Polk County News
6A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 20, 2017
Polk museum hosts pageant display
By Emily Mentzer
See the
display
The Itemizer-Observer
RICKREALL — The spirit
of the Rickreall Christmas
Pageant is back — or at least
the costumes — at the Polk
County History Museum
through the end of Decem-
ber.
When the pageant dis-
continued after 75 years of
performances, organizers
approached the museum to
discuss donating the exten-
sive collection of props and
costumes to preserve them
as part of Polk County histo-
ry, said David Moellen-
berndt, president of the Polk
County Historical Society.
“This year, the group ap-
proached the museum with
the offer to develop an
ephemeral Christmas dis-
play using the pageant ma-
terials,” he said.
Past pageant participants
Pam Scharf and Sharon Wat-
son decided to set up the
manger scene.
“It just seemed to come
together beautifully,” Scharf
said. “It was kind of bitter-
sweet to be handling the
costumes again, but it
brought back so many beau-
tiful memories. We were just
pleased to do it.”
With so many costumes
and props, Scharf and Wat-
son agreed that they could
set up a different scene from
the pageant each year, but
What: Rickreall Christ-
mas Pageant display.
Where: Polk County
History Museum, 560 S.
Pacific Highway W., Rick-
reall.
When: The museum is
open 1 to 5 p.m., Mon-
days, Wednesdays, Thurs-
days, Fridays, and Satur-
days. Closed Christmas
Day.
Admission: General,
$5; seniors, $4; students
with ID, $1; children
younger than 6, free;
centenarians, free.
For more informa-
tion: 503-623-6251.
DAVID MOELLEnbERnDT/for the Itemizer-Observer
Costumes from the Rickreall Pageant are carefully hung to show the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
starting with the manger
was an easy choice.
“It was just kind of auto-
matic,” Watson said. “When
you work with the pageant
Evangelical Bible Church
presents
“The Hope of the Ages”
for so long, what you want
to portray the first year is the
birth of the Christ child.”
The costumes were care-
fully unrolled, ironed and
hung, complete with back-
drops and props formerly
used in the pageant.
“We put one little angel
costume behind the dark
curtain of stars,” Watson
said. “It just shows God is
there, observing.”
Watson started with the
pageant as a singing slave
girl for 27 years, and got re-
involved in the tradition
when they asked her to help
with the costumes.
Now, both Scharf and Wat-
son are happy to see the cos-
tumes and props being used
again to keep the memory of
the pageant — and, more
importantly the story of the
birth of Jesus — alive.
“I was honored to be
asked to help,” Watson said.
“Because we knew we were
at the end of a line of won-
derful people who have
given time and money and
made this happen for 75
years. It took a lot of people.”
Candlelight Service
Christmas Eve
5:30 - 6:30
“Hope was born this night”
Performed by the Choir
Congregation singing and
small group performances
also included in the program.
December 24th at 4:00 pm
Evangelical Bible Church
1175 SE Howe St, Dallas
503-623-2331
45 min of
Christmas
Carols
Calvary Chapel
628 SE Jefferson St. • Dallas
For more information 503-831-1074
Christmas Eve
Add meaning to your
Christmas season by celebrating
the birth of Jesus in worship.
St.Thomas
Episcopal Church
10 am December 24
Last Sunday in Advent...Eucharist
7 pm Christmas Eve
Choral Eucharist
7 p.m. Candlelight Service
10 p.m. Candlelight
Service with Communion
Coffee & Cookies
after each service
All are welcome.
Come as you are.
Trinity Lutheran
Church
320 SE Fir Villa Rd, Dallas
503-623-2233
www.dallastlc.org
St. Hilda’s Episcopal
4:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve
Carols and
Eucharist
Everyone is welcome!
1486 SW Levens, Dallas
503-623-8522 • www.stthomasdallas.org
245 W. Main St. • Monmouth
503-838-6087