[THE HOLY NATIVITY] 12.08.2019
By Dr. Harvey Hatcher | Columbia First Assembly | Clara Stark, Director
CAST
Angel Jenni Benus
Mary Jessica Ragsdell
Joseph Ellis Benus
Children Easton, Evie & Millie Benus
Shepherd Rosa Lee Samson
Wise Men Dennis Booth
Bo Ertz
Reggie Hicks
Narrators Margie Cortes’
Laura Ertz
Linda Waage
Costumes Assistant – Sondra Wassmann
Deaf Interpretation – Janna Knowles
Sound & Media – Kyle & Kathryn Melton
Graphic Design – Kathryn Melton
Accompaniment – Pastor Tracy Cook
This play is an adaptation of The Holy Nativity by Dr. Harvey B. Hatcher, written in 1957 Dr. Hatcher was the father of our own Marilyn Hargis. Marilyn shared these remarks:
It was the year before we moved to Texas where he taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He taught speech and drama to college students, many of whom were pastors of little churches on the weekend. As Christmas rolled around, they weren’t sure what they should do to honor Christ and keep Him foremost during the Christmas season. Dad decided to see if he could write something that could be adapted to be used in churches, no matter the size or ability or budget.
He used this as a format for a very small newly organized church, a college church, and a fairly large city church. Small churches with no budget for costumes and very few people, were silhouetted behind a screen, where the largest churches used trumpet and string quartets, an organ and full choir, and a speech choir. His hope and his prayer was to have a worshipful Christmas program that could be used in a variety of circumstances.
