coming to see our Christmas play. She may be the farthest traveller, having taken a 12-hour train ride to see it! Love you, mom! 

For more pictures from the Christmas play, be sure to check out my Facebook page!