Posted Friday 1 May 2009
A Nativity cast of Holywood proportions – with multiple Marys and Josephs? It’s down to new technology – and we’re not talking CGI. June Gray discovered the simple device one church uses to help pack its pews...
The Sunday prior to Christmas I attended the children’s carol service at the Surrey church where my daughter and her family worship.
This is an active church with a lot of outreach in the local area, including the local C of E primary school.
The 9.30am service is always a busy one with lots of provision for the children.
On this occasion the children - and adults if they wished - had been invited to attend in suitable attire for a nativity play.
Most nativity plays allow only one Mother Mary with her Baby Jesus, so this was a great opportunity for those not chosen for their class enactment to join in the unfolding of the story.
The church was alive and humming as the congregation assembled. The narrator began the tale. Then the Josephs and Marys gathered with their babies in the flexible area at the front of church, followed by the animals, angels, shepherds and, finally, the wise men.
There were about 150 children in church there that day, and certainly 100 adults.
The children retired to their own area for Sunday School and our morning service continued.
After the service I chatted with the vicar about this exceptional attendance. He explained he uses e-mail to remind his flock of special events. He believes that encourages families to participate.
Later, I learnt from my daughter that on one day in January when there were two baptisms there were at least 250 at that early service.
On other occasions when I have been able to worship there the attendance has always been in three figures.
June Gray is a member of the diocesan Information and Communications Action Network (Infocomms).
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