It’s standing-room-only on Christmas Eve
Every December 24th, crowds amass on the sidewalk, waiting to get in to see nearly 100 children, ages 4 to 14, appear in one of our most beloved worship services, the Christmas Pageant. With two shows – one at 3:30 pm and a repeat performance at 5:00 pm – this pageant, originally conceived by Janet Hayes Walker, has been an essential holiday tradition on the Upper East Side for over 50 years. Admission is free (though we will pass the collection plate!) and there is no charge for children to participate. Sign-up by Wednesday, December 6th. Rehearsals take place Wednesday afternoons in December.
Almost 100 children participate in our Annual Christmas Pageant.
Retelling the Nativity story in scripture and carols, children from the parish and the community sing every role – Mary, Joseph, the Angel Gabriel, the Three Wise Men, and a score of angels, shepherds, heavenly hosts, and tumblers. Teenagers narrate the story from the pulpit; a handful of live animals appear as well. Pageant alumni help with lighting, sound, props, and costumes, and offer helping hands for the littlest performers. Production values are humble – a simple stable backdrop, gold tinsel halos, hand-me-down brocade cloaks and wool tunics – but on the afternoon of performance, they seem wondrously transformed.