Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – Constance Gilbert

January 1, 2007

We welcome our very first new writer of the New Year! Constance Gilbert becomes writer # 289 for Storytime Tapestry. Please email her and welcome her into our ever growing dynamic family.

The Miracle of the Christmas Rabbit

Constance Gilbert

As the Children’s Choir Director, I chose the Christmas musical for both the choir and the Sunday School children. Each year I looked for a fresh approach to the Christmas story to be sure that the children would enjoy it, would learn from it, and would not get bored by the time we presented it. The challenge was to reach the hearts of the parents and guests at the same time.

In 1981, we presented the Christmas musical fantasy Super Gift from Heaven by Betty Hager and Fred Bock.

The story takes place in a toy store, after hours, when the dolls, stuffed animals, and toys come to life. They are worried about what happens to them when they are sold and what people mean when they call them gifts.

One of the main characters is a rabbit- actually an Easter Bunny that was never sold. She was played by one of our teen girls and we rented a fuzzy rabbit costume for her. The antique dolls from the creche finally come and explain the meaning of gifts and Christ’s birth. The dolls, animals, and toys learn that gifts are not just things, but are actions also; like when they sewed up the bunny’s torn seam and replace her vest with a red and green one for Christmas.

The rehearsals went well and the Sunday arrived for our musical gift to be given. Costumes were in place, props ready, small drinks of water given, and bathroom trips finished. The church was filling quickly. But our rabbit was missing.

After a few phone calls, I found that our teen was at her father’s house to celebrate Christmas and he would not let her leave even though he had known about it for several weeks.

I quickly found the pastor and asked him to start with a few Christmas Carols. He looked at me questioning, but said he would. Then I looked for a special gray-haired lady and ask her to come with me. In the foyer I asked her to gather some of our saintly prayer warriors, I needed heavy- duty prayer to pull off this musical without the rabbit.

While they prayed, I went to the pastor’s quiet office to figure how to salvage the night. As I prayed and quickly read through the script, I heard the carols being sung. I peeked into the sanctuary- it was full of moms and dads, grandparents and guests eager to see their young ones.

(You see, we were well known for our good musicals.)

As I turned to line up the children, I continued to pray for inspiration. Deep in thought I jumped when the back door slammed as our missing teen, with rabbit suit flying behind her, ran in.

"Praise God! Tell me later." I called as I ran for our make-up lady to add whiskers.

Humming "Oh, what joy, we’re gifts!" I started the children down the aisles. The congregation was unaware that a miracle had occurred, but the prayer warriors were smiling as our rabbit, with her floppy ears, skipped on cue down the center aisle.

Afterwards, our teenager, a.k.a. the Easter Bunny turned Christmas Rabbit, told us what had happened. All day her father had berated her because of "this church stuff she’d gotten into." After my phone call, he became verbally abusive. In the midst of his angry screaming at her, he threw her the car keys and said, "Go!" She did not know why, but I did. Our prayer warriors’ requests were answered by softening a father’s heart. I doubt that he knew he had given us a gift.

For me, Super Gift from Heaven will always be a reminder of The Miracle of the Christmas Rabbit, a precious gift from God.

***

At the end of the musical , the toys and dolls realize that each of them could only be a gift to one child or family, "but what makes Jesus the Super Gift is that He is a gift to everyone. We can all receive that Super Gift from Heaven." And that is my prayer for you, God is still in the miracle business and He wants each of us to receive His Son, as a special gift of love.

© Constance Gilbert

Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat Christmas Contest – Constance Gilbert

January 1, 2007

We welcome our very first new writer of the New Year! Constance Gilbert becomes writer # 289 for Storytime Tapestry. Please email her and welcome her into our ever growing dynamic family.

The Miracle of the Christmas Rabbit

Constance Gilbert

As the Children’s Choir Director, I chose the Christmas musical for both the choir and the Sunday School children. Each year I looked for a fresh approach to the Christmas story to be sure that the children would enjoy it, would learn from it, and would not get bored by the time we presented it. The challenge was to reach the hearts of the parents and guests at the same time.

In 1981, we presented the Christmas musical fantasy Super Gift from Heaven by Betty Hager and Fred Bock.

The story takes place in a toy store, after hours, when the dolls, stuffed animals, and toys come to life. They are worried about what happens to them when they are sold and what people mean when they call them gifts.

One of the main characters is a rabbit- actually an Easter Bunny that was never sold. She was played by one of our teen girls and we rented a fuzzy rabbit costume for her. The antique dolls from the creche finally come and explain the meaning of gifts and Christ’s birth. The dolls, animals, and toys learn that gifts are not just things, but are actions also; like when they sewed up the bunny’s torn seam and replace her vest with a red and green one for Christmas.

The rehearsals went well and the Sunday arrived for our musical gift to be given. Costumes were in place, props ready, small drinks of water given, and bathroom trips finished. The church was filling quickly. But our rabbit was missing.

After a few phone calls, I found that our teen was at her father’s house to celebrate Christmas and he would not let her leave even though he had known about it for several weeks.

I quickly found the pastor and asked him to start with a few Christmas Carols. He looked at me questioning, but said he would. Then I looked for a special gray-haired lady and ask her to come with me. In the foyer I asked her to gather some of our saintly prayer warriors, I needed heavy- duty prayer to pull off this musical without the rabbit.

While they prayed, I went to the pastor’s quiet office to figure how to salvage the night. As I prayed and quickly read through the script, I heard the carols being sung. I peeked into the sanctuary- it was full of moms and dads, grandparents and guests eager to see their young ones.

(You see, we were well known for our good musicals.)

As I turned to line up the children, I continued to pray for inspiration. Deep in thought I jumped when the back door slammed as our missing teen, with rabbit suit flying behind her, ran in.

"Praise God! Tell me later." I called as I ran for our make-up lady to add whiskers.

Humming "Oh, what joy, we’re gifts!" I started the children down the aisles. The congregation was unaware that a miracle had occurred, but the prayer warriors were smiling as our rabbit, with her floppy ears, skipped on cue down the center aisle.

Afterwards, our teenager, a.k.a. the Easter Bunny turned Christmas Rabbit, told us what had happened. All day her father had berated her because of "this church stuff she’d gotten into." After my phone call, he became verbally abusive. In the midst of his angry screaming at her, he threw her the car keys and said, "Go!" She did not know why, but I did. Our prayer warriors’ requests were answered by softening a father’s heart. I doubt that he knew he had given us a gift.

For me, Super Gift from Heaven will always be a reminder of The Miracle of the Christmas Rabbit, a precious gift from God.

***

At the end of the musical , the toys and dolls realize that each of them could only be a gift to one child or family, "but what makes Jesus the Super Gift is that He is a gift to everyone. We can all receive that Super Gift from Heaven." And that is my prayer for you, God is still in the miracle business and He wants each of us to receive His Son, as a special gift of love.

© Constance Gilbert

cgilbert61@peoplepc.com

Constance is a retired nurse who loves being a Gramma and writing. She lives in Central Oregon near the Three Sisters Mountains, a constant reminder of God's majesty, omnipotence, and eternity. Her writings can be found in Reflections, Faithwriters, and in The Director. She is active in local writers groups and leads a Bible Study specifically for writers. She can be contacted through www.calledtowrite.com.

Constance is a retired nurse who loves being a Gramma and writing. She lives in Central Oregon near the Three Sisters Mountains, a constant reminder of God's majesty, omnipotence, and eternity. Her writings can be found in Reflections, Faithwriters, and in The Director. She is active in local writers groups and leads a Bible Study specifically for writers. She can be contacted through www.calledtowrite.com.