Sometimes the best seat in the house is on the stoop.
Folks came from far and wide to celebrate Good Shepherd Church in Marine Park’s tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 28, but a few lucky locals only had to travel as far as their front door to behold the luminous spectacle, one onlooker said.
“We invited 28 people over, and we all gathered on our stoop to watch the lighting,” said Rosemary Cifford, who’s Batchelder Street home between avenues S and T is across the street from Good Shepherd. “We’ve being doing this since 1991.”
The event kicked off with a children’s choir singing a few holiday ditties.
Kids from the Cifford party and beyond who gathered around the Batchelder Street church, whose parishioners treated them to candy canes to ease the wait until the big moment.
Finally, Santa Claus appeared on the roof of Good Shepherd to the astonishment of the assembled boys and girls.
As the anticipation built, Santa began the final countdown from 10, and, with everyone joining in, the tree suddenly burst forth with light when the count reached zero.
Afterwards, Santa clambered down from the top of the church. All the kids were delighted to meet the big man — and gush about their Christmas dreams, according to one of St. Nick’s elves.
“They love it — it’s really great,” said Deanna Gallina, a Christmas elf who also works at Good Shepherd.
