ICF Children's Church CHRISTmas program!

I've been trying all week to get our program uploaded, but unfortunately it hasn't worked on photobucket or YouTube. I had hoped to get it on one of those programs, so those without a Facebook account could easily view it, but no success  :(

Here is the Facebook link, so you can see it there:

Part 1

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=608659539702

Part 2

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=608662907952&comments

Moving on to exactly how the program went...!!! 

Because of the snow here in Padova, some of our children and their families weren't able to make it to church Sunday morning...which meant less voices to sing and one

main speaking part missing. We were sad that some of our kids who had been practicing with us weren't able to perform with us. Sunday was the first day we actually went through the program in the "sanctuary" so there were details that we didn't have completely worked out...like deciding to ditch the microphone after the first speaking scene. We also decided to run the background speaking track because one of our shepherds who had lines was gone and a couple of the kids didn't have their lines memorized. They said the lines they did know along with the CD. A couple of our kids had really been practicing and even helped the others practice right before the program started! It's hard when a number of children don't come every Sunday. For having so much to learn and not very much time to practice all together, all of the kids did GREAT!!! I had several parents tell me afterwards how much their children enjoyed this program, and that they were singing the songs at home.

And the best part? The beautiful girl who was one of our shepherds (in the picture above, she's at the end of the line in the bright turquoise outfit) asked Jesus to be her Lord & Savior after Pastor Steve's sermon. During part of his teaching, he talked about gifts...that the best gift that has ever been given or that can ever be received is the gift of salvation. The Father gave His only Son so that we might be saved. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. How glorious for her to accept His gift.
What better way to celebrate CHRISTmas? After all, it's all about Him.

Thanks to all of you who were praying for our kids and our program!

"To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever!"

Romans 16:27