By David Rogers. December 6, 2011. BLOWING ROCK -- Young girl Beth has a dream -- and her Dad is transformed from peddling cars to camels in biblical times, setting the stage for a fun "drama" about the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.  That was the delightful play performed by the Koinonia Choir and Choir Plus at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon, December 4.

All students of Blowing Rock School except for one Hardin Park student, the Koinonia cast featured 20 girls and one "Dad" in "Camel Lot: Don't Miss the Manger -- A Christmas Musical for Kids."  And it was a hoot.

Director Laurie Nicholson, who also serves as the Christian Education and Music Director for Rumple Church, offered a synopsis of the story to Blowing Rock News.

"The storyline is straightforward enough," observed Nicholson.  "A young girl (Beth) is in her church Christmas pageant and she is working on her lines when her father, who owns a car lot, calls from work. He tells her he will do his best to make the pageant program, but laments that he is so busy.  She assures him it will be OK if he can't make it.  Then she falls asleep in her chair and has a dream.  It is sort of like the Christmas pageant, but her Dad and brother, Johnny, are in the dream.  A significant "twist" is that Dad lives in biblical times, as a Camel Lot owner and Johnny is the self-proclaimed "mascot" of the lot, wearing a camel costume and singing the store jingle at every opportunity.  Throughout the day, shepherds and Magi visit the Camel Lot with astounding news about a newborn baby right there in Bethlehem.  The visitors change Dad Baranabas' focus so that he not only won't miss the manger scene, but he won't miss his daughter's performance, either."

"Camel Lot" was created by Cyndi Nine, Rob Howard, and David Guthrie.  Nicholson directed the Koinonia production, with co-direction by Kim Kincaid and choreography by Andy Pearson.  The cast included:

• Beth.............................Grace Watson
• Dad..............................Jason Warren
• Barnabas.....................Libby Warren
• Jonathan/Johnny...... Emma Liesegang
• Matthew.....................Breanna Meadows
• Lydia...........................Suzanna Gurkin
• Sarah..........................Kate Johnson
• Rich Man...................Molly  Kirkland
• Rich Woman.............Daisy Coffey
• Mom..........................Darmody Tausche
• Daughter...................Molly Graham
• Fancy Lady................Sofie Crump
• Cowgirl......................Kathleen Gibson
• Deborah....................Brooke Ashcraft
• Ruth..........................Caroline Hoover
• Jamie Sue.................Mia Escalera
• Little Deb..................Chloe Galleher
• King 1........................Riley Kiker
• King 2.......................Katie O'Bryan
• King 3.......................Libby Glidewell
• Brittany....................Emily Smith

"Koinonia" is a Greek word meaning "fellowship", according to Nicholson. The Koinonia Choir is for children in grades 2-5. "Our goal," Nicholson told Blowing Rock News, "is to produce one musical each year at Christmas, and to teach the youth to lead music in worship."

The choir has grown to 20 girls this year -- no boys yet, but they are welcome, reported Nicholson -- and in addition to the choral aspect, many of the girls are encouraged to perform solos.

To facilitate the community aspect of the choir, each Wednesday Nicholson walks to Blowing Rock School to pick up the youth. Usually with parents, the group walks over to Rumple Church together, although the church van and parent cars are used in inclement weather. "Susan Graham is usually one of the parents," said Nicholson, "and Kim Kincaid is our accompanist and my co-director."

Before rehearsal, the students have a snack together, then sing from 3:00 to 4:15 pm.  "Brooke Ashcraft is from Hardin Park School," Nicholson noted. "Everyone else is from Blowing Rock.  This is an outreach ministry of Rumple Church, and we have a very good record the past two years of all of the students' parents making a real effort to come on Sunday mornings when we are singing in worship, no matter which church they regularly attend."

With Nicholson's coordination and leadership, Rumple also offers ChoirPlus on Thursdays each week. "This is a mini-Vacation Bible School program for kindergarden through 2nd graders.  We have 13 children in ChoirPlus this year, including four boys and nine girls. We also walk from Blowing Rock School, have a snack, and then doa craft, have story time and play time, and do a little music."

Smiling, Nicholson desribed, "Last week Cheryl Cutlip taught the kids a 'hip-hop' Gingerbread dance, and they loved it!  We usually wind down with a video.  We have a wonderful team of adult volunteers who help with this ministry."

Nicholson invites anyone with an interest in Koinonia Choir or Choir Plus to call her at 828-295-7675, ext. 14.

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