Local / “Christmas Is Not Cancelled”

“Christmas Is Not Cancelled”

This has been our Vicar’s slogan for the last few months as people started to turn their attention to their favourite season of the year with a somewhat gloomy disposition. In this year fraud with restrictions and insecurity, there seemed to be no way of making The Season work without the comfort of all the habitual services, events and gatherings. Even if the church could be open – which was not to be taken for granted – how can one possibly “celebrate” with no singing, no touching, no hospitality…?

But Fr Damian was determined – “Christmas will not be cancelled at St Mary’s – we will find a way”, he kept repeating in sermons and notices. And, “We will be taking Christmas outside! There will be more lights than ever – we will be a light in the darkness for the village of Thorpe.” If you’ve ever been to
St Mary’s in the Christmas season you will remember that the churchyard, car park and Vicarage were already covered in light strings and a big display on the tower! But yes, there will be more this year…and they will be augmented by a life size outdoor nativity scene and a looped “Maranatha Carol Service” through our outside speakers.
 These are the quotation drawings of the outdoor staging scenes.

There will be also be a variant of our usual Winter Wonderland activity: The fayre portion of the event will be spread around Thorpe with socially distanced stalls connected by the usual treasure hunt and quiz trail, so popular with our local families, and the Crib Scene and Christingle Service will be incorporated in the ourdoor display around St Mary’s Church.

And every single one of our usual Advent and Christmas services will take place online and if possible, with a ticketed service in the church. The birth of our Saviour is the beginning of our hope, and HOPE cannot be cancelled.                                                                                      

Petra Hudson, St Mary’s Church Thorpe