Page 27 - BR December 2023

December 2023 December 2023

BISHOP’S LETTER

Forward to Adventure!
In my former parish, there were various experiments
we made to make the most of the unique
atmosphere of preparation and excitement
accompanying Advent. Shortest-lived was what
we called the Nativity Crawl, which involved the
familiar festive cast dressed in costume and
released in stages onto the high street, to work
their way along the five pubs situated there,
finding ‘no room at the inn’ until culminating (with
carols and swaddled doll) in carols at the last pub
en route. It was fun but didn’t quite catch light.
More successful was what we called The
Adventure, whereby each evening in Advent, a
small space around the benefice – someone’s
garage, or a school porch – would open for just one hour to give a glimpse of
something festive and hope-filled. Different households or groups would take
responsibility for one night each, so the load was spread: some would simply sing
carols and serve mulled wine,
o t h e r s w e r e m o r e
adventurous and creative,
but all were exciting steps
along the way to Christmas
Eve, which took place in the
lychgate of one of the
churches.
I recall this project (which
wasn’t my idea, by the way)
fondly, because it began to
change the rumour about
church in the community and
brought alive a season that still kindles spiritual yearnings among so many. My
seventeen-year-old daughter told me this week that ‘getting ready for the party is
better even than the party itself’. In Advent, I’m inclined to agree.

66 27