Bartlett church honors Christmas pageant founders at this year’s event

Living Lord Lutheran Church in Bartlett celebrated its 35th annual Christmas pageant on Sunday, Dec. 14. The production’s intergenerational cast of nearly 70 people performed “Arrest These Merry Gentlemen!” for a packed audience in the church’s sanctuary, followed by a festive reception.

The Christmas pageant was extra special this year for two reasons. Not only was it the 35th anniversary of the pageant, but the two sisters who began the pageant tradition at Living Lord Church were in attendance: Glenda Travelstead and Janet Ohlson.

This year’s production featured a special slideshow history of the pageant productions over the years as well as recognition of Ohlson and Travelstead as honored guests.

The two sisters even received a mention during the production itself. At one point, two of the major characters introduced themselves as the sisters, using their names, in a fun shoutout.

“We were blessed to have Living Lord pageant ‘royalty’ with us at this year’s 35th annual Christmas pageant!,” said the Rev. Kristian Johnson, Living Lord’s pastor. “We are all so grateful to Janet and Glenda for their years of inspired and excellent leadership in our children’s ministry and Sunday school, and for founding our wonderful pageant tradition!”

Staging an annual Christmas pageant is a time-honored tradition at Living Lord Church, and it all began back in 1990 when Travelstead and Ohlson became the church’s volunteer Sunday school superintendents, ultimately serving for 15 years.

Having grown up in a church with an annual pageant run by their mother, Shirley Thompson, the sisters knew they wanted to start it up at Living Lord Church. That first year, they kept it simple, sewing all the costumes for a basic Nativity scene and designing a simple presentation with adorable Sunday school kids.

In subsequent pageants over the next 14 years, they added angels, live music, and ultimately a much larger cast and more elaborate staging. The sisters refined their ideas as the years passed and had a lot of assistance from countless leaders, parents, students, musicians, and others from the Living Lord faith community.

“Janet and Glenda were the pillars of the Sunday school and Christmas pageant and so important to its success! The way they welcomed your child in, like family — we are forever grateful and blessed through their contributions to Living Lord,” said longtime church member Susan Hoch.

When Ohlson and Travelstead retired from serving as Sunday school superintendents in 2005, others picked up the mantle and the Christmas pageant tradition continues today, as a legacy of the sisters’ dedication to sharing the Christmas story.

Steve Ricci, current director of Sunday school and youth music, has been directing the pageant nearly every year (with one year away) since 2009, along with Mary Ellen Ricci, his spouse.

Before that, they co-directed with other church leaders for a couple of years — so they too, have a very long history of leading and directing the pageant.

“The Christmas pageant at Living Lord continues to be an incredible opportunity to spread Christmas cheer to the congregation and community. There is something magical about being a part of the greatest story ever told,” Steve Ricci said.

After this year’s performance, the sisters, ever humble, kept their comments brief. “Thank you, this blesses my heart,” Ohlson said. “This pageant has always meant so much to us. Thank you,” Travelstead said.

The sisters set a high bar for Christmas pageants at Living Lord, and the tradition continues.

Learn more at livinglordlutheran.org. As a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Living Lord Church at 1044 Congress Drive welcomes all to participate in its community of faith.