Wanted - Homes for Mary and Joseph

Posted on November 5, 2008

Many of you who have attended one of St Mary's popular Christmas Eve Candle Services will have witnessed the return to church of our Travelling Crib figures, Mary and Joseph, after they have spent December travelling from one home in the parish to another, symbolising Mary and Joseph's difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.

After a blessing in church on Advent Sunday (on 30 November) they will journey around the parish staying one night in any house that will welcome them. You are encouraged to participate in this activity, which provides an opportunity for a short act of worship during which a candle lit to signify that our travellers have a home for the night. This is often followed by the chance for the two families concerned to share glasses of wine and mince pies if they wish. Eventually the crib figures will be brought back to church on Christmas Eve for this year's 4.15pm Candle Service.

We hope that many households will participate in this lovely ritual - participation is not limited to those with young families - many older people take great pleasure from joining in and meeting people from the villages.

We do hope that St Mary's Travelling Crib will find a welcome in your house this Christmas. If you would like to have Mary and Joseph in your home for a night, or want more information, please contact Gordon Gray, or sign up on the Travelling Crib Form on the Notice Board in St Mary's Church.