2025 Christmas Pageant Guide
The Saint Mark’s Christmas Pageant features our children and youth sharing the “big ideas” of the Nativity story in a way that showcases their unique talents. It is usually about 15 minutes long and serves as the centerpiece for our Christmas Eve service on the afternoon of December 24.
Christmas Pageant Goals:
Lead formational programming for children of all ages that helps them connect with their community & the message of the Nativity story:
- Assign roles appropriate to individual interests & skills
- Establish realistic expectations & priorities among adult helpers
- Scaffold formational discussion & activities alongside rehearsal
- Include non-performing children in meaningful ways
Perform a Nativity play that shares the Christmas message in a meaningful and entertaining way with the larger congregation.
- Ensure choreography and rehearsal prioritizes visibility
- Ensure choreography and rehearsal prioritizes correct use of microphones
- Effectively equip adults & older youth helpers to assist and run pageant
Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will take the place of “children’s programming” on Sundays in December during the 11:30-12:30 block following the 10am service.
Children who will not be performing in the pageant will still be included in the programming via formational discussion, arts and crafts, offstage roles, and other activities.
Rehearsal time will include formational programming, practice using the microphones, choreography, costuming, and line reading. Each child’s inclusion will be tailored to their role, interest and readiness.
Casting Process:
The Christmas pageant is written each year to accommodate our unique individual performers.
Each performer should share with Lily, either via email or in person on Casting Day, the following information:
- Whether there is a specific character they want to play (not guaranteed)
- Whether there is a specific costume element they want to bring or wear
- Whether they are comfortable memorizing lines
- How much of a speaking role they want (anywhere from no lines, shared/group lines, one or two solo lines, or many solo lines)
- Whether they have any other performance skills they want to share (singing, dancing, etc.)
Children who don’t wish to perform can also be included in “backstage” roles such as tech, props, choreography, etc.
Casting information must be sent to Lily by Wednesday, December 3.
Schedule:
Sunday, November 30, post-10am service – CASTING DAY
Sunday, December 7, post-10am service – REHEARSAL 1
Sunday, December 14, post-10am service – REHEARSAL 2
Sunday, December 21, post-10am service – REHEARSAL 3
Wednesday, December 24, 2:00 – DRESS REHEARSAL | 3:00 – PERFORMANCE
Adult & Teen Volunteers
The Christmas Pageant requires plenty of volunteers to make it happen! The types of pageant volunteers we need are:
Casting help: people to wrangle kids and costumes during the casting day (must be available Nov. 30)
Rehearsal help: people to help guide rehearsal programming (must be available for at least one rehearsal day)
Performance help: people familiar with the performance to help guide performers during it (must be available on the performance day)
Setup & takedown: people to set up and take down the set and help moving props and costumes (must be available on the performance day)
We especially need Safe Church Certified volunteers! To get involved with the Christmas Pageant as a volunteer and/or to check your Safe Church status, please email lily@saint-marks.com
Photo & Video Releases
Our Christmas Pageant is streamed online, and photographs from our pageant are popular throughout the year. Performers should have a signed photo & video release on file. If your child wishes to participate in the pageant but you have concerns about their image being shared, please speak with Lily and we can definitely accommodate you.