Baby Elijah to star in Living Crib enactment

The Living Crib will feature six week-old baby Elijah in the main role.

On Sunday December 2, Advent Sunday at 6pm, the ancient parish church in Old Town will hold its Advent Carol service comprising music and readings for this time of preparing for Christmas.

Beginning in near darkness, this atmospheric service will look forward to the coming of Jesus the Light of the world. The church will be lit only by candles and everyone will eventually hold a lighted candle. Singing of some traditional music by St Peter's celebrated choir will enhance this special service.

On Sunday, December 9, starting in the ruins in Manor Gardens, the Christmas story will be enacted by adults and children.

St Peter's is fortunate to have several babies in its church family, and the youngest of all, baby Elijah who was first welcomed at church when he was only a fortnight old, will be baby Jesus.

This production will also provide a culmination to the Old Town Christmas celebration weekend in Manor Gardens.

The versatile Daisy the donkey (who also features in St Peter's celebrations of Palm Sunday) will accompany Mary and Joseph as they knock on the doors of houses in Church Street. They will finally enter the church together (Daisy is always very well behaved) where the story will continue with carols and readings. In church everyone will find shepherds looking after real sheep in the Tower area.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be served to everyone who comes, in the Community Centre afterwards. They provide an opportunity for anyone who would like to come to take time out from hectic Christmas shopping, and to reflect on the meaning of Christmas at the heart of all the festivities.

For details of other Christmas services at St Peter's, including two more by candlelight, please see the Christmas advertisement appearing in a later Observer.