Church suspends Christmas musical

After 30 years, the Christian Center is suspending its annual Christmas musical.

"I’ve loved doing this. But this year is a great opportunity for rejuvenation," said Sean Morgan, a board member at Christian Center and director of the play for 21 years.

Lorraine Woolard, also a board member, agreed: "It's perfect timing, really. Everything is just lining up one, two, three."

Woolard also said the decision wasn't easy.

"We have so appreciated how much the community cherishes this event. We know the play is a tradition for so many,” she said. “But we are excited to see what God is going to do."

Past years have seen thousands of audience members for the two-weekend showings. For the past several years, planning for the play has started at the beginning of the new year. The musical is selected, auditions are held and the set is planned before summer. Volunteers in the cast and crew begin weekend and evening rehearsals in September.

"It is time to let the ground lie fallow ... in order to reap a great harvest in the future,” said Krista Van Helden, who produced the play in 2011 and starred in it for several years.