Christmas services are par for the course at almost every Sydney Anglican church, but some churches like to kick it up a notch or two by putting on unique events that connect with the community in a creative way. Your.sydneyanglicans.net looks at some of this year's best from the different regions across the Diocese.
Get on board for Christmas
In the Northern region of Sydney Diocese St Alban's, Frenchs Forest redefined getting into the community by sending a bus around the local suburban streets on December 15 with the purpose of inviting people to Christmas services.
The traditional, open-topped double-decker bus was draped in a banner reading "Christmas Express: Carols on the go" and transported a choir of 30 carol singers around the neighbourhood during a three hour period on the Saturday night.
St Alban's has long been renowned for its annual outdoors Christmas carols event "Carols in the Forest' which they have run for the past decade, but this year the church took the show on the road in the form of The Christmas Express.
The Christmas Express delivered carols to the local community in the streets via an installed PA system. It also made several scheduled stops at communal grounds for the choir to meet, greet and perform to family gatherings.
The rector of St Alban's, the Rev Brian Heath, says the significance of St Alban's Christmas events in the Frenchs Forest community cannot be overstated.
"Carols in the Forest has traditionally been held within the grounds of St Alban's and has become something of a marker for Christmas to the local community," Mr Heath says.
"This year we wanted to do something significant that would capture the imagination of the community".
Mr Heath believes the Christmas Express achieved this perfectly.
"The arrival of the Christmas Express generated a real feeling that Christmas is near and was popular with children and adults alike. People gratefully received children's show bags, service invitations and Bibles," Mr Heath says.
"There was an almost tangible atmosphere of community spirit, with one lady even offering to mind the baby of one of the carol singers so he could meet and greet others.
"We were greatly encouraged by the numbers of people waiting for us at each stop. People were even coming out of their shops and houses along the way to wave and see what was happening."
Mr Heath sees the Christmas Express as fulfilling the intent of the Archbishop’s Connect 09 program.
"It was our means of connecting with the community by taking the message of Christmas out to them, reminding people of the good news of Jesus and the Christian gospel that brings reconciliation between us and God and one another," Mr Heath says.
"We look forward to seeing many of them again at our Christmas services."
Mixing Christianity and politics
In the Wollongong region St Paul's, Menai children's minister the Rev Stephen Shearsby is utilizing the ‘reverberations’ of the federal election to stage a play that explores Christmas day from the vantage point of politics.
"Essentially our message is that unlike the leaders and politicians that we would be familiar with, Jesus perfectly represents humanity by becoming one of us and serving our greatest need," Mr Shearsby says.
"Jesus coming as a boy who would grow up to save the world is undoubtedly the most politically charged moment in the history of the world."
Mr Shearsby, who pens the play, acknowledges that using politics as a launching point is a bold approach but he hopes the risk leads to a worthwhile payoff.
"It's a tough one to simplify for the kids and only after the event will we know how successful its been for the children," he says.
"However, we will be preaching to kids, youth and adults so the play tries to cater for everyone. We try to make big concepts simple, yet not let the adults off the hook."
This year Mr Shearsby expects a turnout of over 1100 people across the three St Paul's Christmas concerts.
This year's performance is titled "Who’s for you? The Great Christmas Verdict', with the "Who's' crossed out and replaced with a scribbled "Hugh’s'.
"Hugh is our puppet who will help us rediscover Christmas this year from the stand point of politics," Mr Shearsby explains.
A cast of nine and a support crew of 60 have participated in putting the performance together which has been in preparation for several months.
Mr Shearsby with the help of a few other volunteers including a first-time puppet trainee, have performed a simplified and shortened version of the 40-minute play at a number of local school's SRE Christmas presentations.
The feedback for these school performances has been very positive.
"So far schools have been very appreciative, though at our first school we freaked the principal out when she came in and saw all these old federal election posters hanging off our puppet theatre," Mr Shearsby says.
"But we carefully explained that the purpose of the posters was purely for "scene setting' so that we could talk about the Bible's key leader, Jesus and she allowed us to continue."
The nativity story
In the South Sydney region, St Peter's, Watson's Bay had 634 adults and children pass through the church grounds on Saturday, December 8 to experience the fifth annual "Journey to Bethlehem' re-enactment of the account of the birth of Jesus.
The rector of St Peter's, the Rev Cliff Parish, says the event aims to take people back to what life was like at the time of the birth of Jesus.
