The holiday season is approaching, and there are many traditions we have come to love and appreciate in Victoria.

But one of these traditions has changed. Instead of the yearly Christmas pageant, which has been a local showcase year after year complete with live animals and an almost Broadway-style presentation, Northside Baptist Church has announced a new Christmas tradition. The church is partnering with Habitat for Humanity, Interstate Battery and Wells Fargo for a project called "A Home for Christmas." The church will build a family a home that will be ready by Christmas.

This is a wonderful new tradition and we are excited to see this church family make a plan to come together and serve the community they are a part of. We are sad to see the magnificent pageant go, but we are happy to see a more service-oriented tradition take its place.

Sadly, we've known about the end of the pageant tradition since February. That was when Northside made the announcement that pageant director Connie Ewing was stepping down. And after examining what it would take to run the pageant without her, the church decided it would be better to find a new way to celebrate the season with the community.

According to the Rev. John Woods, the former pageant co-director, the new project aims to marry the "telling of the Gospel" with the "doing of the Gospel." And we applaud them for making the decision to take a more hands-on approach to reaching and helping others.

While we will miss the glamorous pageant, and we are sure there are many who are disappointed to see it leave, we know Victoria will not be left without celebrations this year. During the Christmas season, there are many activities residents can enjoy, including Christmas in the Park, the Lighted Parade and other local church pageants. So, while we may not be treated to the same amazing level of showmanship, we will still have plenty of opportunities to observe and celebrate the spirit of the season.

And we thank Northside Baptist Church for taking the brave step of changing a much-loved tradition and shifting the focus to helping others.

This editorial reflects the views of the Victoria Advocate's editorial board.