Christmas Eve Children's Choir Performance

Christmas Eve back in 2013 was spent at church, waiting for the children's holiday performance to begin. The sanctuary was decorated for the occasion, with a huge, brightly-lit Christmas tree to the side of the stage and rows of red and white poinsettias lining the altar.

The kids, a mix of ages all dressed in their holiday best, filed onto the stage. There were velvet dresses, button-down shirts, and a few slightly crooked ties. They gathered together, some looking intently at the audience, others a bit more shyly at the floor, waiting for their cue to start singing.

From our view in the pews, we watched them sing their carols. You could see the concentration on their faces as they sang. The performance was exactly what you'd hope for: earnest, a little imperfect, and completely charming. It was a simple, quiet way to mark the holiday, surrounded by the community.