
We all know the holidays are looking just a wee bit different this year. And so we adapt, perhaps taking to heart this lovely quote from Theodore Roosevelt (big thanks to OMPer Deb Allen for sending that along):
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
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To that end, the annual holiday children’s program at Old Mission Peninsula United Methodist Church (my home church where I’ve been a member for 60 years) is being crafted with each family filming their own video section. Because like everything else, there will be no in-person children’s program this year.
Filmmaker extraordinaire Britney Kreiner will then splice all the videos together (and do a whole lot more, I’m sure) into a children’s program, which will be available for viewing on the church’s Facebook page and YouTube account next Sunday, Dec. 6.
Yesterday, the Long family (their family elders are the much-beloved and now-passed Ed and Jo Brown) did their video shoot at the amphitheatre at the Civic Center in town. Since I will do pretty much anything to get out of the house these days and social distance with people outside of my “pod,” I showed up to be part of the “audience.”

I was also very excited to snag the non-speaking role of the stern innkeeper holding the “No Vacancy” sign that turned Mary and Joseph away. I must say, though, it was very challenging to not laugh my way through it. I did not get a photo of that, so you’ll have to watch the video next Sunday to see me.
As you’ll see in the photos below, we took the “do what you can” quote to heart, with props that included large stuffed animals for the stable (who knew there was a penguin in that stable!?), a baby shower farm banner as the backdrop, cue cards and, of course, the standard robes, towels and sheets for the characters of Joseph and Mary and others.

Also, the casting department did a stellar job of casting. We even had a very pregnant Mary! See pics below, and be sure and check out the video next Sunday. I hope Britney got my good side. 🙂
(I’ve been hearing reports of other video shenanigans, like (real) sheep eating the script. I really hope that makes it into the final cut!)



[…] Church was putting together for their annual Children’s Christmas Program by posting some behind-the-scenes pics. Now we’ve got the actual […]