Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2003

Beauty of a pageant
A new generation tells the ancient story

by Jamie Schuman

The full cast of the First Congregational Church's annual Christmas pageant rehearsed together only once -- for about 45 minutes a week before show time.

Franzi Mayer (Mary) and George Kadifa (Joseph) sing a duet during the Dec. 12 performance of the Christmas Pageant

But the nearly 350 congregation members, friends and relatives who packed the church at its Dec. 12 services had no reason to assume that the young stars' practice time was so limited. From the moment the line of children marched into the church in their brightly colored costumes to the last note of the final, catchy choral number, the production was seamless. The 30-minute show was hip, lively and professional, and a sure highlight to the Christmas season for many churchgoers.

Young members of the First Congregational Church in Palo Alto have dramatized the story of the birth of Christ each year since not long after the church was founded in 1900, said the Rev. David Howell, who is the church's education minister and pageant director.

Brooke Weller (front), Charlotte Kadifa, Annamarie Wire, and Claire Eberhart (back row) perform during the First Congregational Church Christmas Pageant Sunday, Dec.12.

The annual, song-and-dance-filled production is always a thrill for congregation members.

"We have people who make sure they never miss the Christmas pageant," Howell said. "We had people who said it just makes their Christmas."

On non-pageant days, the church's Sunday service draws about 250 attendees. But pageant day brought in 100 more people than normal -- many of them proud relatives who stood in the aisles snapping pictures of the singing children.

This year, about 75 children performed in the pageant. The youngest cast members -- who served as angels and dancing sheep -- were not yet in pre-school, while the oldest were in eighth grade.

Michaela Fogarty (winking), Jane Robert and Brooke Weller rehearse a song.

Jane Robertson, Brooke Weller, Ellie Jeffries and Grace Johnson wait for rehearsal to start

Parents do some front-pew coaching during a Dec. 5 rehearsal.

Rev. David Howell coaches Zachary Weiss while mom Pamela and sister Zoe offer encouragement.

George Kadifa, who plays Joseph in the pageant, shares a laugh with the director, Rev. David Howell.

Charlotte Kadifa, Annamarie Wire, Claire Eberhart, Abby Howell, Zoe Weiss and Ellie Jeffries proclaim Christ’s birth in Bethlehem during the Sunday play.

Many of the costumes were older than the participants. Howell said some of the outfits were from the late 1970s but others were from last spring.

When angels appear to announce Christ’s birth, shepherds Nathan Saul and Simon Wood react.

The show - part dramatic reading and part musical - featured a series of original songs, such as the catchy "Baa Baa Bop."

For a casting call, the church invited all of its young members, along with friends and family, to come out. Anyone who wanted a solo or speaking part received one, and those actors had one extra rehearsal. The other actors joined the chorus.

"People love it," Howell said. "People always enjoy the little things that go along with the Christmas pageant too -- all the mishaps and those little things."