From the Archives: The 2004 Christmas Pageant

By Ed Busch, UU Lansing Archivist

In December 2004, the UU Lansing Christmas Pageant reflected a more traditional approach to a beloved seasonal service. Unlike today’s Pop‑Up Christmas Pageant, the 2004 pageant involved planned roles and rehearsals, with participants preparing ahead of time to bring the ancient Christmas story to life.

That year’s pageant followed a familiar structure. The 2004 production was directed by Youth Choir director Marcy Christoff, with assistance from many other church members, including the Adult Choir. At the time, Rev. Kathryn Bert served as minister, Marcus Cheatham was church president, and Teresa Putnam was Director of Religious Education. Children and adults rehearsed their parts in advance, learning where to stand, when to enter, and how the story would unfold. Costumes were simple but purposeful, and the service reflected the confidence that comes from preparation.

The 2004 Pageant cast. (photo by Evy Jackson)

Looking back, the contrast with today’s Pop-Up Christmas Pageant is striking and revealing. The shift to a pop-up pageant probably had practical roots, not just an interest in doing something spontaneous. With fewer children enrolled in the Religious Education program and no longer a children’s choir, the pop-up format allows the pageant to continue in a way that fits today’s congregational reality. The resulting spontaneity, however, brings its own gifts—humor, surprise, and moments of unplanned delight that have become part of the pageant’s charm.

Both approaches speak to enduring values within UU Lansing. One thread of continuity across the decades is material as well as spiritual. Many of the costumes used in the Christmas Pageant today are the very same ones worn in earlier years. Carefully stored, repaired, and mended as needed, they represent quiet, hands-on stewardship and a tangible link between generations of pageant participants.

Looking at both pageants side by side, it’s clear that while the format has changed, the spirit of the service hasn’t. Year after year, the Christmas story is retold not as doctrine, but as shared myth—made meaningful through participation, warmth, and community spirit.

Nick Lemmer, ? (photo by Evy Jackson)

Blake or Austin Jackson?, ?, ?, Chris Mellen, Amber Daeschlein (photo by Evy Jackson)

BR: Katie Lemmer, ? Hertafeld, ?. FR: ?,? (photo by Evy Jackson)

? Shortridge, Lilly Daeschlein, ? (photo by Evy Jackson)

Chris Mellen, Theo Cambert, ? (photo by Evy Jackson)

What the Archive Holds—and What It Doesn’t
Unlike many more recent pageants, no video recording of the December 2004 Christmas Pageant has survived in the church archives. The December 7, 2004 newsletter included a request for someone to record the service on video; however, because later December issues are missing, it’s unclear whether that recording ever took place.

An audio recording of the service is available, offering listeners a chance to hear the voices, music, and rhythm of that morning. Let me know if you’d like to have access to this audio recording.

Holiday Offerings in December 2004—and Today
The Christmas Pageant was part of a larger arc of December worship and generosity. In 2004, the congregation’s holiday offering supported Rebuilding Together with Christmas In April Ingham County, the Michigan League for Human Services, and the Kids Repair Program—three organizations serving the local community in distinct and meaningful ways. Representatives from each group spoke briefly during Sunday services on December 5 and December 12, helping connect worship with action.

This year’s holiday offering, by contrast, benefits the Greater Lansing Food Bank—a reminder that while the recipients may change, the impulse to pair celebration with compassion is a constant at UU Lansing.

Looking Ahead to Christmas Eve

As in 2004, the Christmas Pageant was not the final word of the season. That year, UU Lansing marked Christmas Eve with two services, with a time for cookies and fellowship in between—with time for cookies and fellowship between the two services.

Today, our Christmas Eve observance has shifted to a single service, streamlining the evening while still preserving its candlelit, reflective character. Attendance patterns have changed, but the service itself will feel familiar to longtime members.

These services together reflect how UU Lansing has marked the Christmas season in more than one way.

A Special Request
If you had children who participated in the 2004 Christmas Pageant, you may have recorded the service at home. If you happen to have a DVD or other recording tucked away in a drawer or box, the archives would love to hear from you. Recovering a video of this service would help preserve an important moment in our congregational history.

I’d Love to Hear From You

If you have memories, corrections, or stories connected to this week’s post—or if you simply enjoyed reading it—please feel free to email me. I’m always grateful for additions that help us preserve a fuller picture of UU Lansing’s history.

Email: uucgl.archives@gmail.com

Your comments truly help shape future posts.

About Me

I’m a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Lansing and serve as the volunteer archivist for our congregational history series. I’m retired from Michigan State University, where I worked in digital preservation and archives. I enjoy uncovering stories from church newsletters, board records, and local history sources to help connect our past with the present.

I also serve on the UU Lansing Stewardship Team and help with Building and Grounds.

This piece was developed with research assistance and editorial support from ChatGPT.