The story of Christmas went off without a hitch at the St. Ignatius Mission Sunday service.

Mary, Lelia Marsh, was glowing and Joseph, Michael Durglo, couldn’t get that smile off his face. Their donkey, John Durglo, had the best hee-haw of the season.

Narrator Kaylie Durglo read the tale loud and clear under the stained glass windows. Snow fell outside to set the scene.

Perfect.

Kaylie read on: the stable was offered, the angels appeared. The guiding light of the star brought the three wise men, with hearty beards, who brought their gifts to the baby’s bed. Kaylie finished, explaining why gifts are given at Christmas.

All this, with barely a practice to speak of.

They call it instant Broadway, organizer DeeDee Weingart said. It’s a shotgun process that begins as Mass is being presented upstairs. Downstairs, willing participants, aging from fifth grade and younger, gather to ready the story.

Every kid has a part and a costume. A different variation of the story of Christmas, this year picked out of a fun pop-up book, is picked each year.

“I’ve been doing this forever. It’s been going on for years,” Weingart said.

This year Mary wore blue, Joseph had a vest made by Weingart. The wise men’s costumes were made by Carol Lipsomb. As the liturgy finished they’d run through the story three times. The kids were as ready as ever.

“Everybody just lends a hand. We’ve made wings out of coat hangers, paper. It doesn’t matter if they’re an angel, a donkey, a cow . . . a shepherd, especially the kindergartners, are really excited,” Weingart said. “It’s just a beginning of the holiday spirit.”

At the end of the performance, the cast capped the performance with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” There was no need to practice those lyrics. The ovation was loud, and the crowd spilled outside, into the snow, to the basement where Santa was waiting.

The coffee was hot and the cookies were on.

“Afterwards we have a big birthday party for Jesus, that’s our celebration,” Weingart said. “We have cake and everything. We sing happy birthday to Jesus. It’s really fun.”

On Wednesday, the church held a caroling session and midnight Mass. The St. Ignatius Mission Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today. A New Year’s Mass at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, will be also be held.