This week, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany. As always, we marked this date with a special Epiphany Pageant, where we retell the Christmas story one last time for the season and sing Christmas hymns.
Since we weren’t able to gather as a parish for this much-anticipated tradition, we asked for your Epiphany Pageant memories. How fun it has been to see how the Epiphany Pageant (and St. John’s!) has changed over the years. Enjoy!
Mid-1970s Pageant (submitted by Cameron Lewis Barton)
“She was one of many that poured her heart into this pageant! We used to present (it) on the stage in the Parish Hall. It was quite a production! I remember the feeling of being nervous on stage. The big, heavy curtain would open and we were ready! A hearty audience filled the Parish Hall and it was just a magical production. Lots of bloopers, but always one of our favorite times of the year at St. John’s.” – Cameron Lewis Barton
Late-1970s Pageant (submitted by Virginia Perkins)
1984 Pageant (submitted by Sarah Ball Miller)
It appears that many of our current costumes, including the purple king cloak and glittery angel wings joined the repertoire in the 80s. Sarah Ball flagged some friends from her childhood in the photo above including John Proctor, Garrent Kuersteiner Robinson, Michelle Fields Thames, Molly Middleton Green, Michelle Lester Gregory, and Jordan Fonvielle Antohi.
2007 Pageant (submitted by Mary Byrd Sims)
2009 Pageant (submitted by Mary Byrd Sims)
2013 Pageant
2014 Pageant
2015 Pageant
2016 Pageant
2019 Pageant
2020 Pageant
2021 Pageant
Our shepherds were storm troopers (don’t ask), there were three wise (wo)men, and our pageant was pre-recorded and streamed on Facebook and YouTube due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our parish regathering guidelines. But we were still able to celebrate the arrival of the three kings with beautiful virtual hymns shared by the St. John’s Choir. This is a tradition worth keeping … no matter the hoops we must jump through!
