Serving God in the heart of our community since 1881

St Andrew's Church, Taunton

Another full church for the crib service

by Tricia Anderson, Reader at St. Andrew's - 14 January 2007

Director of Music, Alan Cook, and Reader, Tricia Anderson, planned and led a church full of children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and various other people in preparing for Christmas by preparing the crib, hearing the Christmas story and singing carols in a candle-lit church. Thank you to Martyn who, once again, ensured that the church sparkled with candle-light and Ruth, who accompanied most of the carol singing. 

The story was based round the account in 'The Lion Storyteller Bible', which Tricia had already used in a school assembly. It is full of 'Good news', and some 'Bad news'. During the singing of the carols, children brought the figures of animals, Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the shepherds to be placed in the stable. When the story told of the angels' visit to the shepherds, 'Voices Raised', our junior choir, together wlth some of the younger members of the church choir, sang praise to God with 'Laudate Dominum' (Sing praise and bless the Lord, in English).

However, the magical moment came when all the figures had been placed in the crib. The children came and sat round the crib to sing 'Away in a manger', Martyn dimmed the lights in the body of the church, the crib and the children were floodlit by spots, and the rest of the church was illuminated by the soft light of the candles. During this time, nightlights were lit on the altar.

Then everyone joined in a rousing 'Happy Birthday to Jesus', before Alan lit the Christmas candle on the Advent wreath. He then lifted the candle and led the children down through the church and into the narthex, as if he were the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

As people left the church, they were given sheets printed with Christmas Tree prayers.

Thank you to Alan, Ruth and Martyn for their help in preparing the service, and for their involvement in the worship. I felt that all the hard work had been more than worthwhile.

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