The Potomac Highlands Dispatch - the online newspaper

First Church of the Nazarene presents 'Tell Me The Story ...'
Songs, puppet show highlight original play in a family atmosphere

By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Dec. 19 -- With a Christmas program in which kids outnumbered adults by about two to one, there is bound to be a level of spontaneity.

For Amy Weisenmiller, though, handling the job of mother and choir member in the First Church of the Nazarene's "Tell Me a Story ..." play on Sunday in Cumberland seemed like an ordinary evening.

"I expected it," said Weisenmiller of coordinating both roles during the 40-minute program at the church, located on East Oldtown Road in South Cumberland. "Last year, Grayson (now 15 months old) was baby Jesus. Riley was one of the angels. So, I did expect some chaos. We're always prepared for that. But I think when you're coming to a children's program, they don't mind that kind of stuff. It's not really a bother. I think it kind of adds some excitement to the play, for sure."

Weisenmiller handled the unplanned changes on stage in style - with only a hint of an embarrassed smile - as young Grayson and big sister Riley visited their mother to make sure she was alright without them.

In the weeks and days leading up to the play, preparations went normal for co-writers Heather Aguallo and Claudia Shuttleworth, who also co-directed the play and guided the children, who made the puppets themselves.

"We just went over the songs last night," Weisenmiller. "The kids spent a lot of time (preparing). "they did these puppets. That was really the focus point for the past couple months."

"The little ones," Weisenmiller said, "we had to get them to try and stay on stage. That was the biggest thing."

The 10-member choir sang a number of seasonal favorites including "Hark The Herald Angels Sing," "Joy to the World" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The play centered around "Grandpa," played by Jim Kasecamp.

Grandpa welcomes several family members into his home at the start of the play. From the comfort of his favorite chair, Grandpa tells the children and grandchildren a handful of Christmas-related stories that relate the Bible to "the reason for the season." The kids listen with anticipation as Grandpa retells the stories of the birth of baby Jesus in a barn in Bethlehem and his resurrection on Easter.

The children's program served as the church's unofficial kickoff to the Christmas season - and there's plenty more on tap in the next few days.

On Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m., singers young and old can meet at the church for a night of singing Christmas carols.

There also will be a Christmas Eve worship service by Pastor Gary Barkley on Friday at 5:30 p.m.