The Astwell Benefice Nativity in the Barn, Saturday 13th December 2014
Over 300 people packed into a barn at Home Farm in Helmdon to watch our annual re-telling of the Nativity with a cast made up of young and old from the congregations of our villages.
This is our Christmas Present to you and we all have great fun putting it on. The children who come along will tell you they love the starring roles taken by our two local donkeys and our three local llamas who played the part of the camels. Whilst Mary riding in on the Donkey reduced more than one grown -up to tears. Our choir lead the carol singing and it really is lovely way to start off the Christmas celebrations.
As The Benefice Rector, in truly Vicar of Dibley fashioned, I dress up as the Angel Gabriel complete with lit-up wings and this year I was joined by a heavenly choir of young angels from all the Benefice's Messy Churches. We also had junior shepherds and soldiers and as always we simply invite the children to turn up in costume on the day.
Yet again we asked a new Mum to play Mary and her baby is our Jesus. This year Baby Alexander sat up and greeted the audience with a big smile, he really was the perfect baby Jesus!
