FRACKVILLE - More than 200 people filled St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church on Sunday to enjoy and participate in a Christmas program that's been around for eight years.
The first Candlelight Christmas Pageant was held in 2004 and as the years have passed, many people continue to return and more people come to enjoy the story of the first Christmas as told by the parish children in period costumes.
This year's pageant featured more than 30 of the parish's children and told the story of the Nativity from the announcement to Mary by the Archangel Gabriel that she would bring the Messiah, who would be named Jesus, into the world, to the visit by the Magi bringing their gold, frankincense and myrrh as gifts to the newborn king.
A group of the young participants was part of a chorus that sang several traditional Christmas songs and carols.
"This afternoon the parish family of St. Michael's is pleased that you responded to our invitation to relive the Nativity story of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," said the Very Rev. Archpriest John M. Fields, pastor, in his welcome. "This is the season when we await his divine presence, the presence of our Emmanuel, or 'God with us.' "
He said the parish considers the pageant its "gift to the community."
As people entered the church, they were given programs with the narration of the Christmas story, the songs in the program and a candle to be lighted later during the service.
Fields asked the audience to sing along with the cast on many of the familiar carols.
"You are not only an audience. You are a participatory audience," Fields said. "That means you are to sing along to the familiar carols ... We do that for a purpose. St. Augustine tells us, 'He who sings prays twice.' "
Fields welcomed Emily Fannick as the new narrator, noting that she has been involved with the pageant for four years and has played several roles, including Mary, Gabriel and a shepherd. She is a sophomore at Marian High School, Hometown.
With a brass ensemble providing music, the pageant began with the cast entering the church. The first scene was the Archangel Gabriel, played by Melanie Shimko, announcing that Mary, played by Monika Shimko, would give birth to Jesus. As Mary and Joseph, portrayed by Devan Shimko, stood by the manger, they were visited by angels, shepherds and the Three Kings, played by Joseph Smith, John Meridionale and Hunter Shimko.
As the pageant came to a close, each candle was lit and the church lights were dimmed. With candlelight the illumination in the church, the audience sang "Silent Night," "Joy to the World" and "Boh Predvichny" ("Eternal God") in Ukrainian and English.
At the conclusion, everyone moved outside for the traditional lighting of the parish Christmas tree. Then they went into the parish hall, where a covered dish meal was served, followed by St. Nicholas visiting with the children.
