Music is a central part of our Christmas celebration. Carols, concerts, chorales, and cantatas all enhance our journey to the manger. But there’s something extraordinarily uplifting about hearing the voices of children singing.

On Sunday morning, the First Kids Choir of First Baptist Church of Gadsden brought sparkle, color, and childlike joy to the sanctuary as they presented The Carol of the Toys: A Christmas Story, a delightful musical written and published by Semsen Music. With lively melodies, playful characters, and a meaningful storyline, the presentation filled the room with both laughter and reverence.

The sole purpose of the church isn’t to have fun. The church exists to worship God, share the good news, nurture faith, build community, and serve God by serving others. But sometimes we need to be reminded that doing the work of the church—and sharing the good news—can also be a lot of fun.

This musical was fun. It imagines a world where toys come to life—dolls, stuffed animals, candy canes, a robot, a racecar, and more—and each one joins a whimsical search for the true meaning of Christmas. Their journey leads them far beyond the wrapping paper and bows as they search for the missing member of their menagerie: the baby Jesus.

One upbeat number featured the toys realizing there must be more to Christmas than decorations, tapping out the cheerful line, “We’re searching for the meaning—something bright, something true!” Another musical moment offered a gentle reminder as the chorus softly sang, “Follow the star… it will lead you to the King.” These brief refrains helped guide the toys—and the congregation—toward the heart of the nativity story.

Threaded throughout the musical was a theme simple enough for children to grasp yet profound enough for adults to ponder: Even toys have a story to tell at Christmas.

And what a story they told. Through their colorful costumes, energetic voices, and spirited dancing (yes, these Baptists can dance), the children conveyed a message that resonated far beyond the stage. Their performance reminded us that the Christmas story is not bound to a single age group, culture, or generation. It speaks through Scripture and song and—even more delightfully—through a cast of animated toys brought to life by children who believe in the story they’re telling.

The musical reached its apex when the holy family arrived, one by one. First came a melodious Mary, also searching for the baby Jesus. Then a jiving Joseph entered, whose dance steps could put the most devout Pentecostal to shame, joining Mary and the children in their search. When the Christ child finally appeared in a tethered gift box—symbolizing that he had been lost or overlooked in the hustle and bustle of Christmas—the toys celebrated that the child had been found and the nativity was complete.

The musical concluded with the toys gathered around the manger, singing that Christmas is ultimately about God’s love made visible in Jesus. The final moments echoed with wonder as the children sang about the joy found “in a tiny child who changes everything.”

In a season often crowded with shopping lists and schedules, The Carol of the Toys offered a refreshing reset—an invitation to slow down, listen, and rediscover the miracle at the center of it all. It also issued a gentle reminder not to leave Jesus behind in the clutter.

This Christmas, may we remember that even toys have a story to tell—and every good Christmas story leads us to Jesus.

At the First Baptist Church of Gadsden, it was the joyful voices of children who pointed us all toward that hope, that light, and that love.

(Barry Howard is a retired pastor who now serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife live on Cove Lake in northeast Alabama.)