LAST MINUTE MUSINGS: A Christmas tradition reborn

It was with much regret last year that I put the news in the pages of this paper: The Community Christmas Choir, an effort by small churches in Putnam, Parke and Montgomery counties that put on an annual Christmas cantata, was to be no more.

After a 15-year run, the choir, which had grown from 35 to 125 members over the years, put on what was to be its final performance last December at the Russellville Community Center.

Jamie France, who had spearheaded the effort for a number of years, was calling it quits to spend more time with his family and growing children.

My regret was not only for the community, seeing a fine holiday tradition come to an end, but also personal.

Over the last 10 years, Nicole and I have come to embrace Putnam County as our adopted home. It’s the only home our kids know, and we hope to keep it that way.

As such, I like having the chance to experience the traditions of this place. Unfortunately, I’d never made it out to the cantata. Other demands — both professional and personal ­— always seem to be calling in early December.

I community tradition had come and gone, and I hadn’t experienced it. I didn’t like that.

With these thoughts still in the back of my mind, I was happy to get an email from Jeff Kiger early in September. It seems that a group of people, including board members Kiger, Gene Clodfelter, Nancy Clodfelter, Carol Baird, Karen Myers, Bob Maxwell and Kevin Swaim, had decided that 15 years wasn’t enough for this tradition.

And so a community tradition was carried on this past weekend.

Under the direction of Erik Foster, a choir again took the stage in the gym of the old Russellville School, bringing to the community songs of the faith, hope and love that Christmas carries with it.

A new tradition was even born this time around with the addition of an accompanying play: “How to have the (most spectacular, incredible, wonderful, astonishing, dazzling, magnificent) best Christmas ever.”

With a number of Putnam County Playhouse regulars joining the fold, the experience was probably a little different than years past. Not better or worse — just different.

The play even featured Chester the dog playing “Alexandria” — the first time that veteran PCPH director Shelly McFadden has cast an actor to play in drag.

The Jernagans managed to get up and around for early church service on Sunday — a minor Christmas miracle in and of itself — so that we might make the Sunday matinée performance in Russellville.

In the geographic anomaly that is Russellville, Ind. — it’s 25 minutes from everywhere — this tradition is well worth the trip.

Any visit to that old school that now serves as a community center is like stepping into the past and it always warms my heart.

Once inside, we were greeted with delicious homemade chicken and noodles, along with mashed potatoes, corn, rolls and dessert.

Even after consuming all those carbs, the entertainment that followed was too good to allow for a Sunday afternoon doze.

The music was inspired, beautiful.

The acting was heartfelt and professional.

The children’s choir, adorable.

And to think all this quality entertainment came at no cost — except for a free-will donation if you chose to eat.

So here’s to old gymnasiums, small towns, good music, time with family and most of all to holiday traditions and those willing to fight to keep them alive.

Let’s hope we get another 15 years and even more of the Community Christmas Choir and other local traditions like it.