FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT - PEACE

What a great start to the 4th Sunday in Advent - but there wasn’t much peace in the congregation this morning and I will leave you to imagine the hubbub with the various conversations and laughter ensuing when yet another character appeared.  

We had been asked to come dressed in keeping with the Nativity, so there were lots of Shepherds - including one who really was a Sheppard, but you will have to guess who that one was!  Some had come prepared and had their crooks and sheep with them, but if they hadn’t come dressed up, they were invited to take an item of clothing from the big box just inside the door - and many did.  However, one Shepherd in particular stood out to me - and I didn’t even recognise our own Meg, complete with beard and crook.

You can see that Mr. HCB was a Shepherd and I was the only Donkey - and I rather liked the shot taken for us with the sign “Jesus Over You” above us.   However, despite being asked, I will not be wearing this in the Carols by Candlelight service this evening.  There was a lot of activity in the foyer - and we were on stewarding duty today, so you can imagine, not much peace in the foyer either!

Then there were Wise Men - and Mark set the trend - looking a very sophisticated Wise Man.  There were lots of bejewelled crowns about and as the Nativity progressed, we were all invited in turn, to go up onto the stage.  For obvious reasons, there are no photographs of the children, but they all looked amazing and spoke so well - very clearly and with conviction, especially when it came to the jokes - and there were several slipped into the narrative.  

The top three ladies all looked good - especially “Mary” who was very pregnant - but I won’t tell you how that was managed - as you might be rather surprised!  

However, you won’t be surprised, I know, to hear that there were lots of angels in all shapes and forms - posh ones and not so posh;  it was great to see how people had entered into the spirit of our Church Nativity.

We even had a Stable, complete with star and a specially commissioned tee shirt, drawn, I understand, at 9 o’clock this morning - and you can see this in the bottom right hand of my collage.  Standing next to the stable is someone (Baby Jesus, complete with beard) in a Manger - both very inventive and they were certainly a “talking point” this morning.  Last, but not least, is a shot of Gary - the one taking a photograph - he is always on that side of the camera, so doesn’t get included in many shots, so although I don’t have all his face, I and many others will know who it is!

So - a very special THANK YOU to all the children who took part and to their teachers - and parents, who had obviously spent a lot of time with them prior to this service.  Even those who were very shy took their parts well and it was wonderful to see them all.

It just remains for me to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas - may you know and feel the peace that God wants to give to you this season, however busy you may be in the next few days - and in the coming year - and may you be truly blessed.  M xx 

It is Christmas every time 
     you let God love others through you...
yes, it is Christmas every time 
     you smile at your brother and sister 
          and offer them your hand.
Mother Teresa