Prepping for the Pageant

A beloved Trinity tradition since the early 1950s, the Christmas Eve pageant is a chance for children to share the good news of Jesus’s birth in their own way — with joyful creativity and a small (okay, large) measure of chaos. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all comes together. 

November 19, 1pm. With costumes a key driver of pageant success (and actor joy!), the first step is an inventory. Five weeks before the big event, Trinity staff pull dozens of floppy sheep’s ears, angels’ wings, shepherds' robes, and some (highly coveted, Lion King-esque) animal masks out of storage. Then they triage, noting what needs replacing, mending, or creative glue-gunning. “The goal is to make sure we have plenty of costumes for anyone who wants to take part, whether they’re longtime members, newcomers, or visitors,” says Trinity Youth Minister SK Doyle. 

December 14, 9:50am. The cast of characters remains the same — shepherds, townspeople, angels, narrators, Mary and Joseph — but each year, the young actors bring their own spark. Eight-year-old Jackson has cycled through many roles in his life: animals, angels, even an early stint as the baby Jesus. He’s especially thrilled to be tapped for his first speaking part this year, as a shepherd. “Even though I got just one line, I’m happy because it’s still a big part and I think it’s perfect for me,” Jackson says.  The best thing about the pageant, he adds, is that “everyone gets to express what they have.”

December 14, 10am. Two weeks before Christmas Eve, children pack into a Sunday School classroom in Trinity Commons for a song rehearsal. Twelve-year-old Emmeline, cast as the Angel Gabriel, enjoys the feeling of community that comes with the play. “It’s the same pageant, but it’s different kids every year, and it’s nice to meet new people through it,” she says. Eight-year-old Mercer, preparing for her first turn as narrator, appreciates the encouragement she’s found. “If you accidentally mess up a line, everyone’s not upset at you, they’re just really supportive.”

December 14, 10:30am. Trinity teaching artists Shanna Whitney and Sheridan Stevens lead the kids through warm-ups before diving into classic Christmas carols. “O Little Town of Bethlehem” is a fan favorite for its gentle, peaceful melody, while the spirited “Rise Up Shepherd and Follow” has the kids singing at the top of their lungs. Their enthusiasm is part of the magic of telling the same story every year, says Director of Music Education Peyton Marion. “There’s a familiarity, a sense of tradition that we get to build. We can pull these songs out each year and remember why we love them so much!”  

December 24, 3pm. Cast call time is an hour before Trinity’s Christmas Eve service, and after that it’s controlled chaos backstage: kids wriggling into costumes, teachers securing halos and headdresses, and those with speaking parts quietly running through their lines one last time. Then, the lights dim, the spotlight rises, and the pageant begins — telling the story of how love came down and changed our world forever. William Parker, father of George (7, angel) and Hannah (13, townsperson and soloist), says his children count down to this moment every year. He sees its impact in the way they practice the carols at home and approach the Christmas story with renewed curiosity. Beyond the music and performance, the pageant has also deepened their sense of belonging. “They're learning through experience, connecting with their peers, and becoming part of a community,” William says.  

December 24, 3:30pm. After the play, the kids join their families in the pews for the rest of the service. Nate Rogers, a Trinity vestry member whose eight-year-old son Caleb has played a sheep in past years (current role is “animal,” species TBD), says the pageant captures everything that makes Trinity so special. “It's got that classic Trinity mix — it brings people together, there's certain formality to it, but there's also a deep sense of welcome that is really unique to this place. It's joyous!”