Children's Crib Service...

This afternoon saw the Children's Crib Service at Our Lady of the Rosary. St. Francis of Assisi, credited with organising the first "live" Christmas Crib, has much to answer for...

Seriously, though, this is a great occasion, organised by the Children's Liturgy team from the 9am Sunday Mass. There are readers (usually the older children) a sensible girl is picked to play Mary, a reasonably sensible boy is asked to be Joseph, a more or less tractable baby is identified as a possible candidate to play Jesus, and then the other youngsters are invited to attend as shepherds, angels and kings.

It makes an interesting study... little girls never want to be shepherds. They don't really want to be kings either. Calling them "wise men" doesn't make them any more appealing. It's definitely a girly role being an angel... Anyway, there are no rehearsals, and so it's all done by careful marshalling and prompting, with carols sung in between the readings.

The children usually show up early in order to get changed. I heard blood-curdling yells, and went into the small hall to investigate...

Various angels were behaving in a most un-angelic fashion, though most of the noise was actually coming from the kings and shepherds... Once inside the church, the angels seemed keen to have their photos taken...

The shepherds, on the other hand, didn't seem at all concerned with fame and glory. One shepherd was wielding a particularly hefty stick, but, under his mother's eagle-eye, didn't seem to be inclined to use it on any of the other shepherds... The youngest shepherd appeared fascinated by the reader...

One of the kings needed a little coaxing to join the others...

... and then needed a little more pastoral encouragement to stay put!

Joseph was looking somewhat boot-faced: I think the girl he had hoped would play Mary didn't show up...

... and yes, Baby Jesus is dressed in pink. Boy babies cannot always be guaranteed in time for Christmas. At least she didn't howl the place down.

Eventually, all the children got to go up for the final prayers and the blessing. One year, a couple of shepherds decided to settle old grievances by bashing seven bells out of each other. This year was somewhat more peaceable... although one of the kings couldn't resist chasing one of the shepherds around the choir benches... and one of the shepherds started to chew on his sheep...

It was all fabulous fun... made all the more so because I didn't have to organise any of it!

Congratulations to all involved.