Central Christian Church to present children’s Christmas program

Published 10:11 am Friday, December 10, 2010

Charlie Brown once asked the question, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Yes, Charlie Brown, the children of Central Christian Church say they do and they will be sharing it at 10:30 a.m. this Sunday at their church.

The preschool age through senior high youth will be presenting “The Manger Story: We’re not that far from Bethlehem,” directed by Taylor Parnell. Ginger Browning, a choir member and mother of one of the actresses in the production, is hopeful for a packed church.

“It is all centered around the manger,” Browning said. “There is Mary’s point of view once she has been told the news, from Joseph once he was told the news, and the innkeeper. There are just little vignettes. There are angels and shepherds and songs.”

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Browning said the music will include soloists, ensembles and musicians playing instrumentals and accompanying the vocalists.

The children have been working on the program since early fall.

“The kids have worked so hard on this,” Browning said. “The best thing is for them to look out and see a full sanctuary.”

She said that while most of the children in the program are from the church, others are friends of those children or children without a home church.

“We appreciate so much what they are doing,” Browning said about the children in the program. “Even though it may not be the most popular thing to say ‘I’m going to church and I’m rehearsing for a program.’ Some kids don’t see that as a cool thing to do. These kids have worked so hard and blossomed from the spirit that Taylor has, a very gentle spirit. She has been able to get them participating in ways they wouldn’t have.

“We just hope a lot of people will come and see it and it will give them a good feeling about themselves.”

Whether people come to see family in the program, to support the children or just for something to do, Browning is hoping people will all go away with the same message.

“We hope they will have a renewed spirit,” she said. “Christmas is where it all began. It all began at the manger.”