Date: 07 December 2022
A pagoda crib, yetis and fake snow were the centre pieces of a very special Advent service this weekend.
St Michael's and All Angels church, Aldershot welcomed members of the large Nepali community in the town, to explore the mystery of the ‘Incarnation of Jesus’ at an intergenerational service.
“We’re not hearing Nepali voices in worship,” says the Revd Alwyn Pereira, Vicar of St Michael’s. “Nor do those living in this country have books or people who look like them.”
To counter this isolation the church decided to support children or a school in the Himalayan country and twin it with the local Primary school. The church invited the Christian Headmaster to come and visit. Visa restrictions meant he could only come towards Christmas.
So for his visit St Michael’s had a pagoda crib designed by a local architect, Planuk, and built by the town’s scouts. A local artist from Yazaroo has designed a colourful backdrop and materials were donated by Smurfitkappa and B&Q; the St Michael’s C of E infant school has worked on prayer flags as decorations. There’s was also fake snow and hidden yetis to search out.
The service welcomed members of the Nepalese Church to lead the congregation in worship and the Eucharist.
“The service demonstrated a Church unity and in particular that Jesus is not exclusively for one ethnic group but that Jesus Christ is a global saviour, available to all.”