Over 100 locations getting in the picture this year
This Christmas, people in over 100 towns will be donning tea towels and angel’s wings and taking part in an instant nativity.
Get in the Picture seeks to involve all kinds of people in the Christmas story by encouraging them to participate and experience being part of the nativity in a fun way.
Members of the public will be encouraged to become one of the characters of the Christmas story and to have their photograph taken in a nativity tableau. The photographs will be available to view and download for free on the Get in the Picture website alongside information about local church carol services, a reading of the Christmas story from the bible and stories of what Christmas means to people today.
The ecumenical initiative, which was launched by the Baptist Union of Great Britain Mission Department in 2009, is taking place in over 100 locations for the first time, up from 44 in 2009 and 76 locations in 2010.
Places where Get in the Picture is happening range from Jersey to Greenock in Scotland, Norwich to Torquay.
Bethel Baptist Church in Whitchurch, a suburb of Cardiff, did Get in the Picture in November when the community Christmas lights were switched on. Instead of people dressing up they produced a mural with holes for people to put their heads in, similar to what you get at some seaside towns. In an hour and a half they took almost 100 pictures.
“It went really well,” says assistant minister, the Revd Jonathan Vaughan-Davies. “People, dads especially, could not believe it was all free. "It led to some great conversations about what the church is and does, and what Christmas really means."
Newbury Baptist Church in Berkshire is holding Get in the Picture this Saturday (10 December) in the town’s Kennet Centre, following a successful year last year. They are hoping for many visitors as Santa is at the shopping centre on the same day. “We're doing Get in the Picture again this year as it's a great opportunity to get out into our community and to engage with the public at a time of year when people seem to be more open to talking about Jesus,” says organiser, Nikki Wilby.
“The team who took part last year had such fun and were so enthused about it, that a number of them are really keen to get involved and take part again this year.”
Ian Bunce, Head of Mission for the Baptist Union of Great Britain is pleased that Get in the Picture is growing in popularity.
“We are delighted that more and more churches are taking part in Get in the Picture. It is a great way of people engaging with the Christmas story in a fun way and being reminded that Christmas starts with Christ.”
For more information on Get in the Picture click here.
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