A few minutes before 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, Sunday school students dressed in festive Christmas attire entered the sanctuary and sat together as members of the junior orchestra took their seats on the platform. The orchestra, directed by Josh Friesen, opened the Sunday School Christmas Program with “Christmas Angels Medley.” Then Sunday School Superintendent Roth Mom gave a brief welcome and explained that the evening would include a mix of solos, ensembles, choirs, and recitations, all centered on celebrating Jesus’ birth.

Soon, the Beginner Department took their place on the platform and sang with gusto “Happy Birthday to You,” “Go! Tell It on the Mountain,” and “For God So Loved the World.” This was followed by a joyful bell choir presenting “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Go! Tell It on the Mountain.” Next was a percussion performance of “Little Drummer Boy” by Harmony Hinkle, Ilanya Piper, and Nolan Sletmoe, and then a piano solo by Silvia Miller of the poignant song “Carol of the Bells.” The last ensemble was a seventh and eighth grade girls’ group singing “Make Room,” and they later sang “Salvation Came” as well.

The second half of the program featured several students reading Scriptures of the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke, interspersed with Christmas songs from the combined Primary and Junior Department choir. These included “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” For the finale, the Beginner Department joined the grand choir to sing, “Joy to the World” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Pastor Dave Lambert closed the program with prayer and invited everyone to stay and enjoy a frosted sugar cookie and cocoa in the Narthex. The students had obviously spent quite a bit of time preparing for this evening, and their efforts were enjoyed by everyone who attended!