Bronxville Christmas Pageant to Begin at 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve on Hillside of Reformed Church; Live Camel Included
By Sarah Normand and Ruth Walter, Co-Chairs, Bronxville Christmas Pageant Committee
Dec. 23, 2015: On Christmas Eve at 5:30 pm, the annual Bronxville Christmas Pageant will take place on the hillside in front of The Reformed Church of Bronxville on Pondfield Road. Last year was the pageant's 100th anniversary.
Stable animals, angels, and actors for Mary and Joseph will be among the pageant performers. Seven churches in Bronxville will come together, as they do every year, to celebrate, sing carols, and watch the living nativity unfold. The manger animals will once again include a camel for the Wise Men to lead.
This year, the pageant is co-chaired by Ruth Walter and Sarah Normand, succeeding Susanne Shoemaker, who served as chair for twenty years. The pageant is a large undertaking that includes more than 30 performers and involves many dedicated volunteers from the community.
The Virgin Mary will be played by Celia Haims, and Joseph will be Robby Martin. The manger angel will be played by Bella Rodriguez. The three Wise Men will be played by Tom Nichols, Paul Shoemaker, and Tim McGrath. The McGrath family has attended and participated in the pageant for over 85 years.
Adult shepherds are provided by the Saturday Morning Men's Group of The Reformed Church, led by Dan Johnson. The shepherd boys will be played by Liam Sands and Peter McSherry.
The angels will be Eva Cagliostro, Kathleen Conaton, Megan Ferrone, Ansley Jones, Hilary Rizzo, Lucy Rizzo, Grace Randall, Sabina Richter, Caroline Spitz, Emily Spitz, and Grace Stephens.
Dale Walker will, once again, serve as song leader. Sisters Grace and Sarah Winant, who led the singing last year, will participate in the invisible choir, which is led by Maryann Palermo.
This year's brass accompaniment will be provided by the Westchester Brass Quartet, led by Howard Levy, and will also include Ed Seldin and Jack Binder on trumpet and Howard Levy and Art Triggs on trombone.
Joanne Daddario will ring the tower bells. Scouts are provided by Troops 1 and 2, under the direction of Bill Chilson.
Charlie Diserens will bring his theater talents as stage manager. Lighting and sound are provided by Jeffrey Kastenbaum and Rick Everett.
The pageant began as a benefit to raise funds for Belgian refugees displaced during World War I. William Chauncy Langdon, a resident of Bronxville and a well-known international pageanteer, conceived an original work, The Bronxville Christmas Mystery 1914. The pageant as we know it today was originally held on the hillside of the Gramatan Hotel facing the train station; it was moved to the hillside of The Reformed Church in 1940.
The pageant is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Bronxville community, which contributes 100% of the funding.
A special thanks to Betty Hewitt, who organized this year's solicitation. Many others have contributed to the pageant in many ways. We are very grateful to all for your support.
Warm weather and a full moon should make this year's pageant especially beautiful. Come sing and enjoy the pageant!
Pictured here: The pageant nativity scene in a previous year.
Photo courtesy Sarah Normand
Religion Directory
Christ Church Bronxville
Christ Church Bronxville, or "CCBNY" as it's known in the community, is the village's Episcopal church, whose beginnings date back to 1898. The current church, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1926 and was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, who also designed St. Bartholomew's in New York City and the Chapel at West Point.
CCBNY offers a wide array of programs to its parishioners, who live throughout southern Westchester. The acclaimed music program boasts five choirs; international outreach efforts to Cuba; and education and service programs for family members of all ages. CCBNY is also home to the renowned children's music program Young at Arts (http://www.youngatartsny.org), and Eliza Corwin Frost (www.elizafrostschool.org), a nursery school for children ages 1 to 5.
Our services are as follows:
8:00AM Rite I Spoken Eucharist
10:00AM Family Choral Eucharist, with 11:00 AM Coffee Hour
5:00PM Informal Eucharist or Choral Evensong
"No matter where you are on your spiritual journey there is a home for you at Christ Church. Our worship, music, education and outreach challenge us to embrace holiness and fearlessly share Christ's love."
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3544
First Baptist Church
The First Baptist Church was organized in 1854. Its mission is “to reach out as a caring and Christ centered Church to people of all culture and races, helping them to know God and find fellowship with each other through Jesus Christ to the glory of God.”
407 New Rochelle Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-2560
http://www.firstbaptistchurchbronxville.com/
Reformed Church of Bronxville
The Reformed Church of Bronxville is the community church in the heart of the village. We welcome people of all faiths and persuasions to be a part of our church family. We have exciting programs to meet your interests including music and the arts, service and outreach, children's ministry and a wonderful Nursery School.
Starting Sept. 7th, we have three Sunday services held at 8:30 am, 10:30 am and 5:00 pm. A Fellowship Coffee Hour is offered after the 10:30 am service. Childcare is available during our 10:30 am service along with Church School classes for children from 2 years old through the 8th grade.
The Reformed Church
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-6776
www.reformedchurch.org
St. Joseph’s Church
St. Joseph Church, which opened its doors in 1925, is the Catholic Church in Bronxville. It offers services on Saturday, Sunday, weekdays and Holy Days. It offers a religious education program for K - 8th grade which takes place on Wednesday during the school year. It also offers a myriad of opportunities for parishioners to meet, share ideas and experiences and help others. The St. Joseph’s School offers classes for K – 8th grade.
15 Cedar Street
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-1660
http://www.saintjosephsbronxville.org/
Village Lutheran Church
The Village Lutheran Church “is a ministry of word and sacraments. This ministry gives opportunities for witness, nurture, fellowship, stewardship and service.” The Chapel School, which goes from pre-school three-year olds through 8th grade, is an integral part of the Church’s ministry for children.
172 White Plains Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-0207
West Center Congregational Church
West Center Congregational Church is a member of The United Church of Christ. It welcomes “all who seek to find, know and serve the living God better in all they are and do.”
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3829
Sinai Free Synagogue
Sinai Free Synagogue is Westchester`s "newest" Reform congregation but its roots go back almost 100 years. Formed in 1999 by a merger of Mount Vernon`s Sinai Temple (founded in 1906 and the first Reform congregation in Westchester County) and the Free Synagogue of Westchester (founded in 1927), the 250-member congregation has a long, distinguished history.
Please check the Calendar for dates and times.
550 North Columbus Avenue
914-664-1727
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