By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

During the 1950s, on the evening of Dec. 24, townspeople of all ages gathered at the Schnecksville Sunday School for the annual Christmas Festival.

On Christmas Eve, the chapel was filled with children, their parents, some grandparents and neighbors who came out to share in the joyful atmosphere.

Union Church, Neffs, which was attended by most local people, did not yet have services on Christmas Eve.

On that night, the Sunday School was the focus of holiday worship.

Children from toddlers up through high schoolers participated in the program.

Everyone looked forward to seeing the youngest ones stride on to the stage to say their “piece” or recitation.

Some of them were more interested in looking out at the audience and waving to their parents.

Others were overcome by the experience and were too shy to speak.

Most had mastered their assigned poem and were able to say it with prompting from the teacher who was standing to the side of the stage.

Occasionally, the grade school children became a bit spunky.

One year, a boy stomped up the steps and leaned over to see the poinsettias on the altar.

In a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he said, “Those flowers stink!”

One girl was swaying back and forth as she delivered her message, and the superintendent said, “She must have practiced that while using her hula hoop.”

The older students typically had a Nativity re-enactment with scriptures and carols.

There were usually piano solos and an instrumental ensemble for special music.

When the children had finished their presentations, the superintendent would call on the adult Bible class teacher Harvey Sloyer to say a few words.

Although popular with the grown-ups, Mr. Sloyer’s speech seemed long and tiresome to the young kids.

There’s one part of it, however, that I’ve always remembered.

He would end his message with the question,

“When Jesus comes knocking on your door, will you be ready?”

Finally, the moment the kids were waiting for had arrived.

The superintendent announced that Santa Claus was there to drop off something for the girls and boys.

We each received a small, decorated card box filled with chocolate candy which could be carried by a woven string handle.

Next came the benediction, and everyone would go out into the December night to look forward to the celebration of Christmas on Dec. 25.