UNITY - A large group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and community members almost filled St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church Dec. 12 to watch the St. Peter’s Elementary School Christmas concert – In a Galilee Far Far Away.
The Grade 6 students did an admirable job of performing the Star Trek-themed Christmas play, created by Steve Moore, Rob Howard and David Guthrie; but it was, of course, the kindergarten students creating a nativity scene who drew the most oohs and aahs from the audience.
The captain and crew of S.S. Emmanuel were on a trip back home when going into hyperdrive to them to Earth but also sent them back in time. Once they realized they could travel in time, they tried to reach Bethlehem in order to witness the birth of Jesus.
Play scenes were interspersed with songs sung by other classes in the school, including the opening number, Away We Go!, performed by all the students in Grades 1 to 5. Each class also sang at least one tune on their own.
While the space travellers never did quite get to the Holy Land, they did land in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to witness a Nativity performance in the 1700s. The captain, who had had a Bible in her hand much of the time, sharing information about the birth of Jesus with the crew, reconciled herself to the navigation errors, commenting on how miraculous it was that not only 1,700 years after the birth people were still remembering and talking about it, but they too were still celebrating Christmas.
In fact, the play had opened with the crew decorating the spaceship for Christmas. The Grade 6s not only were the performers but also prop and stage designers and builders.
After the play and songs the kindergarten students created a lovely, adorable Nativity scene as the Christmas story was read aloud by Alison Cooper, their teacher. The musical was directed by directed by Hannah Kendrik, Shayne Emond and Mrs. Ralston.