Three angels spread joy at Our Place nativity scene

Louise Dickson, Times Colonist
Published: Saturday, December 23, 2006
They didn't see a star shining in the East.

The three girls from Pacific Christian School saw a man dressed in long robes waving a shepherd's crook and dancing with joy as the bus they were on rushed past Victoria City Hall.

They didn't see a manger and a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.

They saw a green tent with a couple of bales of hay scattered on its floor and people in costumes milling about.

No angel of the Lord appeared before them with tidings of great joy.

But Chelsea Maycock, Rebecca Greenhagh and Brittany Massicotte hopped off their bus anyway after catching a glimpse of Our Place's nativity pageant held yesterday at Centennial Square. The three students, all wearing Santa hats, sat in the tent and had their pictures taken with Mary and Joseph, the three wise men, Melchior, Balthazar, and Gaspar, and a lone shepherd.

"I think it's an amazing idea," said Massicotte. "Baby Jesus is looking pretty good. The costumes are really well done."

No heavenly host showed up to sing the praises of God -- but choral conductor Louise Rose was doing her best, handing out sheet music and encouraging the cast, and a few intoxicated souls who happened by, to join in the Christmas spirit.

The girls left, but returned about 20 minutes later with hot coffee for all the actors and money for the donation box.

"We just wanted to spread a little Christmas cheer," said Massicotte.

And they did.

The Virgin Mary, played by Betty Taylor, smiled and cradled Baby Jesus -- a water bottle wrapped in a blanket -- in her arms.

"It's a great feeling," said Taylor, perched on her bale of hay.

"This was just what I needed," said Gordon Kokak, the lone shepherd, sipping on his hot drink. "I was one of the Wise Men this morning and it's cold out here."

And perhaps a Christmas pageant by those involved with the homeless was just what Victoria needed.

Don Gagnon, dressed as Joseph, stood on Douglas Street and waved at the passing cars and buses. People honked their horns as they drove by. Some rolled down their windows and called out 'Merry Christmas.' Others stopped to talk, ask questions, take pictures or join in the singing.

When Rev. Al Tysick showed up for his late afternoon shift as Joseph, he was touched by the new Christmas story -- the story of the three students who wanted to spread some Christmas cheer.

"That's just what I wanted to happen," said Tysick. "For us to know one another, for both sides, the homeless and those who have money, to come together. That's what the Christmas story is all about.

"We put this on for the whole community to remember the Christmas story and remember that Mary and Joseph were homeless at that time. What a story for this time of year. We did the pageant last year and we received a lot of accolades from the community, so we thought we'd do it again for the community."