FirstLutheranChurchChristmasProgram

Step1:Planning
PeopleInvolved
:ChoirDirector(Mrs.Greene)andSundaySchoolDirector
(Mrs.Reinbold)
WhichProgram?
:Thefirstthingwehadtodecideandplanwaswhichprogramwe
weregoingtouse.Wehavemanyprogramsinthechoirsofficearchives,itwasjustthematter
ofchoosingone.WeendedupchoosingTheShepherd'sChristmasStory.Itfocusesonthestory
ofJesusbirththroughtheeyesoftheShepherdsthatwenttovisitJesus.Itsaverycute
program,butinorderforittobedoneweneedabluefeltboardandfeltpiecesthatsticktothe
board.Weusedtohavethesethings,butcurrentlycannotfindthemanywhere.Wearegoingto
eventuallyhavetocreatethesepiecesourselves.
Aftermakinganannouncementabouttheprogramandhandingoutparticipationformsto
theSundayClasses(K8),wecreatedalistofthechildrenwhoweregoingtobeparticipatingin
theprogram.

ChildrensChoir
HeatherMorris
GraceLongden
LillyKushman
IanLivingston
KearsonKeiffer
KaleKeiffer
CelinaSinclair
DrewKregel
IsabelHackney

YouthChoir
MicahLongden
KalistaMckeller
HannahClark
KelsieFirman
LinaHatter
NickHatter
AshtonLaguire
AshtonWhiting
HannahWhiting
IsabelleWhiting
RhianHackney
BrandonCarter
MadisonCarter
ReaganKregel

When?
:Wehadtodecideadateandtimeforwhentheprogramwasgoingtobe.Ittook
alittlebitoftime,sothatwecouldplanitaroundtherestofthechurchsactivities.
DATEDECIDEDON
:December13th,attheLateService(11:15am)
Thisleftuswith4rehearsalsNovember29th,December6th,December12th,andDecember
13th(onelastrehearsalrightbeforetheperformance)

Step2:Organizing
November29thRehearsal
Thiswasthe1strehearsalthatwehad.Therehearsalranfrom9:4511:15am.
Notallthekidswhohadsignedupwherethere.
KidsinAttendance
HeatherMorris
IanLivingston
GraceLongden
LillyKushman
CelinaSinclair
KalistaMckeller
HannahClark
KelsieFirman
LinaHatter
NickHatter
AshtonLaguire
AshtonWhiting
HannahWhiting
BrandonCarter
So,itwasmostofthekidsbutnotallofthem.Usuallyitwouldntbethatbigofdeal,butsince
weonlyhave3otherrehearsalsbesidesthisone,thekidswhowerenttheremissedquitealot.
Inthisrehearsal,thechildrenwerelearningthesongsthattheyaregoingtohavetosing.
WealsohandedouttothekidsintheYouthChoirlinesforthemtoreadintheprogram.Earlier,
theSundaySchoolDirectorandIhadcutoutthelinesfromthefullscript,andassignedthelines
tothekidssothatwewerepreparedtohandthemoutwhentheycameintorehearse.
WhiletheYouthChoirwassingingsongsthattheyonlysingintheprogram,Itookthe
ChildrenChoiroutofthechoirroomandintoadifferentSundayschoolclassroom.Ihadahuge
padofpaperthathadthelyricstoAwayinaManger,andweranthroughthatsong.Thekids
wereverycooperativeandhadlotsoffungoingthroughthesongwithme.Ialsotaughtthesong
SomeoneSpecialtothem,thattheymostlyknewalreadyexceptthe2ndverse.Soafterteaching
thekidsthatsong,werejoinedtheYouthChoirtorunthroughacouplesongsthattheysing
together.Thisconcludedthefirstrehearsal.

