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“I couldn’t find a play that said exactly what I wanted it to say,� Brenda said. “So, I decided to write one.�

The story follows a group of kids preparing a Christmas party in hopes of impressing their new youth pastor, each with their own idea of what makes Christmas “perfect,� from decorations and food to games, music and gifts. As the planning unravels, the focus shifts to what truly matters.

The setup is reminiscent of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,� with kids fully in charge of the party, planning the food, sharing fun facts and confidently running the show themselves.

One of the story’s pivotal moments is played by Zoe Jersild, who portrays a well-meaning but clumsy character whose mistake sets the message in motion.

“My character’s kind of a klutz,� Jersild said. “She trips and breaks stuff, and she breaks the nativity, and that kind of starts the story.�

The broken nativity scene — separating the baby Jesus from the rest — becomes the emotional turning point.

For Brenda, that moment captures the heart of the production.

“A broken nativity is actually the perfect symbol for why we have Christmas,� she said. “Sin separates us from God, and there’s nothing we can do to fix that. That’s why God sent Jesus.�

Jersild said being part of the musical has been a highlight of her holiday season.

“It’s really fun,� she said. “I like practicing and just being together. It’s just a fun experience.�

While the broken nativity drives the story, the physical comedy is what Jersild enjoys most.

“I like when I get to trip and fall,� she said. “I get to land on a big, poofy mat back there.�

The production is also a family effort for Brenda, who co-directs the play with her 16-year-old daughter, Lydia, a student at Parker Arts Academy. Her 11-year-old son runs sound and lighting, and another son opens the show singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.�

“I like working with my mom,� Lydia said. “We can talk about things outside of rehearsal, so we’re prepared and don’t waste as much time. And I feel like I can actually say what I think.�

Drawing on her experience at Parker, she said she helped elevate the production by introducing professional rehearsal techniques.

“We start with a read-through, then work on songs, then blocking, and eventually put everything together,� she said. “We also talk about angling and making sure we’re not facing away from the audience.�

She said one of the biggest challenges was helping younger performers understand and apply notes.

“They can take notes a lot of different ways, or they forget them by the next rehearsal,� she said. “But eventually they bring it together.�

She said she believed the kids were capable of pulling off a polished production.

“They really liked doing the show last year,� she said. “If we gave them enough time, I knew they could bring it up a level.�

“Since the show was written by my mom, the characters had never been done before, so they really got to make them their own,� she added.

Brenda said that sense of ownership is what makes the show special.

“They weren’t forced into it,� she said. “They were the ones asking in August what the Christmas show was going to be.�

After the first performance, Brenda said she was blown away.

The final performance of “The Perfect Christmas,� is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at the church, 2103 Roxbury Road. The show is open to the public, free to attend, and audience members are invited to stay afterward for cookies and refreshments.

“The kids are adorable,� she said. “But it also brings you back to the real meaning of Christmas. None of us is perfect; and that’s the whole point.