"HUSH LITTLE BABY DON'T YOU CRY .....
MOMMA'S GONNA SING YOU A LULLABY"
A TRUE, LIVE NATIVITY STORY....
Once upon a time, not too long ago .....
perhaps it was a long time ago, now that I think about it ....
while sorting through ornaments, holly and wrapping paper, angels and saved Christmas cards,
I remembered a Christmas Pageant celebrated in a picturesque country church in rural Oregon... and how one tiny newborn baby boy showed cold hearts the true meaning of Christmas.
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Pastor's Wife called the meeting to order. "We have to get one important matter settled quickly." she said, peering over the top of spoon shaped glasses at the end of her nose. Her high soprano singing voice served her well to project the seriousness of last minute details for the upcoming Christmas Pageant.
"The angels and shepherds, Mary and Joseph, Wise Men and Narrator have all volunteered," she nodded to her pastor husband when she said Narrator. "With a few exceptions, they are the same volunteers we had last year ."
"But we don't have a baby the right age for Baby Jesus," one woman noted, rising from her seat on the hard wooden pew, a deep scowl etched across on her forehead. "And last year's Jesus is too big, and there's no new ...."
"Oh yes, there is a new baby!" a middle aged woman interrupted, leaning forward and rising from her seat. "My Grandson is just one month old ... perfect age to be baby Jesus." She sat back down and glanced around.
A hush fell over the gathering. Throats cleared, wiggling in seats throughout the audience made it obvious no one was going to immediately second the motion.
Pastor's wife clapped her hands delightedly. Approvingly, she said, "Of course ... he would be perfect!" She raised her hand and said, "I motion that this baby boy will be our infant Jesus in the Christmas Pageant."A number of heads bobbled in agreement ... a few hands went up, but a few hands clasped tighter in laps.
The woman who noted there was no baby to be the infant Jesus in the Nativity scene stood up, the furrows in her brow deepened. She turned around, facing the Grandmother who suggested her newborn Grandson be baby Jesus. A hush fell over the gathering.
"Nothing personal ...." the woman said, gazing intently at the Grandmother. "But under the circumstances of his birth ..... it would not be appropriate he be our Christ Child!" The woman seated beside her nodded her head in stern agreement.
All eyes turned to Pastor's Wife. She pulled herself up straight and tall, all 4 feet 11 inches, squiggled her shoulders, adjusted her glasses, and declared, "This child is perfect to be Baby Jesus in our Christmas Pageant." And when Pastor's Wife made up her mind about something it was settled.
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Last minute details were made during the week prior to the Nativity Pageant; rehearsals and touching up scenery; costumes lengthened to fit taller angels and shepherds; adjustments made for the Wise Men's costumes who had grown pudgier since last year's pageant.
Final dress rehearsal the night before the Christmas Play and all participants were present. Scenery, newly refurbished and in place, as Pastor's Wife stood before the Angels, Wise Men, Shepherds, and Mary and Joseph .
"Remember," she said, "to stand very still behind the sheets in your spot on stage,and don't speak, wiggle, cough, laugh or sneeze. You won't be seen except as silhouettes as Pastor reads the story about the birth of Jesus."
Everyone nodded .... even the tiniest Angel holding the tallest Angel's hand.
"Now let's have one last rehearsal," Pastor's Wife said.
The Nativity participants stood very still while lights dimmed and shifted from one scene to the next. In a strong, clear voice Pastor read the story of Jesus' birth. When it came time in the story for Joseph, Mary and Jesus to be silhouetted with the Angels and Shepherds, Wise Men around them, the tallest Angel asked, "But where is Baby Jesus?'
Pastor's Wife answered, smiling, "Oh, he's at home with his mommy. Probably sound asleep in her arms. He doesn't need to be here tonight for the rehearsal."
____________________________________________________________As the audience filed in, during the last moments before the Pageant was to begin, Baby Boy's Mother was in the foyer alcove nursing him, in preparation for his few minutes of being held in 'Mary's' arms. Baby Boy's Mother changed his diaper, wiped the last bit of milk from his tiny chin, and adjusted his baby jammies which would soon be covered in swaddling clothes.
