Where's the Bairns?

A while back I was at a meeting where it was mentioned that an advent wreath had to be bought because it's getting a bit too much for the person who had been making them for years.  I can't remember the exact cost, but it was enough to draw a shocked intake of breath from all those gathered.  To me, it seemed like a fair price for the work that the florist put in, and it was a perfect example of the value that the volunteers in the church put in, through their time, talents and money.

I asked at the time if some of the children could have been given an oasis ring and, with appropriate assistance, made their own advent ring.  It would have been a nice contribution from them, and a seasonal example of their being part of the congregation.  After all, Christmas is the season that children have most involvement in with the church.  could they manage something else?  Would it make the season that is busy for them a little too much like work?

When discussion came up about the use of matches or a lighter to light the candles, I suggested that the children would find one of those stove lighter wands easier to use, there was blank looks.  People were more worried about the prospect of wax on the carpet than children using wax tapers.

Advent arrived, and while one adult read a script about the candles, another adult lit the candles.  This pattern was repeated, with the exception of yesterday, when I got to light all four candles and read the script.

When the nativity play started, the children acted out their parts, but in mime only.  There were no spoken parts, which, while they can on occasion be slow in delivery, are cute. People still talk about the times when they had a part to play in their nativity many years ago.  The narrator, another adult, did all the speaking.  so yes, it was cute, it was Christmassy, and the important parts of the message were there.  I just don't like feeling that the children have to be old before they are allowed to be young again.




In other news, I'm listening to Team Rock Radio at the moment.  No adverts, with the exception of an occasional ad for the magazine that is paying the bills.  A very occasional Christmas song, which usually has an awesome guitar riff.  If the first song you hear of a day is the one that sticks in your head all day, Monday, the day of the interview with the Christian organisation, the tune in my head was "Can I Play with Madness."  It seemed appropriate...