We’ve all been there: the whole family’s over for a big holiday dinner, and a major appliance gives out.
That’s the story behind this year’s Christmas pageant at North Syracuse Baptist Church (NSBC), “The Unsinkable Christmas,” according to pageant director Annette Davie.
“It’s about the Bradley family, Grandma and Grandpa, and the kids are coming,” Davie said. “They don’t get to see each other very often, so there’s the anticipation of that and the excitement, all the hustle and bustle, what we all expect at Christmas. Then you’ve got a lot of people all packed into a small place. All the siblings are picking on each other. There’s a lot of humor.”
Then the unthinkable — or is it unsinkable? — happens.
“As they’re getting ready for Christmas dinner, Grandma’s sink gets a leak,” Davie said. “So her sons decide to get her a new sink. That’s their project. And it creates stress. That’s relatable to the audience.”
The Bradleys think their holiday can’t get any worse. But ultimately, the spirit of the season shines through.
“Eventually, the Bradley family realizes that a friend of the family have a much harder life than they do, so they need to do what they can to reach out to that friend,” Davie said.
The whole theme of the play, which was written by parishioners and staff at NSBC several years ago, is to appreciate what you have.
“[It’s about] appreciation for family and finding Jesus at Christmas,” Davie said.
Pastor Bill Marshall echoed that thought.
“I think it provides an avenue for people to really know what the real meaning of Christmas is,” Marshall said. “It’s about Christ’s birth and how he’s the savior of the world.”
The Christmas pageant is an annual tradition at NSBC, something the church likes to offer to the community every year.
“The whole idea is to get the message out. That’s first,” Marshall said. “Second, we would like to do something that blesses the community. This is a nice event that the community can come to and enjoy. It’s a lot of fun. That’s the most important thing.”
Davie said the pageant provides a good avenue for families to share time together during the holiday season.
“People enjoy doing something together as a family at the holidays,” she said. “A lot of movies aren’t that family-friendly for all ages. They’re not all that appropriate. This is one thing where you know you can all come and it will be appropriate for all ages and everyone will love it. It’s a tradition for some people to come to North Syracuse Baptist.”
In addition, unlike the movies, the pageant doesn’t cost a thing.
“It’s free,” Davie said. “Nowadays, in this economy, a lot of people look for something that’s close by where you don’t have to drive a long way. This is a very entertaining and purposeful experience.”
The pageant will be offered at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at North Syracuse Baptist Church, 420 S. Main St., North Syracuse. Free refreshments are available, and assistance with parking will be provided. The staff is eager to see you and your family there.
“We want to show God’s love in a practical way to the community,” Marshall said. “That’s why we’re committed to doing that every year.”