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Lights dimmed, a hush fell over the audience. The Christmas Pageant was about to begin. All seats in the old church were filled. Candles shone atop the upright piano. Warm winter coats and mittens, scarves were shed and laid across laps and draped over the backs of the pews. Expectantly, the audience waited.
A spotlight shone on Pastor as he read in a strong, clear voice, "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire world, (this was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."
Spotlight dimmed. Hustle and bustle was heard to change to the next scene. The spotlight shone on the silhouetted figures of Mary and Joseph standing over an empty cradle. Mary was seated and Joseph stood alongside Mary, head gazing down at the empty cradle. There was no room for them at the inn, so they found shelter in a stable. Spotlight faded.
Spotlight on once more, shifting to motionless silhouettes of Angels and Shepherds along with plastic sheep, while Pastor's Wife played softly on the upright piano, and Pastor read, "And there were Shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An Angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the Angel said to them ....." The tallest Angel's wings spanning widely behind her, flinched ever so slightly as her right wing began to droop. She reached up to grab it .... but it fell to the stage.
"Stand still," a soft voice was heard in the background, "It's okay ... don't pick it up."
Pastor continued, "... but the Angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Pastor's Wife played "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as the audience joined in. The silhouetted littlest Angel and Shepherds squirmed ever so slightly, but held as still as any little Angels or Shepherds could.
Pastor continued reading, "When the Angels left the and gone into Heaven, (the spotlight left the Angels and shone on the Shepherds) the Shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
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All this time, Baby Boy's Mother and Grandmother were listening carefully for their cue to bring Baby Jesus to the Manger Scene. "That's your cue," whispered Grandmother. Baby Boy's Mother slipped out of the foyer carrying him and dashed alongside the darkened side wall of the church. Once on stage, obscured by the dim lighting, Baby Boy's Mother passed him to 'Mary' and stepped out of sight. Mary sat still in her place with the sleeping baby in her arms.
The spotlight shined brightly onto Mary and Joseph, with Baby Jesus cuddled close to Mary's chest. Three small Shepherds stood motionless beside the family. as Pastor read, "So the Shepherds hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the Shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart ..... " Pastor continued reading as the spotlight now shone on three Wise Men standing beside the Baby's manger bed.
A soft gasp came from the once still audience ..... Baby Boy Jesus began to wiggle. He cood and squirmed. He poked his little fist into the air and brought it back down to his mouth. Soft, lovely baby sucking sounds could be heard.
In the audience, fourth pew from the front, and in front of Baby Boy's Mother and Grandmother, was the one woman and her friend who had voted against this child portraying Baby Jesus in the annual Christmas Pageant. But now they were sniffling and smiling, passing tissues to each other, dabbing at their eyes. This very special Baby Boy brought to life for them the Christ Child's peace and love, acceptance and forgiveness to the world ... and most importantly, to once cold hearts in this small country church.
"Oh look," one of the women said, nudging her friend and pointing toward the stage. Mary could be seen silhouetted, lifting Baby Boy Jesus closer to her face while he made soft sounds that babies make when they're content. And just then, Mary slowly, gently rocked back and forth as Mothers do when comforting a baby. And he was quiet.
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The church lights blinked on, chasing away dark shadows in the recesses of the old church. The audience clapped and Pastor's Wife swept her hand toward the stage. Angels bowed, sending one halo falling to the stage. Big Angel lifted her wing and cradled it toward her. Mary and Joseph beamed while Jesus sucked on his fist. One Little Shepherd picked up the plastic sheep, and a pudgy Wise Man tugged at his robe. Clapping resounded throughout the church. Mommies and Daddies waved at their little Angels and Shepherds.
Pastor's Wife sat down once again at the piano and began to play and sing, "Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright ....."
And Baby Boy's Mother, singing along in her beautiful voice, pondered all these things in her heart.
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May this Christmas Season bring you Joy, Peace and Love as happened when the first Christmas Babe came into the world.
