大象传媒

Helen Thomas talked to Martin Leigh, Vicar of Cheddleton in Leek:

听鈥淚t starts really on Christmas eve, we have a crib service at 6 o'clock, and then the midnight starts, we鈥檝e got to make lots of preparations for that because that鈥檚 quite a large too around 150 - 180 people turn up for that. I tend to get to bed about half past - quarter to 2 and have to be up for 7am to be in church for the 8 o'clock communion on Christmas day.

Going round to keep people company

"I come home to breakfast before going to the 10.30am service, and then we have lunch together and then I go round to see people who are the sort of the singletons. I go round to lighten them up, tell them jokes.

The church in Cheddleton

"I used to be a bit resentful because I didn鈥檛 see lots of the children over Christmas, though they鈥檝e all flown the nest now, when I started I wondered why we had to work over Christmas and everyone was having a good time, but I still have a good time and I see loads of people.

A late celebration

"My Birthday鈥檚 on December 28th and so the family all gather round on December 28th and we have our Christmas lunch with turkey and stuffing and goodness knows what. On the 28th we can open whatever bottle it is we鈥檙e after, I鈥榲e done all my communions by then, and so we have a nice family time, it鈥檚 only 3 days later and that鈥檚 fine.

"We have white, cream and gold robes for Christmas, don鈥檛 know if they suit me but my colleague Pat looks fabulous in them! Christmas is always special and always lovely, it鈥檚 just a feast that goes back over 2000 years and in this country, it鈥檚 when people relax and enjoy the best things in life.

A terrific time of year

"The stories are the same but they always re-echo in people鈥檚 minds and in people鈥檚 memories, and I think there鈥檚 something marvellous about thinking about Jesus, a baby being born in a manger, not inside of a pub even, not in a hotel, but in some no doubt smelly cattle store in the back of beyond.
And saying what we need to do as Christians is to really be loving and caring to each other and to recognise God鈥檚 love and care in that particular present of Jesus at Christmas. And there鈥檚 the Shepard鈥檚 on the hills and the wise men, and all the kids dressed up with tea towels on their heads pretending to be Shepard鈥檚 a or crown鈥檚 that unravel and end up on the floor, and it鈥檚 terrific, I love it, I wouldn鈥檛 be without if for the world.