Christmas Tour - on Tour!
Why aren’t we doing a Christmas Tour this year?
We’re not able to produce the Christmas Tour as we know and love it this year, due to the building project. As many of you will know, one of the fun features of the Tour, is how the entire church is transformed and the audience is taken on a journey (literally!) through the Nativity story. Our neighbouring churches have been incredibly welcoming and generous with their space, but sadly, it wasn’t feasible to ‘borrow’ another church for the best part of a week right before Christmas!
What about the schools that normally come?
It’s been a blessing and a privilege to welcome so many of our local schools into church over the years at Christmas. In the last few years particularly, we’ve been able to strengthen relationships with some of these schools, some we only see once a year at the Christmas Tour, but they come faithfully every year and it has become a fixture in their diary. It was particularly with these schools that I was really keen not to lose that contact with this year. So, I thought, if they can’t come to us, maybe we can go to them! A germ of an idea started as a Christmassy assembly and grew into, well, what has become known as the Christmas Tour, On Tour! I still wanted the children to experience the magic of the gospel story, with all the drama and interactive fun, but it would have to be reimagined to fit into an assembly slot in a school hall… On the upside, rather than just sharing the story of Jesus’ birth with one class or year group, we’d be able to share it with the whole school!
So, what is it then?
It will be an hour-long interactive performance, telling the Nativity story, with carol singing and lots opportunities for the children to get involved. In an effort to keep the scale small, 4 willing volunteers from the church staff have agreed to lend their time and talents to proceedings.
Will I be able to see it and bring my friends?
Yes! If you come to the 3.00pm Carols and Christingle service at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on 22nd December, we’ll be using the performance to tell the Nativity story as part of the service.
What can I pray for?
Pray for the four schools we’ll be visiting and the 900+ pupils and their teachers that will get to see the Nativity brought to life.
Please pray for me, (Diana), Mark, Sarah, Marcus and Jon as we prepare during what is already a busy time and especially for good memories and line learning!
That through all that we do, God would be glorified and the story of the gift of His son to us would touch many hearts.
Diana Hopkins