As if for the first time

Martyn Payne

'I think we should pray again… we've a bit of a problem in the stable'—and so it was with prayer and no little laughter (when we realized how that sounded!) that the Christmas Journey at Main Street Chapel Frodsham began again this year.

The problem in the stable—not the baby I might add—was solved in time for the first of 13 schools who sent class groups to travel through the Christmas story, including a visit to the stable, of course, where four puppet animals told what had happened there 'that night'.

This was the third year of this experiential exploration of the meaning of Christmas led by Gill Morgan and Moira Curry and supported by a brilliant team from a number of local churches. Many of these volunteers told me that they would not miss this week for the world—demanding and tiring though it undoubtedly is—because it also helps them to get ready for the mystery of Christmas. And the children loved it, including two special needs schools, which also sent groups. There was so much to see, smell, taste, touch and hear, which was ideal for all sorts of learners, and it impressed and, in several cases, moved the teachers, too. In fact, this has become an unmissable event for local schools—both Community and Church Schools—who book their journeys many months in advance.

I told two stories, bookending the journeys each time, and you can see me in action along with other parts of the journey on their website www.christmasjourney.org.uk. My prayer for the week was that I would be kept fresh so that each story session to each group might be 'as if for the first time'. That prayer was answered and with 30 journeys in total that was certainly another Christmas miracle!

Each year the event has added something extra. This time it was a display of the Nativity Sets from around the world that I have collected over the years, which added a global dimension to the story. Also, each school this time was given a special Barnabas pack to take away, which included a copy of Beyond the Candle Flame so they had material for classroom reflections throughout the year ahead.

Over the final weekend the journey was opened up the general public, and we had mixed groups of children and adults 'travelling' together, which was very special, too. It was all rounded off with a final Celebration service for Advent Sunday, which I led.

It was an exhausting week but a brilliant example of how churches can, with some imagination and ecumenical teamwork, offer something worthwhile and appropriate to local schools that tells our Christian story faithfully and effectively. One school Head dared to bring along his most anti-church teacher and parent to experience the journey, and they were both very moved and apparently went away saying that there must be something more to this story than they had first thought!

Martyn Payne

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Beyond the Candle Flame