It's really quite small (the size you might put on a sideboard), and you could so easily walk by without spotting it, but in the Memorial Square in Railway Town is a beautiful nativity scene in a shed.

I like that I could so easily have failed to notice it.

I like that it's small and insignificant next to the bright white lights on the trees.

I like that that's how it would have been - nothing to see, just a another peasant baby, born in an out of the way place that no-one ever went.

Today I have been working on the service of Lessons and Carols for Advent 4, also known, this year as Christmas Eve!

I decided to go totally traditional and use only Bible readings - but which ones?  Looking back over previous years' outlines, I ended up with a list of thirteen scripture passages to choose from.  In the end, I a using ten of them - one as a 'call to worship' and nine to be read in the main body of the service.

Choosing carols was also a good challenge, as usually I've been interspersing 'choir' and 'congregation' but this year it's all 'congregation'... so we begin with some lovely Advent pieces before moving into Christmas and, yes, even Epiphany.

I am looking forward to seeing what folk make of it - a new context is always as challenge as 'everyone' knows what 'always' happens, except the new minister and any of the new folk who have joined or visited us over the past few months.

Just the small matter of the Christingle and Christmas Day left to plan...