Date: 26 January 2022
A real life donkey was on hand to greet the almost 300 people who attended Burpham church's Carols in the Park, just before Christmas.
Visitors to Sutherland Memorial Park where welcomed by Merlin the donkey as the audience gathered in a marquee with a hessian and bales “stable set” at one end, and musicians at the other.
The Revd Joanna Levasier introduced the five carols. There were Bible readings telling the Christmas story, enacted by members of the church, gradually forming a Nativity tableau. “Merlin the donkey performed beautifully and entertained everyone with a loud ‘Eeyore’ in the middle of my Christmas “thought” at the end,” Jo recalls.
“It was difficult to see how many people had joined us, but when we asked them to set off phone torch lights, to be the host of angels, the place lit up,” says Jo. “It was fabulous to see how many had come.”
After the carols there was food provided by Neat2eat, the opportunity to meet Merlin and visit a number of prayer stations. The team from Burpham Church, were thrilled to see many new faces, people who don’t normally come to church, enjoying the afternoon.
The feedback from the Carols was very positive. The great-grand daughter of one of the Wise Men said, “I think it was great! I can't believe there was a REAL life baby and REAL life donkey. I didn't think donkeys could make a noise as loud as Merlin did. It was so loud!”
One of the organising team commented, “There was an air of expectation, fun and community. So praise God for releasing his Holy Spirit over the park and all the activities”.
And an early date in the diary, Burpham Church hope to be Carolling in the Park again at the end of 2022.