Curtain falls on Christmas tradition
Scenes from the rehearse of the annual Christmas pageant at Northside Baptist Church.
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT THEMES
2011: "Rio"
2010: "Just Imagine ... Christmas"
2009: "Silver Bells"
2007: "Hooray, It's Christmastime"
2006: "Rockin' & Rollin' Christmas"
2004: "Wonderful Winter Wonderland"
2003: "Christmas for America"
Christmas in Victoria is marked with many traditions: the annual lighting of the downtown courthouse, Victoria's Christmas parade and Northside Baptist's Christmas pageant.
But this season, Christmas will be minus one tradition.
After 27 years of sharing the message of Christ through theater and song, Northside Baptist pageant director Connie Ewing is stepping down from her post.
And without Ewing, church officials have decided the pageant cannot go on.
"It's been a wonderful experience, but I think it's just time to move on," Ewing said, discussing her difficult decision to walk away from the pageant.
Without Ewing's many contributions to the show - including months of preparation, annual theme and music selection, and weeks of directing hundreds of actors, singers and volunteers - Northside music minister and pageant co-director, John Woods, said the show could not survive without her.
"When she told us she was leaving, it sort of made us evaluate whether it was possible to do this without her. And we came to the conclusion that it wasn't," Woods said. "What a lot of people don't know is the pageant has always been a free gift to the community, and Connie is completely uncompensated. She works on it year-round. It truly is her full time job."
As church officials discussed the future of the pageant without Ewing as director, Woods said they realized her efforts could not be matched.
Ewing insists the decision to step down from directing the pageant she began nearly three decades ago was prayerfully and thoughtfully made.
She first considered leaving the role four years ago, with the intention of stepping down from her directorial role two years later.
"I ended up staying another two years," Ewing giggled.
In recent decades, Northside's pageant has become a staple in the community and a beloved Christmas tradition.
In recent years, pageant themes, such as "Rio," "Just Imagine ... Christmas," and "Silver Bells," have drawn more than a quarter million attendees to the show - which offers live barnyard animals, singing and dancing, and a unique Christ-filled theme each year.
Ewing said the pageant began in 1985 with a $1,500 budget, small audience, three scenes, three songs, and a collection of Christmas carols.
"We were sold out the first year. Each year it's grown and grown, and it has been taken care of by God," Ewing said. "It was a wonderful experience for all of us."
Woods said the church is in mourning since the news was released last week about discontinuing the show.
"Our church is really going through a grieving process . and we just have to trust that God has us in his hands," Woods said.
Kristi McCleskey, a pageant cast member since the show's inception 27 years ago, said the end of the show is bittersweet.
"I've been doing it since the beginning, but I know the church will be doing something for the community soon," McCleskey said. "It's been a wonderful opportunity."
She and her husband Howard participated in the pageant before they were married, so this holiday season will the first without the Christmas pageant.
"We've never had Christmas without pageant, but maybe I'll get my Christmas shopping done early this year," she said.
Church members were informed of the show's end several days ago in a letter and posted on the church's website.
"We honor and congratulate Connie for the past 27 years, as she and Mickey (Ewing) created a gift we have all had a part in giving. Pageant is a gift infused with Connie's talent, dedication and passion," the letter read.
"When Victoria and the surrounding communities think of Pageant, they think of Jesus Christ. When Northside thinks of Pageant, we think of Jesus Christ sparkling through Connie."
Ewing said she has enjoyed many wonderful pageant moments through the years, but said one of her favorite themes was the year they performed "Hawaii."
"We brought in a young lady who was on a dance team in Hawaii, and she was staying in the Woodlands. She worked with us on our dances that year. That's one of prettiest ones we've ever done. That was one of my favorites," she said.
Without the hustle and bustle of pageant this year, Woods said church members will have an opportunity to enjoy the Christmas season and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
"This year, we've talked about taking it a little easier and celebrating past years," Woods said.
And even though the pageant will not continue, Ewing is not moving away from her musical role at the church.
"Connie isn't stepping away from our church ministry; she's just stepping away from the pageant," Woods said.
Woods and Ewing agree there is nothing that can replace the pageant, but each are excited to experience and develop new Christmas traditions at the church.
"Connie and I have worked happily together for the last three years, and I'm looking forward to many more years working alongside her on the music and worship ministry staff," Woods said.
