Picture for the Merchandiser

This is the picture that will be in the local paper, the Merchandiser, next week. The reporter came to school today to snap this and to interview us for an article about our Christmas program. The kids in the picture are eighth graders who are in the cast of The Gift, a dramatic musical by Dennis and Nan Allen. It's obvious which ones play the part of Mary and Joseph. The girl in blue plays the part of the midwife (don't worry - we don't get to see her deliver the baby!!). The boy holding the lantern plays the part of the inn keeper who prides himself in knowing the scriptures and the prophecies, and he refuses to believe that this baby could be his promised Messiah. The one kneeling plays the Roman tax collector who is amazed as he comes into the presence of the baby King that even though he came to Bethlehem to take all he could get, he now wants to give everything he has. He sings the song "What Can I Give to the King?" as he kneels there. Wipe the tears already, folks.

And praise the Lord, I just called Jeremy a while ago and he is getting ready to go to the first performance of Scrooge, the Musical. He said his fever is gone, he can sing with no problem, but his head is still congested. I think the Lord transfered his fever to Dick. When Dick got up this morning he felt like everything he did took more energy than he had. He worked a few hours and came home to bed. Jeremy told him "Thanks!"