The Perfect Imperfect Pageant
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (vv. 24--25)
In The Good News From North Haven, Michael Lindvall tells of how a Christmas pageant gone awry shows the great love and commitment that Joseph had for God and Mary. For 46 years Alvina Johnson had directed the pageant of his church, Second Presbyterian Church in North Haven, Minnesota. And for 46 years, the Christmas play remained unchanged. She strove for perfection, which meant she made simplicity a priority. As such, she only allowed nine parts, which excluded several children of the church. She also was a stickler for tradition, which meant the play was a recitation of the King James Version of the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2.
But after 46 years several of the young mothers sought a change. They felt more children should be allowed to participate. So some of the mothers held a coup d'etat and took over the pageant. However, with the change in leadership came less than perfect results. More sheep meant more problems - especially when these rural children knew how unruly sheep behave.
The imperfection culminated at the pageant when Mary and Joseph entered. Now Mary was wonderful. She gently held a baby doll in a blue blanket. She peered into the face of the doll with eyes that appeared to really see the infant Christ. But Joseph was another story. He had largely gotten the part because Alvina Johnson had rejected him from the Christmas Pageant more times than any other kid in church.
The plan was for Mary and Joseph to walk in as the Narrator read from the traditional King James text, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."
This was the plan. This is what the Narrator had practiced for months. But a few hours before the performance, one of the new young leaders had observed that the children struggled with the King James English. As the young mothers discussed the problem, they asked, "What kid knows what 'great with child' means?" In their revolutionary fervor, they decided to switch to the Good News translation of the Bible. After all, it would make the story more understandable for everyone.
So during the performance when Mary and Joseph entered, the Narrator read, "Joseph went to register with Mary who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant." The word pregnant seemed to echo through the PA system. Poor little Joseph stopped in his tracks. He gave Mary an astounded look, and then looked out at the congregation and said, "Pregnant? What do you mean, pregnant?"
The congregation burst out laughing. Lindvall's wife laughed so hard she cried. She wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned over to him and said, "You know, that may well be just what Joseph actually said." The pageant may not have been perfect, but the imperfection better displayed the character of Joseph as he followed God's command to stay with Mary and raise the Son of God.
In The Good News From North Haven, Michael Lindvall tells of how a Christmas pageant gone awry shows the great love and commitment that Joseph had for God and Mary. For 46 years Alvina Johnson had directed the pageant of his church, Second Presbyterian Church in North Haven, Minnesota. And for 46 years, the Christmas play remained unchanged. She strove for perfection, which meant she made simplicity a priority. As such, she only allowed nine parts, which excluded several children of the church. She also was a stickler for tradition, which meant the play was a recitation of the King James Version of the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2.
But after 46 years several of the young mothers sought a change. They felt more children should be allowed to participate. So some of the mothers held a coup d'etat and took over the pageant. However, with the change in leadership came less than perfect results. More sheep meant more problems - especially when these rural children knew how unruly sheep behave.
The imperfection culminated at the pageant when Mary and Joseph entered. Now Mary was wonderful. She gently held a baby doll in a blue blanket. She peered into the face of the doll with eyes that appeared to really see the infant Christ. But Joseph was another story. He had largely gotten the part because Alvina Johnson had rejected him from the Christmas Pageant more times than any other kid in church.
The plan was for Mary and Joseph to walk in as the Narrator read from the traditional King James text, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child."
This was the plan. This is what the Narrator had practiced for months. But a few hours before the performance, one of the new young leaders had observed that the children struggled with the King James English. As the young mothers discussed the problem, they asked, "What kid knows what 'great with child' means?" In their revolutionary fervor, they decided to switch to the Good News translation of the Bible. After all, it would make the story more understandable for everyone.
So during the performance when Mary and Joseph entered, the Narrator read, "Joseph went to register with Mary who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant." The word pregnant seemed to echo through the PA system. Poor little Joseph stopped in his tracks. He gave Mary an astounded look, and then looked out at the congregation and said, "Pregnant? What do you mean, pregnant?"
The congregation burst out laughing. Lindvall's wife laughed so hard she cried. She wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned over to him and said, "You know, that may well be just what Joseph actually said." The pageant may not have been perfect, but the imperfection better displayed the character of Joseph as he followed God's command to stay with Mary and raise the Son of God.