"We're excited to look to the future and see what the future holds," Ewing said.
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As someone who put in 20 years with The Victoria Christmas Pageant (I got here as soon as I could!), I can assure you, EdithAnn, that Connie Ewing, while being the heartbeat and the creative genius behind the ministry, was not the only one who had a real passion for this event. The only people who got a glimpse of what kind of commitment it really took to make pageant happen were the folks who came to the very last performance at the end of each year, when the behind-the-scenes workers were invited to join the performers on stage. As you correctly say, hundreds of people joined together to design and build sets, to build props, to care for and shuttle children participants back and forth, to shine spotlights, to run sound, to do make-up, to do costuming, to provide meals, to man the parking lots, to greet and usher, to run the ticket office...the list goes on and on. Passion for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ motivated it all, and I will be forever changed and blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of it for so long. There is, however, a time and a season for every purpose under heaven, as we read in Ecclesiastes. The time and season for pageant has come to a close, and it's with great joy that we look back and remember. I know my church, and I know my church staff, and I can assure you that this is a decision not made lightly and not without a lot of prayer seeking out what God would have us do. Obedience is not always easy nor is it always understood, both by those who are submitting and by those who are observing from the outside. But we wait with open hearts for whatever is coming next on our ministry journey, and would dearly love to have the prayers of our community while we anticipate those works for which we were created! Thank you, Victoria, for loving our pageant and the embracing the telling of the greatest love of all. It was our great privilege to share it!
February 22, 2012 at 1 p.m.Thanks Northside for all the wonderful years of shows. I remember the first time we went. My daughter was 3 years old, and when the soldiers came to get Jesus, she hid under the pew because she was scared they were coming to get her! That's how real it was! Every year it brought tears to my eyes. I thank God for ya'll you will truely be missed.
February 22, 2012 at 12:17 p.m."Maybe Ewing was the only one who had a real passion for this event."
Wow. At first read, your statement angered me. After pouring a significant portion of my time into this event for 27 years, my first response would have been to lash out. But that's not what I need to do. Please let me explain why.
From your history of past posts, I know that we have much in common, and I am surprised that you would make such a statement without knowing the story behind the decision. Lots of folks have agonized over this - and there have been tears and frustration - but this was the best scenario for all involved. Better to go out while it was still vibrant and alive, than die a slow death and turn into a poorly done production that has lost its purpose. No one let it go "so easily".
I understand that most people have no clue regarding what it takes to put on a production like this. Connie is the heart, but there are hundreds involved - its not just 'another little Christmas play'. We could go on without her - but it wouldn't be the same. And people have been asking how long this was going to continue for the last couple of years - this was the time - it was time to let it end gracefully and be left with years of wonderful memories.
So - a great big THANK YOU to Connie for her unselfish time and talent for all these years. And a sigh and small head shake at those who would imply that we 'gave up', 'let it go' or didn't have enough 'passion' to continue. Please dont comment when you simply don't know the whole story.
February 22, 2012 at 9:46 a.m.I find it very interesting that this church is taking the attitude that this pageant cannot continue without Connie Ewing at the helm! No doubt she has been the drive and energy, but I know that hundreds of folks participate to make this pageant happen. What a shame to let it go so easily. Maybe Ewing was the only one who had a real passion for this event.
February 22, 2012 at 7 a.m.As with many businesses when they close they are bought by the workers and continue business. Why not let someone or a group of people take the place of Connie and continue the tradition. Maybe connie will consider to be a type of supervisor and just tell the people what to do and just do nothing herself.
February 22, 2012 at 6:33 a.m.If this is done for the first year or two then the show can go on. Don't give up on a tridition so easily.
A lot of people go to church once a year and the show is that day. How many people will quit going to church because the show was canceled.
My thought is that Connie is a fantastic person to do this for so long for no pay. Connie, Will you train someone to take over your position. Please!
20% of the people do 80% of the work in a church setting. It is amazing that one person has been solely responsible for this huge undertaking for so many years and has done such a PHENOMENAL job at it. Kudos to Mrs. Ewing for all of your hard work and dedication. Victoria has lost a treasure.
February 22, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.Although I understand and am not being critical ,what a shame.
February 21, 2012 at 9:01 p.m.