And Mary and Joseph travelled to…
‘Nooooooo’ ‘It was Bethlehem’
Vicar Roger (PhD in Theology) appeared to have got the Christmas story a little muddled when he led Messy Church Gingerbread Nativity.
’But I thought it was Birmingham. OK then. If you say so.’
He shrugged his shoulders.
He’d certainly got the story round his ears - Bernard, not Joseph, angles, not angels, travelling salesmen not Magi, elephants popping up again and again. Over 40 very excited (and very knowledgeable) children and their families filled the warm and spacious Priory nave with palpable energy, enthusiastically correcting him at every turn.
Then it was time for the youngsters to build their own Nativity, in stages. From the Matchmakers and shredded wheat stables, carefully glued into cardboard platter boxes with royal icing, to Mary and Joseph (definitely not Bernard) gingerbread shapes decorated from a rainbow selection of sugar sprinkles. Then baby Jesus in a range of jelly baby colours, before the next chapter of the story was presented. Gingerbread shepherds, a sheep, an angel, finally a star and the Magi, bearing gifts of giant chocolate sprinkles in place of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each child carefully completing their very own edible Nativity collage.
Then it was off to St Giles Chapel, surrounded by the Christmas Tree Festival trees, to hear the story told again. Sounds of voices young and old, singing carols, made a beautiful background as the Messy Church volunteers cleared the gingerbread tables ready for a delicious tea.
’We had a fantastic afternoon’
‘What fun. We love doing Gingerbread Nativity’
The Nativities were collected by happy youngsters, full of the joy of Christmas and slowly the Priory resounded only to the voices of volunteers encouraging each other as they swept up wayward sprinkles and packed away tables, ready for The Gathering. Priory teamwork meant everything was shipshape by 5.20, as the band assembled to practice.
Messy Church returns to the Priory on 25th January with ‘Daniel’. See you there!
