By Liz Townsend
Star Trail has been an annual event at St Mark’s Church for several years now. School children from the local primary schools visit the church and are taken on a journey to Bethlehem exploring what it was like to travel over 2000 years ago in the middle east. They also learn about what gifts the wise men took, wonder why they took such unsuitable gifts to a baby and what significance the gifts held. They think about what they might have taken, what they give and receive today and what they might take to a new baby and especially what they might give to Jesus.
Six gazeboes are decorated with appropriate colours and objects and lit with Christmas lights and candles. To enhance the sensory experience Frankincense and Myrrh perfume the air. The children can look, touch, smell and ask questions. They go back to school with a star shaped biscuit, a map to plot and a poem.
This year, Tattenham and Preston Community Group thought about having a ‘Santa’s Grotto’. With many families struggling in our area it was thought holding an affordable experience for families in the community might be welcomed. As the church has direct contact with families through their Messy Groups, the Food Club, and the local Community Library, TPCG worked alongside the church to invite Santa to Star Trail.
Each family was welcomed into the wonderfully decorated ‘Christmas Now’ gazebo where, after journeying the Star Trail, Santa greeted them by his fireside and gave each a gift and chocolates. It was lovely to hear the “Wows!” as they went in to meet Santa and most families had a ‘photo taken with him. Whilst waiting to journey they could drink hot chocolate, decorate Star biscuits and do some colouring or quizzes.
We suggested a donation of £5 per family but if a donation wasn’t possible families could come anyway. 29 families came over the two evenings and it was heartwarming to see that several donated more which easily covered the costs of those who couldn’t donate. The two evenings were busy but very happy and it was definitely a worthwhile event.