Once upon a time, there was a church that held a children's Christmas pageant every fourth Sunday of Advent. But sadly, it looked like this would be their first year without one. They had a director but no willing children or adult volunteers. People had gotten too busy to bother with it, and even though rehearsals were scheduled, no one came. When the moment for the pageant arrived, the pastor looked to the director, expecting a brief announcement that there would be no pageant this year. What happened next surprised everybody.

The director held a baby in her arms and announced that it was time for the dress rehearsal. She pulled out some costumes and asked for someone to play the part of Mary. A young woman hesitantly stepped forward. The director tossed her a costume, asked her to put it on and handed the baby to her. Then she asked for someone to play Joseph and a brave volunteer grabbed his costume. "You know what your parts are, right?" she asked. "You are bringing Jesus into the world, so you have good news to share." Then she turned to the choir. "We need angels now," she said. "With your robes, you are all looking quite angelic! You know what your parts are, right? Your job is to announce the good news to the shepherds in the fields." Turning next to the congregation, she said, "Now, we need shepherds. Who wants to be a shepherd?" More brave souls came forward. "You know what your parts are, right? Your job is to listen to the angels and share the good news with Mary, Joseph and the whole world. Have you got it? Good." Turning to those remaining in the congregation, she continued, "Now we need some wise people. Yes, they arrive later on the scene, but we could use them now. In fact, since this group here is all wise, you can all have these roles!" As the congregation laughed, she asked, "You know what your parts are, right? You get to give gifts to Jesus, and then return home by a different way so you can live to tell the good news of what you've seen."

"Now," she continued, "does everybody know their parts?" Heads all around nodded. "Well," she announced, "guess what! As I said earlier, today is just a dress rehearsal. The real pageant happens after you leave here today. You've been given a job to do, a part to play, a way of telling the good news of God's coming among us in the Christ child. Remember your part. As you leave today to enact the Christmas pageant in this world, remember your part. Play your role well and you will be part of the greatest Christmas pageant ever."

This Advent season, when you feel like you have nothing to share, remember that God has given you an important part to play in the story of Jesus' coming into the world. Remember that part. Dress rehearsal is over, and the time for living the Christmas pageant has begun. A blessed Advent and very merry Christmas to you all!

The Rev. David Ackerman, St. Paul's Trauger