 MakingProps
December5th
MymomandIwenttothechurchinsearchforfelttomakethe
piecesthatwillbeplacedonabluefeltboardduringtheprogram.Whilethere,wefoundaboard
thatwedecidedwouldbebigenoughtobethebackdropforourfelt
pieces.Afterwefoundtheboard,wehadtofindsomebluefeltto
coveritwith.Wesearchedthroughacoupleofcupboards,also
secretlyhopingwewouldfindtheoldpiecesthatweremadeyears
agofortheprogram.Unfortunatelywedidntcomeacrossthem.
Wedid,however,findaginormouspieceofbluefeltthatcould
definitelybewrappedaroundourboard.

Therewassomeexcessbluefeltthatwedidnotneed,so
wecutitoff,sowewereonlyworkingwiththebluefelt
thatweneeded.

Aftercuttingit,wefoldedovertheedgesofthefabric,
andpinneditwithclearthumbtacks,sothatthefelt
stayedinplace.Theboardwasthenreadytobeused.

December10th
Itsgettingprettyclosetotheprogramdate,andweareindesperate
needofmakingthepiecesthatthekidswillbeputtingupontheboard.Mymomhadgoneoutto
HobbyLobby,andboughtalongpieceofwhitefelt,sothatwecouldcutoutthepieces.The
originalpieceswerecolorful,butwedecidedthatitwouldlookbetter,andmoreuniformifthey
wereallwhite,andwejustmarkeredinwithablacksharpiethelinesthat
youwouldhavetosee.

Afterthat,welineduppapercopiesofthepieces,andtapedthemdownto
thewhitefelt.Wethenstartedtocutoutthepieces.Bytheendofthenight,
wegotfinishedcuttingout9ofthe11pieces,anddecidedtocuttherestout
thenextnight,andtogluethemontobluesquarepiecestomakethewhite
pieceslessflimsythenextnightalso.

December11th
Wefinishedcuttinguptherestofthewhitepieces,bythefollowingthe
sameprocesswehadthenightbefore.Wemadesuretoironallthewhitepiecestomakesure
theywerentwrinkly.Afterthat,wetookTackyGlueandpastedthemontobluesquarepieces,
sothatthechildrenwerentdealingwithjustpiecesofwhiteflimsyfeltthattheycouldeasily
breakinsomeway.Wealsoplannedoutwhereallthepieceswouldbeplacedontheboard.

 December6thRehearsal

Thiswasthe2ndofficialrehearsaloftheChristmasProgram.Theattendancewas
aboutthesameasthefirstrehearsal,andwearenowconsideringreassigningpartsofpeoplewho
haventbeentoarehearsalyettosomeoneelse.WewillmakethischangeontheSaturday
rehearsal,ifthesepeoplewhoareMIAstilldontshowup.
Forthisrehearsal,insteadofstayinginthechoirroom,wewentintothesanctuarytorun
throughhowtheprogramisactuallygoingtobe.Wehadthekidsintheyouthchoirwith
readingsgouptothepulpitandreadtheirlines,andhadthechildrenschoirpracticeputtingfelt
piecesupontheblueboard.TheblueboardwassetupontwowoodenchairsthatIfoundina
classroom,sothatyoucouldseetheboardfromthebackofthesanctuary.Wedidnthavethe
actualfeltpiecesmadeoutyetthough,sowehadthekidssupplementwithjustrandomscrapsof
feltthatwehad.

ChildrensChoironDecember6th

Wealsoranthroughallofthesongsintherehearsal,theyhavemostofthesongsdown.
Othersongs,thatarentthewellknownChristmasCarolsweknow,thekidsstrugglewithalittle
more.Fortunately,theyrewellbehavedkids,andIbelievethatwiththetimewellhaveon
SaturdaythekidswillbeallsetfortheProgramthenextday.

Attheendoftherehearsal,wesentoutremindernotesabouttherehearsalonSaturday,
whichwillbeat10am12pm.Wealsoremindedthekidsthattherewillbeonelastrehearsal
onthedayoftheperformance,9:4511:00.Thisconcludedoursecondrehearsal.

