As some may have been taking down all symbols of the celebration of Christmas during the past week, the parishioners at Saint David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church were taking in one last Christmas tradition this past Sunday before saying farewell to another Christmas celebration: the church’s annual Epiphany pageant, the story of Christmas, of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and the subsequent birth of Jesus, as told by the youngest members of the parish.

Unofficially dubbed the “Ecclesiastical Players” by St. David’s Pastor Andrea Castner Wyatt, approximately two dozen students presented the story using a script written by Sunday school teacher and parishioner, Michael Sheldon and assisted by preschool director Cheryl Boscia and teachers Christina Sprows and Dan Sepe. The student performers ranged in age from preschool through high school and performed in full costume with just a few rehearsals under their belts.

The Feast of the Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day or Little Christmas, is celebrated 12 days after Christmas and marks the end of the Christmas season. It celebrates the shepherds who kept watch by night, until they saw the star indicating the birth of Jesus, as well as the visit to Mary, Joseph and Jesus by the Magi, who came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The students ended this year’s pageant with the singing of “Silent Night, Holy Night,” led by Boscia, and Joe Hutnak, a member of the church choir.

“I am just so proud of these students, they worked so hard and don’t have a lot of time to practice beforehand,” said Boscia at the conclusion. “They are a joy to work with and they did an amazing job.”