Last Saturday, Beatrice and I met the Johnstons at their church. After the essential ecclesiastical cup of tea and wee bun we began a journey through a rather unusual woodland.
Starting at the back of the church was an avenue of Christmas trees celebrating the traditions of Christmas. From Santa and his sleigh, advent calendars, gifts, gingerbread men, Christmas cards and mistletoe, almost all of the traditions we have grown up with were represented. Each had their own tree.
Miriam, Bea and Grace enjoying the "Sleeping Beauty" tree. This one was decorated by a local hairdressers "Blow" who can help bring out the real beauty in all of us. This tree was part of the display of Pantomime trees - "Oh no it wasn't!"
"Oh, yes it was"
Moving on
A little reindeer from the Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer tree. With his duffle button nose, I think he has got to be Blitzen.
Enjoying the "Christmas Stockings" tree decorated by the church's Brownies and Guides.
Who would have thought that the "Christmas Sales" had become such a tradition!
Wesley adding perspective to a tradition I embrace the "All I want for Christmas Tree".
Yes I appreciate that it is more stepladder than tree, but it does symbolise the question "Why are men so hard to buy presents for?"
Grace and Beatrice beside the "Let it snow" tree. Another especially creative concept. Huge white pom poms of snow dangling in a tree like triangle. Apparently every year the bookies make a fortune from people betting on snow on Christmas day, which rarely happens.
A favourite tree had to be the Candy Cane tree, decorated with candy canes which encourages two interpretations of the little cane. A poem from our programme...
"Look at the Candy Cane - what do you see?
Red stripes like the blood shed for me!
White is my Saviour who is sinless and pure,
J is Jesus and that's for sure.
Turn it around and a staff you will see,
Jesus my shepherd was born for me!"
The second section featured popular Christmas songs, while the third celebrated Christmas carols and stories.
One of my favourite carols AND one of my favourite trees.
The final section the journey through the trees reminds us of the real people and events of the Christmas story and how the Christmas message is good news for all people.
No one is excluded from this section, even the lowly donkey!
And carpenter Joseph's tree was so imaginative.
The Innkeeper's tree, sponsored by the local Longfellow Bar was somewhat bewildering to Grace. But we all appreciated the irony that it was THIS tree which was anchored in the stand lent by her Methodist, teetotal parents.
I suspect Gabriel's tree was designed by the badminton club.
Grace searches through the choir of angels to find the one she created in Kid's Church.
Why did Jesus come into the world at all? Because God so loved the world and want's all people to come to know him, follow him and give our lives to him.
I can't help but think this is the best use I have ever seen pew bibles put to.
Our wander through Willowfield's Christmas garden ushered in all of the festive feelings.
No comments:
Post a Comment