Jelly babies, sprinkles, shredded wheat…and the message of Christmas

Concentration, happiness, a delicious tea and great team work

‘It was winter time, Mary and Joseph had been travelling on foot for several days, and Mary was going to have a baby very soon. Very, very soon…’
And so the age-old story of God’s love that many of us know so well unfolded. But this time, at the Priory Messy Church, it had a twist.
Excited children and their parents filled the Lyttelton Rooms Hall to capacity, each one with a Nativity set made out of gingerbread biscuits, in a compostable sandwich platter, ready to decorate with lots of different multi-coloured sprinkles, sweets and chocolate.
First the children decorated a heart - showing God’s love and learning how to use the icing to stick on the sprinkles. Then the story of Jesus birth began. Quiet descended as everyone listened carefully. Then the children each built a stable from four chocolate Matchmakers. They laid the Shredded Wheat straw and stuck it down into the stable with icing, decorated Mary and Joseph with sprinkles and stuck Jelly Baby Jesus in his manger in the stable.
The story teller continued as the angels told the shepherds the glad tidings of Jesus’ birth and they, too were added to the scene. Bringing the Nativity story to a close, we heard how the Magi arrived to worship the new-born King. Gold, frankincense and myrrh became different coloured chocolate pearls and the characters were decorated generously with sprinkles and stuck onto the platters.
Then families went across through the snow to the warmth of the Priory for songs and prayers before returning to the Lyttelton Rooms for a delicious Christmas tea - sandwiches, sausages, crisps, cakes, cookies which had been laid out in double-quick time by a big team of Messy Church yellow-tee-shirted volunteers.
Full of good food and Good News each child carefully carried their own special Gingerbread Nativity home.
Our next Messy Church is ‘Share like Sheep’ on 22nd January. Families are very welcome for free fun, activities, food and songs.
A big thank you to the team of volunteers who bring Messy Church to life.