VICAR'S LETTER
17
Sundon Road
Streatley
December, 2008
Dear
All
These
days there seem to be almost two Christmases.
On the one hand there is the religious Christmas, centred on the
Christmas Crib and celebrated with carols and Christingles and then there
is the domestic Christmas with cards, presents and decorations.
This year’s Christmas Project at the Sunday School, currently the
theological powerhouse of our church, is directed at bringing these two
back together again.
The
plan is to build a display spread across three tables.
On the centre table will be a handcrafted crib complete with Mary,
Joseph, Child, ox, ass, shepherds, kings and cotton wool sheep.
The shepherds will advance from the left.
The kings will advance from the right.
Behind
the shepherds, on the left hand table, will stand handcrafted Christmas
Cards. The pictures will be
different, but the message in each will be the same: “Peace on earth.
Goodwill to all men.” This
is to bring out the significance of the Christmas Cards.
They act to remind us of the angels bringing the message to the
shepherds that Jesus is born. Behind
the kings will go a pile of hand-wrapped presents. This is to bring out the significance of Christmas presents.
They are to remind us of the gifts that the kings brought to the
Christ-Child.
Standing
behind and looming over the tableau on the table tops will be a Christmas
Tree laden with hand-made decorations.
Traditionally the Christmas Tree, being evergreen, stands for the
gift of eternal life that Jesus came to bring, but eternal life is a bit
of an abstract concept for the average three year old.
In our display, therefore, the decorated tree will stand for a
world made happy by Jesus coming.
What
one hopes is that this little and with any luck, exceedingly messy
project, will help to reinforce for the children the link between what
happens in church and what happens at home.
A very happy and joined-up Christmas to you all.
Roger