Bringing a smile to the face of people across Hertfordshire this Christmas is The Lockdown Nativity, a dramatic reading of poem written by Rev. Austin Janes of Grovehill Church, an ecumenical partnership, who is also Chair of Churches Together in Hemel Hempstead.
The Lockdown Nativity tells the story of the birth of Jesus as though it was set in 2020 and makes reference to many memorable parts of this past year including zoom bombing and the shortage of toilet rolls. Austin kindly shared this poem with Doral Hayes, of Churches Together in Hertfordshire who then suggested it be recorded for others to use across the county. Christians from different churches then came together from across Hertfordshire to read the poem and create a video as a resource to the churches as well as bringing some well needed comfort and joy this Christmas.
Representatives from Digswell Village Church, The Community Church Bishops Stortford, New Life Pentecostal Church, Belmont Road Baptist Church and Carey Baptist Church in Hemel Hempstead as well as the University of Hertfordshire ecumenical chaplaincy came together for this project with Rev. Dr David Chapman, Chair of the Essex, Beds and Herts Methodist District and Rt Rev. Michael Beasley, Bishop of Hertford who like Doral Hayes is also a CTE Trustee.
The text is available on the Churches Together in Hertfordshire website and is free for all to use as long as you credit Rev. A Janes
Doral Hayes writes “it was wonderful to bring people together for something fun and creative and everyone was so happy to be involved and to pray together”, echoing the words from The Lockdown nativity this Christmas “So let’s praise God together even when we cannot touch”.