PREECEVILLE - The heartwarming message behind the reading of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever was shared by local readers when they urged audience members to listen and use their imaginations. The book reading was held Dec. 8 at the Trinity United Church in Preeceville.
"The evening was well attended and the audience members enjoyed relaxing and listening to the funny shenanigans that the children featured in the book get into and how they end up believing in Christmas," said Sheila Ivanochko, organizer.
A free-will collection encouraged people to give with their heart with all proceeds allotted towards the Filling the Gap Christmas food hampers. Sheila Klebeck gave the welcome and closing remarks.
Samuel Korney, Freya Sandager and Bonnie Lisitza supplied the prelude music before and also played during the event.
The three main readers featured Miles Russell, Kelly Ivanochko and Denise Olson. The children’s chorus supplied musical selections throughout the evening. The fun, inspirational evening concluded with fellowship and refreshments.
Members of the children’s chorus were, Macy Balawyder, Adley Lawrie, Ava Lawrie, Charis Maier, Evelyn Maier, Josie Moekerk, Tapiwanashe Mugadzi, Tinashe Mugadzi, Jack Nelson, Oliver Nelson, Charlie Newton, Georgia Van Nieuwenhuyzer, Ailes Nievares, Freya Sandager and Sage Ward. The chorus performed, O Come Little Children, I’m Getting Nuttin’ for Christmas, Mary Had a Baby, the Little Drummer Boy and concluded with Silent Night.
Laughs abound in this best-selling Christmas classic by Barbara Robinson, stated the books web site.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids.
Ralph, Imogene, Leroy, Claude, Ollie, and Gladys Herdman are an awful bunch. They set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s toolshed, blackmailed Wanda Pierce to get her charm bracelet, and smacked Alice Wendelken across the head. And that’s just the start!
When the Herdmans show up at church for the free snacks and suddenly take over the Christmas pageant, the other kids are shocked. It’s obvious that they’re up to no good. But Christmas magic is all around and the Herdmans, who have never heard the Christmas story before, start to re-imagine it in their own way.
