by the Reverend Tracey Lloyd Smith

ST. LOUIS (Saskatchewan) –

Emmanuel Church of St. Louis, Saskatchewan, is a remarkable place. The community is close-knit and caring – like many of our rural communities in Saskatchewan; everyone knows one another very well and that made it possible for the entire congregation to share in an Instant Christmas Pageant, on Christmas Eve. From tiny tots to grandparents, all shared in the gospel story that night, taken from Luke 2 and Matthew 2.

The priest passed out the reading, with very simple accessories to go along with each group. This took only a couple of minutes. The angel choir received tinsel headbands as halos, the archangel had a surplice she could slip on easily, shepherds had “cloaks” to throw over their shoulders and the kings had crowns (Dollar Store variety, of course), and so on, until every reader was “accessorized.” After all the parts were passed out, the children slipped on their wings or robes and walked up the aisle with the priest, who read the main narration. As they sat on the chancel steps, each group stood in place, reading their part.

This style of pageant worked well in St. Louis for two reasons. There is safety in numbers, first of all. Most of the readers were in groups and had that support. No one needed to “stand out” or feel shy. And second of all, the community knows each other well and did it for the children, to help them hear the real Christmas story.

Afterwards, many parishioners commented to the warden and lay reader, Warren Potter, how much they loved the gospel pageant. The Reverend Tracey Lloyd Smith, Priest-in-Charge, said, “This can only work in a place like St. Louis, Saskatchewan!” To which Mr. Potter grinned and quipped back, “I know EXACTLY what you mean by that, and it’s so true.”

For a copy of the Instant Christmas Pageant, please email Ms. Lloyd Smith at davidandtraceysmith@sasktel.net.