Do people have "Crib" services?

[oopsorganist]

I was just googling around and I notice various churches have crib services. Except for St Ives, they have cancelled this in favour of building a replica of a wall in Palestine, they sound cool........

.....this thought came out of a suggestion to do a strange radical crib instead of the plaster figure thing... we've got two of those, an old one and a new one, and last year, they both got out on display, one on the altar steps and one on the Sacred Heart altar area chapel thingy.

With fairy lights. All the better to trip you with......

.... do people have these and are they part of the vigil Mass?

[oopsorganist]

It's traditional round here for people to answer their own posts on Boxing Day.

I always ponder the Liturgy Planner for the Vigil and I am never that sure if it is Midnight Mass we are doing or what. Feel slightly wrong ...... but I think this has been discussed before? Anyways, the Mass sheet down at church has a Vigil bit so that is OK, must remember to get one and keep it for next year, when I will have the same insecurity around Vigilness and Chrimbo.

We had a simple crib.. no figurines, due to everyone being too exhausted to find them I think.... so last minute on Christmas Eve we strung together some bits and bobs for an interactive crib. Situated well away from the altar steps as father has had a fall and is a bit unstable and set up around the baptism font. Some cardboard from Netto and a few boxes and some hay, a big star and some bread and wine, three gifts from the Body Shop, a Follow Your Heart bag and a blanket or two. Couldn't find the walking stick ..... or a battered suitcase, or an OT to tear up and paste on the back cardboard, ah well maybe next year, we had lots of costumes, which the children wore.. we had two Mary's and a donkey and a sheep, two angels, one shepherd........and a black baby doll. Actually a girl doll but we were running out of time...... which got held and passed around by toddlers and grown ups too......only a few people remarked that Jesus was looking a bit tanned this year...

...which was a lot of fun and then PP asked what it all meant........... so we said it was for getting in there and not just standing and looking.
Which was all great fun and I really enjoyed it. Even the lovely lady who sang Silent Night in the style of Slim Whitman...
Only to arrive for Midnight Mass and find that ******* CD on, the one with carols AND other hymns. Including such favourites as...... For all the Saints, When I survey the wondrous cross, To be a pilgrim and Bread of Heaven...... was playing and was not turned off even after the bell rang for the entrance..... hmmmmm
... I wonder if PP ever found the Baptism oils for the Baptism after Mass on Christmas Day? And if not, I wonder what he used? A family of Travellers with a baby to dip, whose matriarch offered all her kin some chewing gum just at a rather crucial time of the Mass .........we plonked Baby Jesus with them as we left after Mass and they were a bit uncomfortable to be included thus and we just said they had to go and put it back in the manger when they had finished! .... much joy and laughter and sufficient chaos in our parish this Christmas.

Merry Chistmas all.

[gwyn]

Hey Ooops, have you considered sabotaging the CD player? Righteous indignation - after all, didn't Our Blessed Lord throw the money changers out?

It's not too difficult to sabotage a CD player . . . think of it as the Hideous Abomination (let the reader understand)

[docmattc]

The Directory of Popular Piety has a little to say about cribs.

[oopsorganist]

Yikes Doc!
that's a lot of words...

...... nothing in our crib to offend though, and looks quite tasteful, wickerwork crib and hay, gold star even the card looks nice, and rush matting for the floor..........the gifts are gold, and frankinscence ( essential oils) and the body butter was right too, all matching colour co ordinated.........I forget to say we had swaddling clothes nice beige linen, and the children at Mass all got in the crib and stayed there until the end of Mass, being very loving and being part of the celebration, come of them had added star costumes around their necks when dressed as sheep, but all looked the part and although informal, nothing controversial was done........ it is not often we involve our young people sufficiently but they were involved.......much better than our oldest crib figures which are lacking bits and some have no noses..... we could have done with some straw but maybe next year......
... and all quite in line with our Diocesan guidance for children's Liturgy which I read last year.....
.... and Jesus got much more hugging than He would have done in the past.........
it's a beautiful crib.

[organist]

Christmas is BIG with the Anglicans where I play. I made the journey there 4 times over Christmas and played for 2 crib services on Christmas Eve. It's the best attended service all year so they have to have a second one to accomodate all the kids. It's well constructed with readings and carols to accompany the different figures being brought to the crib. The only odd idea is raising your candle as baby Jesus passes by during "O come all ye faithful" - this after very detailed instructions about candle safety, fire wardens with buckets of water on duty, etc. The bucket is still there! Mind you in our house a paper napkin fell on a candle on the table and quick thinking with 2 frying pans saved the day! After the service the stable is taken down and the crib arranged in front of the nave altar.
We gave out our carols CD at the end and people were clearly touched to be given a freebie! It makes a change to always being asked for money. Next year I shall go to the town Christmas shindig which is very secular and give them away there with information about the choir and services. Someone rang up about joining the choir so that's good. I'd much rather they were played than sitting in a cupboard. We have covered our costs and sent money to hospice and church and I never wanted a 1000 any way! Happy Christmastide and all the best for 2009!

[oopsorganist]

Can we have a carol CD organist?

Our need is great!

[organist]

But of course! Unless you choose to sabotage the CD player! Email me your address at woodhouse@sopten.demon.co.uk and I will happily send you one. Happy New Year!