I loved the kid’s part of church. Sister King (the Pastor’s wife) was in charge of the Christmas Pageant every year. The platform was cleared with everything being put in the choir room. An old graying curtain was hung and only the older kids were allowed to open and close it. All the props were brought down from the attic. The costumes were neat (we used to say neat). Every Sunday school class from teens down had a part. The little kids sang. They waved at their parents, left the stage to find mom, pulled dresses over their heads, sat down, laid down, and giggled. The teachers sang. Adults always thought it was the best part of the program. The production value of that part was very low (just a kids point of view).
I remember when I reached the age that we got to hold cards and speak a couplet from a poem reminding people of the meaning of each of the letters. Most of us had the words printed on the back of the cards. We were told to memorize the part, but most didn’t. I practiced hard every year. Dad saw to it. Only once did I actually remember my lines. I knew then I was not an actor. After a few years of that we graduated to various parts as shepherds, angels, wise men or Mary and Joseph. Some times there was a real baby. That was when someone had just had a baby. When that happened the real mother was at the side of the stage ready to run in and rescue her kid if necessary. The baby usually slept. Only once do I remember the baby cried, but it was just a whimper. It added to the realism, but terrified the little girl playing Mary. She looked to the side looking like. “What do I do now?”
The stars of the play were Mary and Joseph. Everyone wanted those parts. Not me. I liked to be a wise man. They had the best costumes and did the most. Wise men walked down the center aisle carrying gifts and placed them at the manger. We never had to learn lines, just act. I got the role three times. Finally I graduated to being a curtain puller. By that time I was getting tired of the same old play. It wasn’t exactly the same every year, but you know how teenagers are.
I think I liked Sunday school, but I loved Vacation Bible School. At arrival each morning we would line up outside the basement door waiting to start. Before we went in we said the pledge to the American Flag and the Christian Flag. I don’t remember the Christian flag pledge at all.
There was nothing really unusual about the program, singing, crafts and stories. It was the wrap up picnic that we all waited for. Mr. Wagner was a farmer and he brought in his big farm truck with the slated sides and piled all 60-70 of us in the back and drove us to Elmwood Park on the west side of town. The ride was long and a blast. We sang we laughed and we hung on the edges and yelled at cars (nice things I hope). No doubt about it. It would be illegal today. I’m glad that law passed after my time.
I always loved the park. There were many of the old typical church activities. There were ball games, three legged and sack races, balloon tosses and we ended with watermelon. I know I went for the picnic. Most of us did.
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