 December12thRehearsal
Thiswasthe3rdofficialrehearsaloftheChristmasProgram.Theattendancewas
thesameasthe1sttworehearsals,andwedecidedtoassignsomedifferentfeltpiecestoother
children,thatarealittleolderandcanhandle2differentpieces.Evret,achildwhohadbeenat
alltherehearsalsbeforethis,wasnttherebecausehehadthestomachflu,andwehadto
temporarilygivehispiecetoIan.
Thisrehearsalranfrom10am12pm,andwewereonceagaininthesanctuary.
Thisrehearsal,however,wasadressrehearsal.Wehadthechildren'schoirincostumes,andthe
youthchoirwereintheirchoirrobes.Brandon,however,althoughheisintheyouthchoir,we
hadhiminanangelcostumebecausehewastheangelGabriel.

ChildrenandYouthChoironDecember12th

Wehadthechildrenpracticegoingupinfrontofthechurch,andbacktosittingdownin
thepew.Wealsopracticedhandingouttheirfeltpiecestothem,andhadthempracticegoingup
onthealtarandputtingthemontheboard.WeranthroughtheChristmasprogramatotalof2
times,goingbackafewtimestoworkonacoupleoflinesthathadtobememorized,andmaking
thechildrensinglouderontheirsongs.
Afterworkingthroughacouplethingsthatneededmaintenance,andrunningthroughthe
program,thechildrengottreatedwithdoughnutsfromQualityDairy.Thisconcludedourthird
rehearsal.

 December13thRehearsal
Thiswasourlastrehearsalbeforethebigperformance.Theattendancewasthe
sameasalwaysexceptEvaQuimbyjoinedattheverylastsecondanddecidedtoperformwith
us.HannahLuukkonenalsojoinedusonour2ndrehearsal,butdidntshowupatour3rd,sowe
werentsureifshewouldbeparticipatingintheprogram.Shewonderfullysurprisedusby
showinguponperformanceday,andperformedwithus.Evretalsoshowedup,andweassigned
himLillysfeltpiece,aftershedidntshowup,duetothestomachflu.

Thisrehearsalwasverysimilartotherehearsalwehadthedaybefore.Itranfrom9:45
11:00,andallofthekidswereveryeagerfortheperformancethatwasonlyalittlemorethanan
houraway!Mostofthekidsshoweduparound9:50ishinthechoirroom,andwegotthemall
dressedintheircostumes.Wehad4angels,1shepherd,and3sheep.Afterthechildrengotin
theircostumes,andyouthchoirgotintheirrobes,wewentintothesanctuaryandranthroughthe
programonelasttime.

ChildrenandYouthChoironDecember13th

Wehadthekidswithlinespracticeprojectingtheirlinesloud,tomakesureeveryone
wouldbeabletohearthem.Wealsoremindedthekidstoalwaysbesmilingwhentheywereup
onthealtar.AftergoingthroughtheactionswiththechildrenchoirtoAwayintheMangerone
lasttime,webroughtthembackintothechoirroom,towaitforthetimeoftheprogramtoarrive.
Thisconcludedourfinalrehearsal.

Step3:Implementing
Itwasthedayoftheprogram,andwehadjustfinishedourfinalrehearsal.Allofthekids
werealittlenervous,buttheywerealsoexcited!Theywereallwaitinginthechoirroom,andit
wasalittlechaotic.Butonceitwas11:13ishwelinedallofthekidsup,andtheysilentlywalked
outofthechoirroom,andmadetheirwayintothesanctuary.

