CHRIST FOR THE WORLD!

 This was the title of a Celebration of Christmas Cribs held at Epiphany in St Paul’s, Grange-over-Sands.

 

Over fifty entries of cribs in all shapes and sizes, from the large to the minute, were on display in church over the weekend. Some were homemade, knitted, wood or pottery; others came from as far afield as Nigeria and South America.  Some were wall-hangings; others were free-standing or Christmas tree decorations.
	Some were precious treasures kept and used over many years, with personal stories to tell; others were toys brought out for children to play with and tell the Christmas story. They came not only from the homes of the congregation, but from Christians from other churches as well. It was fascinating to see the different interpretations of the scene at Bethlehem.
Grange School had made and mounted a crib in the town centre during the whole Christmas period, both as a witness and to draw attention to the forthcoming exhibition.

The main altar of the church had been transformed into the stable, and the special figures placed there at the Christingle service on Christmas Eve.  These figures were made by several parishioners some years ago and are used each year.

The weekend came to a climax with an Epiphany Carol Service for all six churches in the Cartmel Peninsula Ministry Team.  Members from each of the parish choirs led the singing under the direction of Adrian Self.  During the service a living tableau portrayed the three Kings (Danny Corkery, Colin Milner and Robin Webster) presenting their gifts to the baby Jesus (Emily Payne) in the company of Mary (Jane Payne) and Joseph (John Drake). Although the wrong sex, Emily played her part to perfection – as the picture shows! 

At the end of the service candles were lit and the congregation moved out of the Church into the darkness – the Light of Christ for the World!