Del Cerro Baptist Church, a gift of song and drama to the city with the Christmas Story Tree

Every year since 1987, the Christmas Story Tree has bejeweled the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park during December Nights on the Prado, formerly called Christmas on the Prado. 

“The tree is our church’s gift to the city,” said Paul Plunk, music director of Del Cerro Baptist Church in La Mesa. 

For three days beginning Nov. 26, a work crew from the church worked to build, green and decorate the 34-foot-high tree. 

Every year since 1987, the Christmas Story Tree has bejeweled the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park during December Nights on the Prado, formerly called Christmas on the Prado. 

“The tree is our church’s gift to the city,” said Paul Plunk, music director of Del Cerro Baptist Church in La Mesa. 

For three days beginning Nov. 26, a work crew from the church worked to build, green and decorate the 34-foot-high tree. 

The 70-voice choir will sing traditional and contemporary Christmas songs. The tree will open up at various intervals to reveal scenes depicting the Christmas story.   

Nearly six months of preparation have gone into the preparation. Plunk chose the music in July, and by early September, the choir began a relentless schedule of rehearsals until every note and word was memorized. 

Such a large production takes major teamwork. Members of the church arrived at 8 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday and stayed for twelve hours working to build the tree. The tree sections began to look like parts of a real tree when adorned with fresh pine branches. 

When it came time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the kitchen crew headed up by church member Stella Grubert went down to the park and brought huge pots of coffee and kettles of soup. Grubert and fellow church member Teresa Hudson created three soups, beef stew and chili for the tree-building crew.   

“Best beef stew I’ve ever tasted,” said church member Brian Palhegyi, who did security and clean up for the tree this year. Palhegyi has participated in the tree production for nearly forty years, ever since he was a teen-ager. 

“Working on the Christmas Story Tree is the ultimate act of service for our church. It’s an honor,” he said.

Rebecca Miljanic, 26, has sung in the tree choir since she was 14 years old. This year she helped Grubert in the kitchen and making food runs to the park. 

“The whole tree experience is a ministry to all who come,” Miljanic said.

Grubert agreed. “It’s a good way to get into the spirit and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. The camaraderie working with each other is a real joy, too,” she said.

The weather should be perfect, but if not, the show will still go on. Performances will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 and Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Organ Pavilion. On Sunday, Dec. 3, there will be an encore performance at 5 p.m.

For more information about the Christmas Story Tree and Del Cerro Baptist Church, visit the church’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DelCerroBaptist or call 619-460-2210.