Sunday, December 16, 2007

On Real Meanings

Went to my darling niece's Sunday School Christmas program this evening (no, not that niece, rather her younger cousin). Are all pre-packaged children's Christmas programs like this? I guess so. My mom has despaired of finding a decent program for their church's youth, commenting on how they're all the same sentimental message about the "real meaning of Christmas" without ever delving into that meaning to any depth at all. The irony is that a 30-minute program on the "real meaning of Christmas" ends up devoting all of 45 seconds to Christ. And in the meantime, we get to sit through all the kids. who. are. reading. their. lines. for. the. first. time. along with thekidswhocanmemorizebutneedsomeworkontheirelocution and the kids ... who thought they knew who thought they knew their lines but ... just need just need a little reminder. My vote? Stick to the script. Let the kids rattle it off in charmingly memorized unison, let the shepherds hit each other with their staffs, let the angels squirm in their itchy tinsel wings, and let us all be done with it. And maybe, just maybe, let the Gospel be preached to all those parents who haven't been in church since Easter. All the rest is just trying my patience.

5 comments:

Elephantschild said...

Seriously, there's nothing more adorable than small children reciting Luke 2.

Except perhaps a small child making the sign of the cross over herself.

Rebekah said...

Here's what we use in these promiscuous parts:

http://www.pax-domini.com/

Much more affordable than CPH products, and theologically reliable. Don't worry, the performance will still be nostalgically terrible.

Bi-Coloured-Python-Rock-Snake said...

Thanks, I'll pass this on to my Mom, maybe she'll be able to get it past those who are so unfortunately convinced a Christmas program has to be "cool", whatever that means.

Jane said...

I'll send elephants child a copy of the one we use at Redeemer in Fort Wayne and she can pass it on. It is old, basic, and oh-so-wonderful. My kids have been in lots of Christmas programs. This is by far the best.

Rebekah said...

The need for coolness is hard to get around. There are certainly hearts that sink around here when they see another kids' thing come through with a gothic-looking font or iconish illustrations. We all know that children implicitly hate and don't understand anything that isn't designed to require them to act stupid.