Celebrating the Birth of our Saviour - A Christmas Production

Ever since we arrived in Bangalore we have been attending a non-denominational church called BICF.  (Bangalore International Christian Fellowship).  On December 11th, before too many people had left on vacation, several ladies in the church coordinated a children's Christmas play.  It was fantastic!  I don't think Charlie Brown could have directed it better!  The Fab Four all had roles.  Rachel was the Inn Keeper, Erica was Mary, Michael was a soldier and David was a sheep.

While these two little girls narrated the story of Jesus' birth - The children all waited on the stage to act out their parts.

                           Waiting for her Cue

                                                                                                              Mary Praying

Erica sang the song, "In Moments Like These".  She spent the week prior to the Play

You Tubing her songs and practising in her bedroom with the door closed.  When the time finally came for her to get up on the stage, I don't know who was more nervous...Erica or her PARENTS!!  I don't think we took a breath until her solo was complete.  Phew.  That was nerve wracking!  Once she made it through her first song we weren't quite as anxious for her to sing her duets.  She did a great job singing about her love for the Lord & we were so proud of her.

 

Rachel getting ready to tell Mary and Joseph that there is "No Room" for them in the inn.

" And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. "  Luke 2:7

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. "  Luke 2:8

This little sheep almost took a nose dive off the stage!

There!  That's a good little sheepy.  Sit down on your butt before you fall and kill yourself!

The Three Wisemen.  Singing their little hearts out!

Mikey the soldier

Rachel peeking around the corner to see what Erica is

doing on stage.

Getting ready to say their final lines.

Curtain Call with all the Cast

After the children had completed their play, they wrapped up the service by presenting gifts to some of the poor and needy children of Bangalore.  Rachel and Erica had the privilege of hand-delivering their gifts. The rest would be delivered over the Holidays.

Erica's turn.

Rachel's turn.

Closing the service with candle lighting.

If I'm being completely honest, I don't even remember if the candle lighting was for a specific reason?!  I was a nervous wreck!  Trying to manage four young children that have been drilled with the message, "Do NOT play with fire!"  Well, you can only imagine the excitement when they realised they all got to hold their OWN candle.  "GREAT!  This place is going up in flames!" is all I could think about.  I was on sensory overload!    Big people, little people, short people, tall people...everywhere you looked....people!!!  And they were ALL holding onto a CANDLE!!  ACK!  I wanted to scream out, "THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO CHAR THE CHURCH!!!"  I'm quite certain there is a reason why this practise has been banned from churches in the US.  It's a firefighting nightmare!  Burning...branding...blazing...weapons of mass destruction!!  Maybe I was on edge b/c I was having childhood flashbacks of my sister, Emily, "hair is on fire" experience at a church candlelit service. I'll never forget it.  First the Gasps!  Then the nearby "Oh Good Lord!  Her hair is on fire!"  Then the sound of my father...clap, clap...CLAPPING her hair between his hands as he put the flames out.  Finally, as everyone stood there in the lovely ambiance of a candlelit room there was the occasional wafting smell of burnt hair.  Yep.  Good Times.

So picture me, the crazy Mother, snapping my fingers at the boys to "pay attention" as their flaming yuletide TORCHES were swaying within inches of their sisters HAIR!  Meanwhile the girls had a pleasant and peaceful look on their faces which I could only attribute to them day dreaming about how simple it would be to set their brothers ablaze!  "Hmmm.  Shall we bake, broil, roast, sear, or toast 'em?!"  Once we got past the first couple of minutes and I realised that they were all actually successfully managing their own Christmas Candles...I was able to take a moment and reflect on God's love for ME!  So much love.  Can you imagine only having ONE child and knowing when that child was born that the only reason he was born was to DIE.  That's my Jesus.  Born in a lowly manger - To grow to be a man that would hang on a cross and pay the penalty for MY sins.  I know typically Christmas is all about the Baby of Bethlehem but the reality of it all is...That baby was born for a reason.  Each one of us was His "reason" for coming to earth.  He's my Reason for the Season!

                             Michael "Melt It" Weimann

Rachel "All Aglow" Weimann

Erica "The Incinerator" Weimann

           David "The Destoy-ah" Weimann

^CLASSIC!!!!

  

Claudius & Poun came with us to church today!

That made it extra special for everyone!

I would like to close with the Christmas story.  Taken from Luke 2 in the Bible.  Merry Christmas!

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.