SUFFERN - The Sunday morning service at Suffern Presbyterian Church was not your ordinary gathering. While it included the usual singing of hymns and offering of prayers, there was also a special performance to commemorate the meaning of Christmas.

The church's Children's and Youth Ministries performed the musical "Miracle on Main Street: The Little Pageant That Wouldn't Give Up" during the 10:30 a.m. Praise and Worship Service.

"I love the lights and decorations," the Rev. Debbie Kemp, co-pastor, told her congregation. "But how would anyone know what Christmas is about? Where is Jesus in any of it?"

She explained how the play helped convey the meaning of Christmas.

"What a great message. Christmas is all about Jesus. I encourage you this Christmas, put Christ in Christmas," she said.

The 50-minute play told the story of a town whose mayor would not let the children perform the Christmas pageant that they had been practicing in the town square. The mayor cited a number of reasons, including that the pageant was not "hip" enough for his town.

The children came up with a plan to get their pageant going with the help of the neighborhood. They went Christmas caroling door to door, trying to persuade the townspeople to call the mayor to help them with their cause.

One kind woman, who turned out to be the mayor's daughter, was so moved by the children's plight that she decided to help. Together they convinced the mayor to change his mind and spread the real meaning of Christmas.

In the end, the children presented their representation of the nativity for the entire town to see.

Dante Peterson, 10, of Suffern played the character of Quinn and had a solo in the musical.

"I was nervous," he said. "But it's really fun, getting to sing and talk and say our lines."

The director of the play, Jennifer Reinauer, 23, of Hopatcong, N.J., agreed that the hard work was worth it.

"I went to school for theatre and like working with little kids," she said. "It's very stressful, but they always end up knowing exactly what they're supposed to be doing."

Congregants appreciated the message behind the musical. "I loved it," said Karyn Moore, a self-described "50-something" from Nyack. "As the kids have grown each year they have gained confidence and really believe in what they are saying and singing."

Christmas pageants are traditionally held in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as a way to entertain and to tell the story of the birth of Jesus.

The Rev. Allen Kemp, co-pastor of the church and Debbie Kemp's husband, said this particular pageant "has the children tell the Christmas story."

It helps the children learn the Christmas story, and the parents, too. Some parents weren't raised going to church, he added, "and they come here and learn about it, too."

Next Sunday's service will feature the Christmas cantata "On This Very Night," performed by the Suffern Presbyterian Church Choir.