Growing up when and where I did placed me where I grew up on a farm near Moscow in southern Clermont County. My family attended The Moscow Church of Christ where we all attended and were very active in as a family. The church had an attendance of approximately 75 on Sundays and around 90 to maybe past 100 at revival or special occasions such as Easter or Christmas. The memory I experienced was the annual Christmas program held nearest to or even better when Christmas fell on Sunday.
As we all know Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. We learn about it on T V specials or by songs flooding the radio stations or the marketing in every store in existence or where I learned it and that was in that church in Moscow. But better than all those specials and commercials was the Christmas Sunday program. On that Sunday instead of the Sunday school program the day was dedicated to the Christmas Story. Every child was given a piece of one maybe two lines about the event and after memorizing it recited it to all in attendance. When you are 4 to 12 years in age this was a major event and request to ask of a child. Totally nerve racking. But on that morning as we each were called upon one by one we walked up to the front of the auditorium and said the piece we had labored on and came close to a nervous breakdown learning and spoke it out and did very well. Once completed and completely relieved of all stress returned to our seat. At the end of the verse giving, stage props were brought onto the stage and arranged for the children then to present “The Christmas Story.” The older children delivered this part of the program for the most part. Of course Mary and Joseph had the lead rolls and baby Jesus was either played by a cute infant or a Chatty Kathy Doll. (Whichever was available that year?) Then there were the three wise men played by maybe the most cooperative boys. Then there were the Angels who were almost always the girls. Last were the Shepherds played by all the rest of the children in the congregation. Once all were in place the program began with the Sunday school superintendent reading the Christmas Story as the cast acted it out. This came with oohs and aahs from the audience as most were either the parents or grandparents of the most adorable children in the world.
When the Christmas Pageant completed and the props moved to the back of the stage the congregation was dismissed to their Sunday school classes. There the teacher spoke briefly about the birth of our savior and why all this was important as the children were building to restlessness from what had preceded and what they were sure was to come. Teachers gave each a small gift or some candies (just as good as most were homemade.) With class dismissed we all returned to the auditorium and as the noise began to calm there came the sound of sleigh bells from somewhere at the back of the church and all began to hear “HO, HO, HO” and down the aisle to the front of the church strode Santa Claus (AKA Loy Hiles). He called all children to the front, ask what was wanted for Christmas and each given a peppermint candy cane! At the end of this Santa reminded all that he was only a guest as Christmas was really about Jesus and he just wanted to help in celebrating the event. But before he left he ask the elders and deacons to help him pass out a gift to each. A paper lunch bag containing hard candies, a few chocolate drops and some gum drops and an orange. At this time Santa quickly made his exit and as the children returned to their seats and as the calm began its return and so did Mr. Hiles a more serious feel fell over the auditorium. The sermon was delivered and of course the topic was about the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. a feel of comfort and the desire to listen was upon the entire congregation, including even the most restless of the children. As the minister continued his talk with us the spirit of the season fell over us and there was a feel of us all receiving this message and the gift the message spoke of seemed to become so heart felt. At the end and dismissal the congregation exited slowly and calmly as we all knew we had a great morning.
There are many events that occur during that time of year but I seem to always flash back to that one first. Maybe because I had a part in it as I did get up and say my verse. What I have just described didn’t just happen in The Moscow Church of Christ but it happened in every church in every community across the country. I would gamble to say if ask to recall Christmas Sunday in another’s’ church in another place and time you would hear a similar telling of how it went. I feel I was so fortunate that I was there and that I was a part and it is still an experience that lived in me then and lives in me now and hopefully forever! Merry Christmas!
Rick Houser grew up on a farm near Moscow in Clermont County and loves to share stories about his youth and other topics. He may be reached at houser734@yahoo.com.