The Ordinary Moments 2017 #37 – The Church Nativity!

For as long as I can remember I have found great joy in the Nativities at Church. They are an Ordinary moment of our Christmas time, and an opportunity for the kids to act out for us the traditional story of Christ’s birth. I always look forward to them, not just to see our cute little kiddies in costume performing, but because they often have the same familiar songs we sung as kids and are almost always a little chaotic and funny too!

They are far from the organised and well scripted plays you would see at school, as often only have a week or 2 (of church time )- if they’re lucky to rehearse…but they always bring the sweet spirit of Christmas for us and I love them.

This year was different to other years as for the first time since being a kid, I was a participant in it too (minus the year I played Mary and we used new baby Ethan as Jesus). And it was really lovely to be doing it as a family. Megan is such a little madam and brought laughter galore at the end when she realised that the mic next to her was on, and proceeded to sing rather loudly into it stealing the lime light! I used the muslin shawl on my head to (unsuccessfully) try and hide behind as I literally had tears of laughter with it all.

A couple of years ago Nath was up there with the kids as he was roped in to being one of the wise men, and then this year it was my turn to play a part – I was actually really excited and did not play it cool when it was suggested either!

I love being on the stage in any role and I love the memories we are making doing things like this with the kids! Mostly though I love that together we can celebrate the Birth of Christ and help others at church do the same. I Love these Ordinary Moments of church nativities, because it is so important to us as parents that our kids never lose sight of what Christmas means and why we have it. I felt a great sense of humility carrying my wiggly little lamb from the back of the hall upto the stage to kneel by a manger with a doll in! I couldn’t help but be grateful for that first Christmas and what it means to us now!

One of my earliest memories of these Nativities is being a little shepherd with a tea towel on my head, and here I am years later as a wife and mother taking on that same role with my biggest boy as Joseph, Megs as an Angel and little Alice as a wriggly scrummy lamb!! I loved being along side my kids and singing with them familiar and well loved songs, and helping to re-tell this special story to refocus us all to the true meaning of Christmas. An ordinary moment, and yet a very special moment too!