ThreeAngelsfromtheChildrensChoir

WeweremissingLillyKushmanfromtheChildrensChoir,butinherplacewehad
EvretLaguire.Rightoffthebat,wehadamistake.IanLivingstonhadstartedtositdownwith
therestofthechildrenschoirwhenhewasmeanttostayupinfront.Idontthinkanyonereally
noticed,buthemutteredshoottohimself.
Everythingseemedtorunverysmoothlythough.Thekidssangoutloudly,the
memorizedlineswererecitedperfectly,andwereprojectedthroughoutthesanctuary.Acouple
ofkidsfromtheyouthchoir,however,didstrugglewiththeirlongerreadingsthattheyrecited
fromthepulpit.

Thekidswereallverywellbehaved,andsmiledwidely.Despitetheirnerves,they
performedtotheirfullpotential,andafterthe(roughly)halfhourprogram,thekidsexitedthe
sanctuaryafterreceivingaroundofapplause.Astheyexited,theeldershadassembledgiftbags
forthechildren.Enclosedwascandy,stuffedanimals,ayoyo,anornament,andsomeother
assortedtoys.

Step4:Controlling/Reviewing
LookingbackontheChristmasProgram,Iamveryproudofhowitallwentdown.For
starters,Iwasveryhappywithhowthefeltpiecesturnedout.Inthebeginning,Iwasvery
concernedthatwewerentabletofindtheoriginalpieces,andIdoubtedtheabilitieswehadto
makenewones.However,Ireallylikedhowthewhitepiecesendeduplooking.Iactually
thoughtthattheylookedbetterthentheoriginalpieces,andthatitlookedalotbetter,andnotas
junkyandcrammedupontheblueboard.
Next,Iwasveryproudofthechildrenschoir.Someyears,thechildrenchoirhasvery
limitedparticipation,andyourebasicallypullingteethtogetthemtosing,orevendotheactions
tothesongs!Thisyear,thechildrenchoirwasmuchmuchlouder.Infact,theywereevenlouder
thantheyouthchoir!!Inparticular,Celina,Grace,andKearsonwerealwayssingingtheirlittle
heartsoutandtheywerealwaysinterestedinknowingwhatwascomingupnext.Theywerevery
engagedintheprogram,anddidverywell.Plus,thechildrendidafabulousjobremembering
wheretheirpieceswentontheboard,anddidagreatjobonplacingthemontheboard.
OnethingIhadwishedwentalittlebetterwastheyouthchoir.Ihadwishedtheysang
muchmuchlouder.Theywerelikelittlemice,andyoucouldbarelyhearthemsingingoverthe
piano.However,fortheprogramtheyactuallyweretheloudestthattheyeverhadbeen.They
reallygaveittheirallontheprogramday,andIwasveryproudofthem.Thereadingstheydid
alsowentverywell,andonly2kids(whohaveADHD)struggled,andeventhen,theywent
prettywell!
Thelinesthathadtobememorizedalsowentverywell.IanLivingston,whowasour
onlyshepherd,and2differentlines.Onethatwasveryshort,andanotherthatwasabitlonger.
Eventhoughhewaslittlequieterthanwhenhewasintherehearsals,duetothenervesIassume,
hestillspokeloudenoughthateveryonecouldhearhim.BrandonCarter,ourangelGabriel,also
didawonderfuljobwithhismemorizedlines,whichhehad34of.Intherehearsals,Brandon
hadbeenquietandkindaembarrassedabouthislines.But,onceitwastheperformance,hereally
projectedhisvoice,anddidafantasticjobactinghispart.Our3otherangels,Grace,Celinaand
Kearson,alsodidagreatjobrecitingtheirline.Theywerealittlequietatfirst,butoncetheygot
itstartedtheygrewinconfidenceandbasicallyshoutedtheirlinetotheaudience.Iwasvery
proudofthelittlegirls.

Overall,IbelievethattheChristmasProgramwentverywell,andIwasveryproudofmy
work.Ienjoyedworkingwiththechildren,anditwaslotsoffuntoseethemimproveoverthe4
separaterehearsals.IhopetohelpwiththeprogrameveryyearthatIcan,andthatIseethekids
morethroughouttheyear.