Christmas Pageant Information

It’s time to get ready for the 2018 Christmas Pageant! This rich and favored tradition is in its 99th year! We invite you to register your child/children to participate in this year’s pageant. 

Each year the service is held on Christmas Eve in the Sanctuary. The young people of our church perform the traditional story in tableau form with our co-ministers, Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs, narrating. Whether you are new to Unity Church or you have been around for many years, we hope that your child will want to participate in this meaningful and joyous event!

Registration is easy!

1. Fill out the online form at right. Registration deadline is December 4.
2. Questions? Email kelleyloughrey@comcast.net or call/text Kelley at 763-607-7520.

The cast list will be posted online by December 11, including Children’s Choir.

IMPORTANT FOR PAGEANT and CHOIR: If your child is in the Pageant Children's Choir, we need them to be at the choir rehearsal on Sunday, December 16 (Children's Choir participants do not need to attend the December 22 rehearsal). If your child is in the Pageant, they must be at rehearsal on Saturday, December 22, and both Pageant performances on December 24. Participants must be available the entire time and ON TIME. 

PAGEANT COSTUME FITTING
When: Sunday, December 16
Time: 10:15-11:15 a.m. and 5:45- 6:15 p.m. ONLY.
Where: Lower level by Nursery & COA rooms.
The costume crew will be available to help cast members try on their costumes between/before/after the services. Please plan to stay late or arrive early that day. There are no other “fitting times” and costumes remain at church.  No costume fittings needed for Children’s Choir participants.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR REHEARSAL (Open to all 3-6 grade children)
When: Sunday, December 16
Time: 10:15– 11:00 a.m.
Where: Foote Room (Kathleen Radspinner, Director)

ADULT CHOIR REHEARSAL (Open to all adults)
When: Sunday, December 16
Time: 10:15- 11:00 a.m.
Where: Choir Room 

Pageant Choir Songs

• O’Come O’Come Emmanuel (adult/children at beginning)
• Lo How A Rose E’ve Blooming (Adult)
• In the Lonely Midnight (Adult)
• Glory be to God on High (Both)
• Angels We Have Heard on High (Both)
• O Little Town of Bethlehem (Children)
• The First Noel (Children)
• Max’s Lullaby (Adult)
• We Three Kings (Adult)
• O Come All Ye Faithful (Both)
• Joy to the World (Both)
• Seven Fold Amen (Adult)

PAGEANT REHEARSAL
When: Saturday, December 22
Time: 1:00– 4:00 p.m., check in begins at 12: 45 p.m.
Where: Parish Hall 
One parent per family is required to attend and volunteer during this time. We will follow a tight schedule. Families with children in the children's choir do not need to attend this rehearsal.

12:45-1:00 p.m. -- Check-in, Parish Hall, parent assignments are posted
1:00-1:15 p.m. – Welcome and pageant intro in the Sanctuary
1:15-2:15 p.m. -- First rehearsal, no costumes and Lead Parents will coach on parent volunteer roles
2:15-2:45 p.m. -- Costumes on, photos taken in Sanctuary
2:45-3:45 p.m. -- Second rehearsal w/costume
3:45-4:00 p.m. -- Wrap-up, Sanctuary

We will meet in the Sanctuary and review the rehearsal plan. We will practice once without costumes, then once with costumes. In between, the pageant photographs are taken. It is at this time (approximately 2:15-2:45) that parents are encouraged to take photos. There are no photos or videos allowed during the actual pageant.  Please make sure to feed your child before the rehearsal, as we will be rehearsing in costume, there is no eating during rehearsal.  No snacks please.

Please note that one parent from each family is expected to stay for the entire rehearsal on December 22, and one parent from each family is expected to volunteer for one of the performances on December 24. We need your help to supervise cast rooms, assist with costume changes, and help with other behind the scenes tasks.

CHRISTMAS EVE PERFORMANCES
All cast members are to be at the church at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, December 24. The pageant services begin at 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.  Each service lasts about 40 minutes.  Plan to arrive early for parking, etc. You can take photos with your family and child in costume - downstairs - after the second service and then help them clean up. Pageant photos will be available online to all participants.

PAGEANT  ROLES
The Pageant Children’s Choir is specifically for our children in grades 3-6 and this is the only role option for this age group.

We ask everyone to select a first and second choice for all roles. For your second choice, please select a DIFFERENT role than your first choice (i.e. acolyte or shepherd, angel or king, page or heavenly host):

• Mary – Must be 12th grade only and this is a gender specific role
• Joseph - Must be 12th grade only and this is a gender specific role
• Angels (3 needed) – 10, 11, 12th grade and please specify choices as 1st, 2nd, 3rd • Blue (Gabriel), White (walks with Heavenly Hosts), Pink (brings out Cherubs) • Your second choice must be a different role.
• Kings (3 needed) – 10, 11, 12th grade and please specify choices as 1st, 2nd, 3rd • Red (1st to walk), Green (2nd), Purple (3rd) • Your second choice must be a different role.
• Big Shepherds (18 available) – 7-12th grade
• Acolytes (18 available) – 7-12th grade
• Little Shepherds (3 needed, up to 5) – 1st & 2nd grade
• Heavenly Hosts (18 desired) – K, 1st & 2nd grade
• Kings Pages (4 minimum, up to 6) – 1st & 2nd grade
• Cherubs (no registration) – these roles are selected by Kelley and KP as they involve younger children
• Runners/Prompters (4-6 needed) –at least 6th grade

PARENT ROLES
Parents must register for a volunteer role when you register your child.

• Chaperone cast rooms (2 per room minimum required)
• Costume ironing: (We always need to iron costumes during the first rehearsal.  Some may need slight mending/hemming). If you can bring an iron and/or board on December 22, please do! Thank you!
• Light Assistance* (there is a core team, need 1 or 2 additional)
• Prompters* (must have 2, prefer to have the same 2 people for both performances, critical role for the pageant and timing)
• Greeters (6 needed for each service, stationed throughout the church, before each service)
• Ushers* (6 needed for each service, head ushers will also assist with collections during pageant)
• Nursery care (will ask families to pre-sign up for nursery care)
• Parent Chairs (Mary and Joseph parents): Assist director with parent check-in and training for ushers, room chaperones, prompters and greeters
• ​Post pageant Clean-up -- everyone helps -- we need a lead coordinator
• Room Clean-up: One person responsible for ensuring rooms are cleaned both days

*These are key roles to pageant.  If you had this job in a previous year, and you are available to “train” someone this year, please let Kelley know.