‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ to be presented Sunday

Members of First United Methodist Church are presenting the play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at 4 p.m. Sunday at the church, which is located at 115 Third St. SE, next to the Alfred Dickey Library.

The play, written by Barbara Robinson, is provided by publisher Samuel French, Inc. It is a family comedy with a serious message, and will be performed for the audience by children, youth and adult members of the congregation. It is the Christmas story as portrayed in the Bible, but has lessons for kids that add a new angle to the story.

The play is co-directed by two very talented and giving Jamestown community members: Jay Nitschke, who is the Spanish teacher and drama coach at Jamestown High School, and Joanne Ottmar, who is an attorney at Ottmar and Ottmar Law Firm.

Even though the original play was set in the 1970s with clothing typical of that time, the 2012 production Sunday will be current for today. The cast is made up of people from the church including adults, youth and children. The Sunday school children of First Church will play the angel choir and sing Christmas carols during the program as a play within the play.

The Rev. Kenrad Pederson said he wanted to give the community a realistic lesson that has a true-to-life story line.

“My hope is that people will see in our production how Christ’s birth was risky, difficult and even more wonderful,” he said, “than the sweet little story we often remember.”

The gist of the story is the virgin birth, the flight and miracles of that moment, as described in the Gospels. But instead of silent Herdmans standing in awe of the star and angels, these guys are real. They’re ornery brats, who most people would want to sit on and gag, not watch doing something so lovely as the Christmas story.

They are cranky. They are, according to the brochure, “the rottenest, most awful kids in school and in the history of the world.” They steal, smoke cigars, hit and bully, and since the Herdman children have taken over the Christmas pageant, it will be the “the worst Christmas Pageant ever.” Sounds like a lot of fun to me, and an afternoon of life and Bible lessons, and love brought to everyone attending.

Afterward, downstairs in the dining area of the building, there will be a pizza and ice cream social for all who attended the pageant. But, as the Rev. Michelle Brennan said, “No applesauce cake.” Well, that must be because those mean Herdmans stole it and ran.

There will be plenty of refreshments though and a friendly, well-behaved reception after the play. Be sure to bring the family to this free event.

And to complete the loveliness of the season, be sure to drive through Christmas park and enjoy the decorations there as well as downtown. The businesses on Main Street have done a fine job of decorating the buildings for the holidays.

If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.

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