Nativity Trail
Over the weekend of the 12th and 13th of December, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, take part in a nativity trail that tells the story of the first Christmas.
Find the characters from the nativity story on posters in the windows of shops and businesses around Bene’t Street, Peas Hill & King’s Parade. Each poster tells the story and displays a letter that spells out a special message for you to discover. To start, pick up an entry sheet from the church, fill it out & then return it to receive a prize and visit the crib.
The story of the first Christmas:
Long, long ago God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would become the mother and father of a great family, which would be as many as the stars in the sky and grains of sand in the desert. Eventually their family tree led to King David and then Jesus.
In the Old Testament prophets foretold that Jesus, God’s own son, would be born. Isaiah said that his name would be called, ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, ‘God has chosen you to be the Mother of God.’
Mary was about to be married to a good man called Joseph and so she wondered what this might mean.
Mary became pregnant with God’s son, Jesus, but she and Joseph were married anyway. Before the birth they had to travel to Bethlehem for the Roman census.
When they arrived in Bethlehem they found that there was no place for them to stay and so they had to sleep in a stable. It was there that Jesus was born.
There were some shepherds on a hill outside Bethlehem watching over their sheep.
Suddenly the sky lit up and an angel appeared to them and said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I bring you wonderful news: God’s son has been born in Bethlehem. You will find him sleeping in a manager.’
The shepherds went and found Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the stable, just as the angel had said.
Far away wise men watched a bright new star appear in the sky.
They knew that the star was a sign from God so they followed it.
The star led them to Bethlehem where they found Mary, Joseph and Jesus. They bowed down and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.