Ray Anglesea, URC minister at St Andrew's Dawson Street,
our Local Ecumenical Partnership at Crook in Weardale,
reports on a journey with a difference.
We estimated that over one thousand primary school children attended this year’s Christmas Journey in Methodist churches in the Durham area. The Journey project was led by Anne Offler, a children's and young people's development worker in the Durham and Deerness Valley Methodist Circuit. Anne also works as part of the West Durham Methodist Circuit Team where I am an authorised Methodist Minister.
The Christmas Journey began in 2004 as the brain child of Frodsham's Main Street Community Church in Cheshire. The project provides an exciting opportunity to perform a delightful, easy-to-do presentation of the Christmas story to local primary schools. Aimed at Year 2 children, the material gives pupils and teachers alike an enjoyable learning experience by unfolding the Christmas story through creative storytelling, music, simple drama, fun-filled puppetry and thought-provoking artefacts.
To support Anne in her ministry I spent two days during Advent at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Brandon where children from New Brancepeth and Brandon Primary schools (years 2) together with their teachers, classroom assistants and parent helpers enjoyed this year’s journey.
Anne started the journey by telling the children the story of Creation using Godly play resources. The children then moved through 5 decorated Gazebos erected in the church, each Gazebo depicting part of the Christmas 
journey - Mary’s kitchen, a hillside near Bethlehem, the stable, the wise men’s palace, and a modern- day sitting room where again, using Godly play, Anne was able to tell the children the reasons why Jesus came amongst us on that very first Christmas. The children met Mary, a shepherd and a wise man in their gazebo designed settings, (characters were played by members of St Andrew’s church), stable puppets, cow’s sheep and donkeys were also animated by church members.
After the journey juice and biscuits were served to the children who later, helped by teachers and circuit team members, made a variety of crafts to take home - angels, gift wrapped sweet boxes and coloured place settings.
The children together with their teachers were enthusiastic and excited by what they saw and learnt from the Christmas Journey. It made their time at church an enjoyable and positive experience.
For those looking into possible new ideas for next year I can recommend the book that accompanies the project - The Christmas Journey by Moira Curry and Gill Morgan, ISBN 9781841016214, published 2009 by BRF, the Bible Reading Fellowship at £7.99.
Footnote:
Last year I worked with Anne on the Christmas Journey at Crook, and can endorse all that Ray says about this as a really good project. Start planning now for 2012!
There are more details too on the Christmas Journey website.John Durell