Joyland Christmas Celebration!

Lights! Camera! And action! This Christmas season, we participated in the much anticipated Joyland Christmas Celebration (JCC), an annual production put on by ImpACT and Joyland (the children’s ministry at Gracepoint Church) to share the meaning of Christmas with others. Over 20 students were able to participate in JCC and after braving the long practices, sudden script changes and…slight technical difficulties, we were able to put on one of the most exciting and festive JCCs ever! This year’s 2nd and 3rd grade skit included a series of engaging vignettes, classic Christmas carols and a fantastic finale medley to portray the Christmas story. As JCC approached, the children prepared by memorizing their lines, practicing the selected carols, and working with their teachers and team leads to bring out their latent acting potential. These long day practices not only gave the teachers and team leads time to bond with their students, but also gave students time to bond with each other through costume fittings, practice rehearsals, and of course most importantly—the snack times. At the same time, other teachers and volunteers were hard at work to transform Willard auditorium from an everyday school auditorium into a brilliantly propped stage complete with a cozy fireplace and decked out Christmas tree. Finally, the day of JCC arrived. Excitement was definitely in the air as our students got dressed in their costumes and waited backstage for their cue. The house lights dimmed. The music came on. And soon, the auditorium was filled with our children singing, acting, and dancing. When the house lights came on, it was rewarding to see so many friends and family attend JCC. Overall, the students had fun portraying the meaning of Christmas through their skit and we know that all that hard work, sweat, and occasional tears in preparation for JCC was well worth it!