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99th
CHRISTMAS MYSTERY TRADITION
December 19, 2010 - 4:00 p.m. - Sanctuary
 The Christmas Mystery began in 1912
with a script written by Mrs. William Watson Ranney (the then minister's
wife). It was directed for twenty years by Mrs. W.R. Armstrong, Sr.,
and has been shepherded in most recent memory by Gratia Belle Blackman
Haney and Virginia Manella.
Our Christmas Mystery takes its
name from the mystery plays or dramas of western Europe which began in
the early 10th century and flourished well into the 1400s. Our
musical-drama is a Christmas Pageant combining the Biblical accounts of
the birth of Jesus along with church legends and beloved Christmas
carols. It is performed each Advent season on the Sunday before
Christmas.
One unknown in The Mystery is "Who will be Mary and Joseph?"
We have a lovely tradition of secrecy surrounding these two people each
year--the Mystery Members tapping persons in our faith community who
have contributed outstanding service.
The ceramic figure of the
"Bambino" (Christ Child) and the censer carried by a Wise Man were
acquired in Italy by Dr. Alfred A. Blackman's Family around 1900 and
lent to the church for use in the play. The cruse for myrrh is like
those from Biblical times. In the drama the Angel Choir is composed of
high school and college-age women, and the Seraph's (lead angel's) part
is sung by one of the church's excellent female vocalists. The
Shepherds' roles are taken by male singers of the church and the Wise
Men's solo parts carried by baritone voices. During the pageant,
cherub-children of the congregation come forward and present a gift of
song before the manger.
The Mystery begins with a concert of music performed on the
1889 Hook and Hastings organ by the church's resident organist. The
Mystery concludes with the recessional hymn "As With Gladness, Men of
Old" and the benediction.
We hope "The Mystery" opens you to
the Deepest Mystery of the Advent season!
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