What Child Is This?   By Sarah

The night was cold and a foot and a half of freshly fallen snow covered the ground.  Wind blew furiously around the church goers as they all hurried into the small stone church.  Down the street, several cars stopped, allowing the occupants to get out.  From the first car, Zac and Kate stepped.  Kate turned and opened the back door, four year old Ezra scooting from the back seat. 

“Come on, sweetie. You have to get into your costume,” Kate murmured, taking her nephew by the hand.  Zac rounded the car and followed his wife and nephew into the side door of the church.  From the second car Isaac climbed out and unbuckled Ellie from her car seat.  She clung to him in her big coat and matching hat and mittens.  Nikki followed them through the same door that Zac and Kate had gone through.  They found the rest of the family in the chapel. 

“Mama,” Ellie called, squirming until Isaac put her down.  The twenty month old scurried over to her mother who was dressed in a long blue dress. 

“Me up, Mama,” Ellie begged, tugging on her mother’s dress. 

“No right now baby.  Why don’t we get you into your angel costume,” Natalie suggested.  Ellie pouted but took off her hat and coat.  Natalie slipped the white fabric over her pale blue outfit. 

A few rows up, Taylor was tying a piece of rope around Ezra’s waist.  He was dressed as a shepherd and was tugging on the hem of Taylor’s robe. 

“Ezra, hold still,” Taylor ordered, pulling his son’s hand off his robe.  There was a knock on the door and Zac pulled it open a few inches. 

“Everybody almost ready?” the minister asked, giving the family a smile. 

“Yeah…we’ll be out in a few minutes,” Natalie answered, putting the halo on Ellie’s head before moving over to River who was sound asleep. 

“We’ll see you out there,” Isaac informed his brother and sister-in-law.  He led his wife, younger brother and sister-in-law out of the room.  They entered the sanctuary to find it filled with people.  Zac spotted his parents and siblings crammed into the second row.  He dragged Ike, Nikki and Kate with him towards them. 

“Can we fit four more?” he asked in a whisper.  The family began to squish down.  Zac moved in last just as the lights down.  The minister walked up to the pulpit to address the congregation briefly. 

“Welcome brothers and sisters.  Tonight we’re here to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ,” he spoke loudly.  With that he took his seat and the nativity play began.  Several other shepherds walked out, one holding Ezra’s hand.  He waved frantically to his family as he passed them, nearly tripping the other man with the small staff he was carrying.  The angels were already gathered around the manger set.  Finally the back doors of the sanctuary opened and the organ began to play.  Heads turned to see Taylor, Natalie and River moving down the isle. 

The congregation rose once the trio reached the front and Natalie placed her three-month-old son in the manger.  The organ played the introduction to ‘Away in a Manger’.  Zac wrapped his arm around Kate and Isaac did the same with Nikki as they sang loudly.  Taylor beamed at his family seated in the congregation, his voice ringing out to mix with his brothers.  It seemed as though they were leading the congregation.  The recessional hymn began to play, “what Child is this?” and Taylor picked up River and led the way back down the isle.  Natalie followed with a little angel and shepherd clinging to each hand.