It’s a Wrap

old movie camera It’s a wrap.

We got Mary and the donkey, some surprised shepherds and even some irate taxpayers in Bethlehem.

There were shepherds and angels romping in the grass,  Roman soldiers wearing aluminum foil armor, and Coco the pony who played the part of the donkey with great finesse.

We were so thankful that the weather held long enough for us to finish all the shots we needed for the Sunday School Christmas video.

This video will be played as a part of our annual Christmas program.  Since our church is so small, we don’t have enough children to have a full choir and a nativity scene – so we tape it ahead of time.

The kids love it – dressing up and acting – then watching themselves later on the big screen at church.

Even though it’s a crazy day herding excited and tired children through the various scenes – I love seeing my ideas come to life.

And I really love when those special “unplanned” moments happen.

Like when the sun shone through the window at just the right angle at just the right moment to look like star light as we filmed the stable scene.

And when the old nail the Roman soldier used to hang up the royal edict on the census reflected on the paper and looked like a cross.

But my favorite part is knowing that the not only am I  forever capturing a moment in our church family – but I am teaching these little ones to give back and to serve.

And that is worth all the effort!

Children’s Christmas Program

Last night I once again directed our church’s annual Children’s Christmas Program.

I love the Christmas Program.

To some it may be just a tradition, but not to me.  To me it’s one of the most important things I do during the Christmas season.

Why would I say that?

It’s not just because the kids are so cute- although they are! Last night the littlest angel refused to go on stage- she wanted to sit in Grandma’s lap instead!

It’s not because it’s the easiest job in the world to corral a group of kids on sugar-overload to remember their lines and sing the right words in tune at the right time. It’s not.

The reason the program is so important to me is simple: “out of the mouth of babes”.

For many the true meaning of Christmas, the message of salvation, is more easily heard when it comes from the mouths of children. People who wouldn’t think of entering the doors of the church will come in to see a little one dressed as a shepherd and saying his part…

“I am just a shepherd boy little Jesus…”

It’s for all those moms and dads and grandpa’s and grandma’s and aunts and uncles and friends in the audience that the Christmas Program is given.

And that makes it all worthwhile!