Our Christmas message this year comes from the Bishop of Ripon, the Rt Revd Anna Eltringham. 

On behalf of the whole team at The Stray Ferret we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful 2024. 

In my last church, when I was a new vicar, I soon learnt there were a few lines in the Christmas Eve Nativity play which I must NEVER contemplate removing.  From the start of the play every single year, the Christmas tree lights would be un-lit and my colleague would explain, again, that one of the first things we needed to do was get the Christmas tree lights working. ‘We must all clap our hands’, she said, which we all did obediently.  ‘Clap harder!’ she’d cry ‘It’s not working…!’ until, as if by magic, the lights would blink into their beautiful, bright display.  ‘Well done everyone.  You know what they say, don’t you?’ – and here comes the punchline – ‘Many hands make lights work!’

I was reminded of those words when I visited the local Re-use and Re-cycling Centre in Ripon recently.  Never have I met such helpful and kind Refuse and Recycling Operatives.  The other day as I said thank you one said ‘That’s ok love – you know what they say… many hands make light work.’ Which they do.

Life is good when people care for each other, are kind and helpful, and pull together in good times and bad.  Sadly, in the world at large and in our local neighbourhoods, it can often feel like we see more that is far from friendly.  Social media makes things worse because it’s all too easy to be very unpleasant about individuals or groups, because we’ll hopefully never meet them in person.

The story of Jesus’ birth is set against a back drop of hatred. King Herod was determined to track down Jesus and snuff out the light he brought into the world.  However, as Mary, Joseph, Inn-keeper, Shepherds, Magi and animals gathered around the baby, some say we observe the first ever church.  A diverse group brought together by God’s love, gentleness and hope in the face of Jesus.

Like trying to make the church’s Christmas tree lights work, we need to work hard and intentionally to be kind, help each other and build up community.  I think, when we do, we see something of God’s light and love, gentleness and hope.  That can happen anywhere, but churches are a place where we can step into it somewhere and I encourage you to step inside your local church to experience it yourself, this Christmas.

Because I have one more ‘thank you’ and that is to all ministers and local volunteers, who work so hard to create beautiful Christmas services and events.  Thank you for making a space where we can glimpse the light and love, gentleness and hope of Christ with and through one another.

Peace on earth!  Goodwill to all!  And may you have a very Happy and Blessed Christmas!

Please give generously to the Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 

Knaresborough will hold its traditional outdoor nativity today followed by a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

The nativity, which takes place at 6pm in Market Square, brings the Christmas story to life through readings and drama. It is performed by local people and includes a donkey.

The church service will then be held at St John the Baptist Church at 7pm.

It follows a similar format to the famous Service of Nine Lessons and Carols which has been broadcast live annually from the Chapel of King’s College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve afternoon since 1928.

The Knaresborough service, which has taken place on Christmas Eve for more than 50 years, will be held amongst the illuminated splendour of the Christmas Tree festival, which includes about 70 trees individually decorated.

There will be a candlelit procession and music from St John’s Choir, directed by Mark Hunter, as well as traditional festive favourites for all to sing.

St John’s Choir, who enjoyed a successful residency at Salisbury Cathedral last summer, were recently the first choir to perform in the newly restored Chapel at Allerton Castle and will also be singing in York Minster over the weekend after Christmas, as well as in Durham Cathedral, St George’s Chapel Windsor and Westminster Abbey in 2024.

Both events are open to everyone.

Read more:

• Rare mother of pearl clouds above Harrogate and Knaresborough
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Villagers near Boroughbridge were left angry and upset after vandals wrecked a nativity scene in their parish churchyard.

The nativity was put in place at St John’s Church in Minskip last week in time for a carol service, held outside because of covid concerns.

A central part of it was the nativity scene, which three or four of the church council had put up themselves.

The first indication that something had happened came early this morning.

The scene this morning.

Churchwarden Robert Beaumont said:

“The lovely couple, Jason and Helen, who live next door to the church, heard a noise at about 5am.

“They’re not sure if that was the vandals destroying the nativity scene but when they looked out of their windows at about 7am, all the wise men, the crib, everything, was scattered all around the churchyard.

“To have it just destroyed in this wanton and mindless manner was heart-breaking. And we’ve all been thinking, why would anybody want to do that?”

The church has reported the incident to police.

Read more:

• Boroughbridge Hightimers return with Cinderella pantomime
• Community rallies to raise £7,000 for Minskip fire victims

Villagers have managed to salvage the scene and rebuild it,

Mr Beaumont said.

“Although the vandals kicked parts of the scene all over the church or they didn’t break them in two.

“So with a lot of love and care, three members of our church committee worked from about half past eight this morning and put the whole scene back together again.

“And so, as one of our church council members said, love will always triumph over hate and good over evil. And that’s one of the messages of Christmas, so that was rather appropriate.

“But that doesn’t quite extinguish my anger as churchwarden that people should find it appropriate to desecrate our churchyard.”

It caps a difficult period for St John’s. A drunken motorist crashed into the church wall about six weeks ago. Insurance covered it but the church had to pay a £500 excess.

Covid-permitting, the village will hold an outdoor Christmas Day service with the nativity scene firmly in the foreground.

It’s lights, camera, action for this year’s Knaresborough nativity, which has been made into a film for the first time this year.

The nativity is usually performed live in the town’s Market Square on Christmas Eve. But covid forced plans to change this year.

The film will feature familiar faces from local dramatic society Christians Together.

The society has been filming since September, bringing the production to life by using local backdrops.

Viewers will see the wise men following the star over the Stray and buying gifts from Knaresborough shops. The final manger scene is set inside the bar Six Poor Folk.

Peter Lacey, the producer, said:

“It felt obvious in the summer that a Christmas gathering of over 400 people rubbing shoulders and shaking hands was unlikely to be sensible in the context of covid, and so we set out on our own journey.

“We’ve had to negotiate lockdowns and ensure all filming has been covid-secure, but we’re delighted with the outcome”.

Some of this year’s cast during filming.

Read more:

• Knaresborough encourages shoppers with a free map of all its Christmas trees.
• Masham is to hold outdoor services this Christmas. 

The society hopes to have the film available on its website by the end of the week. It will be uploaded here.

A community showing has also been arranged for December, 24 at 5.15pm – household can receive the zoom link by booking on the website.