Unity Church Christmas Pageant
A rich and favored tradition at Unity Church for over 100 years. All children and youth of the church are invited to participate.
2023 Important Pageant Dates
Questions? Please contact Kelley Loughrey at 763-607-7520 (text/call) [email protected].
PAGEANT COSTUME FITTING
Sunday, December 10, 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. | Whitman Lobby, lower level
The costume crew will be available to help cast members try on their costumes after services on December 10. Please plan accordingly, there are no other fitting times and all costumes remain at church. No costume fittings needed for the children’s pageant choir. If you have sewing or costume design talents you are willing to share, please contact Kelley Loughrey.
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT CHOIR: Open to all children, grades 3-6
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 17 | 10:15 a.m. | Choir Room
Pageant Choir Songs:
ADULT PAGEANT CHOIR: Open to all adults
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 17 | 10:15 a.m. | Foote Room
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Rehearsal: Saturday, December 23 | 1:00– 4:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
One adult per family is required to attend and volunteer during rehearsal.
PAGEANT COSTUME FITTING
Sunday, December 10, 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. | Whitman Lobby, lower level
The costume crew will be available to help cast members try on their costumes after services on December 10. Please plan accordingly, there are no other fitting times and all costumes remain at church. No costume fittings needed for the children’s pageant choir. If you have sewing or costume design talents you are willing to share, please contact Kelley Loughrey.
CHILDREN’S PAGEANT CHOIR: Open to all children, grades 3-6
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 17 | 10:15 a.m. | Choir Room
Pageant Choir Songs:
- O’Come O’Come Emmanuel
- Lo How A Rose E’ve Blooming
- In the Lonely Midnight
- Glory be to God on High
- Angels We Have Heard on High
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- The First Noel
- Max’s Lullaby
- We Three Kings
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Joy to the World
- Seven Fold Amen
ADULT PAGEANT CHOIR: Open to all adults
Rehearsal: Sunday, December 17 | 10:15 a.m. | Foote Room
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
Rehearsal: Saturday, December 23 | 1:00– 4:00 p.m. | Sanctuary
One adult per family is required to attend and volunteer during rehearsal.
- Please make sure to feed your child before the rehearsal.
- Check in starts at 12:30 in Parish Hall. Please take a moment to review the spelling of your child's name for the program.
- 1:00-1:15: Welcome and pageant intro in the Sanctuary
1:15-2:15: First rehearsal, no costumes and lead parents will coach on parent volunteer roles
2:15-2:45: Costumes on (no eating allowed while in costume), photos in Sanctuary. This is when adults/parents can take photos (photos and videos are not permitted during pageant performances). Photos will be made available online for all pageant families.
2:45-3:45: Second rehearsal w/costumes (no shoes or boots)
3:45-4:00: Wrap-up in the Sanctuary - We will meet back in the Sanctuary 2:15-2:45 for photos.
- Please be at church by 3:15 p.m. on December 24. Each service lasts just under one hour.
- One adult 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. Parents of Mary and Joseph are automatically assigned as the “Parent Chairs” for rehearsal and performances. Parents of kings and angels are also expected to take lead roles (room parents, ushers or prompters) and help welcome parents new to the pageant.
Pageant Roles: Children, Youth, and Adults
Everyone who registers will receive a role. We ask everyone to select a first and second choice for their roles (with the exception of those registering for the pageant children's choir as it is the only choice for grades 3-6). Example: if your first choice is blue angel, your second choice might be king – not pink angel. Our two cherubs do not have registration – these roles are filled by Kelley & KP as they involve younger children (usually siblings of cast).
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Roles for grades K-2:
ADULT ROLES
At rehearsal (please plant to be there for the entire rehearsal on December 23):
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Roles for grades K-2:
- Little shepherd (3 needed, up to 5)
- Heavenly host (18 desired)
- Kings page (4 minimum, up to 6)
- Pageant children's choir (the only role for this age group)
- Runner – must be at least 6th grade
- Acolyte (18 available) – 7-12th grade
- Big shepherd (18 available) – 7-12th grade
- Angel (3 needed) – 10-12th grade
- King (3 needed) – 10-12th grade
- Mary – 12th grade only
- Joseph - 12th grade only
ADULT ROLES
At rehearsal (please plant to be there for the entire rehearsal on December 23):
- Parent chairs (Mary & Joseph parents): Assist the director with parent check-in, training for ushers, room chaperon's, prompters and greeters
- Registration at rehearsal and pageant check-in (king/angel parents)
- Chaperone for cast rooms (2 per room minimum required)
- Iron costumes during rehearsal; some may need slight mending/hemming. If possible, bring an iron and board to rehearsal.
- *Lighting assistance (1 or 2 adults) Meet early/mid-December to run through lighting prompts and scripts
- *Prompter (must have 2, prefer to have 4 adults -- critical to pageant timing)
- Greeters (4 needed), stationed throughout the church, before each service (and then you can watch)
- Ushers* (4 needed), head ushers will also assist with collections during pageant (and then you can watch)
- Nursery care (will ask families to pre-sign up for nursery care)
- Post pageant clean-up lead coordinator (everyone helps)
- Room clean-up lead coordinator: Responsible for ensuring rooms are cleaned both days (everyone helps)
The best guide to our pageant is to listen to the opening comments in this video. If you don’t know why we do this, please watch! And, if you’re a pageant fan, watching it can help get you ready for this year!