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Children’s Nativity Tableau’s Spectacular Backdrop For Church’s Christmas Family Services

Published on: 24 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 24 Dec, 2020

When All Saints’ Church at Ockham thought many families might not be able to gather in the church for Christmas, a great deal of thought was put into how some of the magic of the birth of Christ could still be captured for young children.

The nativity tableau at All Saints’ Church in Ockham.

Alison Boothby, who is one of All Saints’ Sunday school leaders, said: “Our little Sunday school, called Pebbles operates, in normal times, from a lovely wooden cabin in the church car park, and It occurred to us that it would be the ideal backdrop for a nativity scene, using the cabin as a stable!

“Children were asked to choose a character from the nativity story and then recreate it by drawing round themselves and painting, decorating, dressing appropriately to create our life-sized tableau. The result is simply wonderful, the children have done a spectacular job creating their characters!”

The stage was all set for the tableau to take centre stage at church’s outdoor carol service in its car park with music from Cobham Brass Band on Sunday afternoon (December 20), complete with Christmas tree and the cabin as a stable.

However, the latest COVID-19 restrictions and imposition of Tier 4 put paid to that as many band members lived in Tier 3 and could not travel in!

Not to be put off, the new restrictions led to a rethink of Christmas week services and the tableau is now set to be the backdrop for a crib service at 3pm on Christmas Eve, broadcasted on Zoom and a short outdoor family service at 10.30am on Christmas morning, which will also be broadcast on Zoom. 

Anyone who would like to follow the Christmas Day service can email info@ockhamchurch.org.uk for the Zoom link.

The tableau is now is in place for visitors to admire at any time, and while there explore the interactive Advent and Christmas reflections in boxes around the tree.

There are lots of ideas for all ages, crafts to take away and ideas to get you thinking and is a perfect family Covid-safe trip for Christmas.

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