The St Peter's church grounds were set up to represent the village of Bethlehem, with various market stalls " a tax and census booth, potter, carpenter, baker, basket weaver, stone mason, produce stall, fabric stall, a domestic scene and the inn and stable.
As guests arrived Roman Soldiers and welcomers greeted them and gave them coins (bottle tops) with which to pay their "taxes'.
A series of nativity processions take place throughout the afternoon which clearly communicate the meaning of Christmas to those present.
A cast of performers play the key figures in the Christmas story and animals including a donkey and camel are included, adding authenticity to the experience.
Mr Parish says the event is both evangelistic and promotes St Peter's Christmas services.
"Each family was given a "Why Christmas' booklet explaining the gospel story and a leaflet listing our service times, Christmas services and all the other activities happening in the Parish," he says.
"So many commented on how they had been reminded of the real meaning of Christmas, and how nice it was to get away from the material aspect of this celebration that we encounter everywhere," Mr Parish says.
Mr Parish says the pageant has successfully connected people with the church.
"One couple came to the "Journey to Bethlehem' two years ago, became curious, and came to a Sunday service after Christmas. They came again a few weeks later and stayed," he says.
"They have since married in the church and now have a one-year-old child and are committed members of our parish family " praise God!"
Doing it on the beach
In the Georges River region St Mark's, Brighton le Sands enlisted the help of an AFES mission team from Deakin University in Geelong to run two evening carols services at Brighton beach on Botany Bay earlier this month.
The beach carols services were viewed by hundreds of passers by and prefaced by three consecutive ‘Church at the beach’ gatherings earlier on the Sunday
The rector of Brighton-Rockdale parish, the Rev Ian Cox says using the beach as a location for a church service reached people who would not likely set foot in a church.
"The carols at the beach appeared to be a great success as people stopped and joined in the singing," he says.
"Many people walk along the Brighton promenade at sunset so it provided an ideal opportunity to sing carols, read the Christmas story and a give brief explanation of why Jesus came."
Mr Cox and the mission team originally intended to have only one beach carols but the success of the first service and the large number of passers by warranted a second performance.
Mr Cox says beach church services are likely to become a major part of Brighton-Rockdale's program next December.
"Next year we may call our beach carols ‘Carols at the Kiosk’ for the Kiosk manager provided the power and was pleased to have such cheap and pleasant entertainment outside his coffee shop," Mr Cox says.
"We realised that we have to go where people are and not wait for them to come to our church building based carol service. After all Jesus used the beach quite often, didn’t he?"
The Kings of Christmas
In the Western region, the chaplain to the Kings School, the Rev Stephen Edwards has run a carols service for the first time at his Church@Kings congregation.
The Carols at the Chapel event started because a group of people from the Church were keen to reach out to the community.
"We have run for many years very successful services on Christmas Day with a packed Chapel. We extended that last year to two services and now we are trying a Carols Service," Mr Edwards says.
"It is a golden opportunity to reach out to our school community to point them to Jesus and also to remind the of the existence of the Church."
Mr Edwards says he has been pleasantly surprised at the number of people willing to be involved and their enthusiasm in coming up with great ideas.
"It has reminded the Church leadership team that people want to be involved and we need to provide opportunities for them to minister," he says.
The carols event was advertised through the Kings chapel services and parents who don't normally attend the church have started doing so since their children have become involved in the Christmas play.
The carols event also included animals for the children to pat and feed, face painting and games and was attended by almost 200 people.
A special Christmas event
A unique ministry based out of Naremburn Cammeray Anglican Church in the Northern region called Jesus Club put on a Christmas play on Wednesday, December 12.
The Jesus Club ministry reaches out to those with intellectual disabilities such as Down Syndrome and autism with the conviction that all people need to know about Jesus regardless of their intellect.
The annual Christmas play has been a highlight for a number of years for those involved and their families and this year more than a dozen Jesus Club members, each with an intellectual disability, participated through acting, dancing and singing.
Jesus Club organiser Mel Fung says this year's play, titled "I'll lead you home' was all about living God's way in a world that opposes God.
"The event is an important night as it is Jesus' Club's single opportunity each year to make a public appearance and hence, give the community a taste of what this special ministry is all about,' she says.
"The annual Jesus Club play was performed at Christ Church Gladesville in front of a cheering audience of over 350 people. The endearing Jesus Club members treated them to a colourful and vibrant presentation of the Christian message."
Ms Fung says Jesus Club plans to open up similar groups across Sydney over the next few years.
