North Samford Benefice were given a grant amount of £450 for their Bringing Christ Home for Christmas Project.
Children at the local village school were provided with Nativity Christmas tree decorations, which they then coloured in and varnished, and attached ribbons to produce a professional finished look.
The children were then invited to the church room in the centre of the village for the lighting of the Christmas tree and the nativity scene. The decorations they had made were given back here - in a bag with sweeties!
The opportunity was presented to then talk to mums and invite children to the Children’s Nativity Service.
The Nativity scene was designed by a mum in the village and painted by the school children some years ago. The children’s Nativity Service is led and celebrated by the children. The children act out the Nativity, read the story, lead prayers and singing, and lead the final blessing.
Afterwards, hot chocolate and cakes are served with some time to natter.
There were 21 children performing together with all the mums and dads, as well as a number of the church’s own congregation.
The church intends to keep up the relationship between church and village school, and have been invited to the school to take some of the villagers who were once pupils at the school over 70 years ago to answer questions from the children about what school was like then and to see some historic photos.
