Every Sunday morning, Colonial’s fourth and fifth graders eagerly count down the seconds to the beginning of their 9:30 Sunday School, Colonial Corners. Comical and quirky, Corners’ short skits colorfully illustrate biblical life lessons through the adventures of twelve eccentric townspeople.

While Colonial Corners’ beloved characters, including Mr. Mayor, Dr. Shots, and Justin Case, appear on stage each week, behind-the-scenes volunteers like Carrie Jo Wintermute help bring their stories to life. Carrie Jo, who lives in Raleigh with husband Steve and children Nathan and Caroline, has assisted with Colonial Corners props and costumes for two of her ten years at Colonial. Each week, she reviews the script and provides the actors with any outrageous outfits and silly set pieces they may require. “Sometimes it’s really easy, and sometimes I have to make something or shop for it or borrow it,” Carrie Jo says. “They [the actors] may say, ‘We need something that’s kind of unusual,’ and I’ll think about it and come up with something fun… I like using my creativity.”

When her daughter, Caroline, joined Colonial Corners two years ago, the amusing yet instructive skits piqued Carrie Jo’s interest. “One day,” she says, “I went backstage and said, ‘I’d like to get involved somehow…can I do anything?’ ” Carrie Jo’s addition to the Corners team provided the actors a welcome opportunity to focus on studying their lines instead of hunting for props.