A heavenly host of angels, sheep-a-bleating, neighing horses, mooing cows and a little donkey, were among the stars of Leicestershire Young Farmer’s first ever ‘Drive In Living Nativity’ service, held here in the rural heart of our diocese on Sunday.
Melton Mowbray Cattle Market came alive as the young farmers and their farmyard friends re-enacted the greatest story ever told.
From the comfort of their cars, tractors and such-like, around 240 vehicle-loads of people watched the Christmas story and the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ unfold in front of their eyes.
The shepherds arrived on vintage tractors, the kings on horses, a tele handler thrust the star high into the sky, and there was festive spirit aplenty.
The stage was set up on an articulated lorry, flanked by two tractors on loan from the event sponsor, RES Tractors.
As a generous gift and with genuine Christmas community spirit, the Young Farmers actually staged the Live Nativity twice, so they could share the story of Christmas not only amongst themselves, but with the wider public.
Rural Officer for the Diocese of Leicester, Revd Canon Peter Hooper, led the services, which included the nativity story, carols and a prayer when the final tableau had been set.
The service was also broadcast live by local radio station 103 The Eye FM, for the audience to listen to through their car radios, whilst enabling those who were unable to attend to join in with the worship and celebrations from home.
Despite changing regulations and concerns, people were able to stay in their cars and be well protected and socially distanced, with the upmost effort made to ensure safety for all.
The last 7 months have been emotionally challenging for everyone - not least rural young people who have struggled with the lack of socialising and activities available to them. Throughout both lockdowns Leicestershire and Rutland Federation of Young Farmers Clubs has continued to offer virtual meetings and competitions for its 500 rural young people from across the county, including a drive-in harvest festival service held in October.
It has also been the federations most financially challenging year yet.
This joyful Christmas event gave members the opportunity to come ‘together’, while raising much-needed funds for the organisation and the Farming Community Network (FCN).
County Chairman, Elizabeth Charles, who is a former member of our Bishop's Youth Council, said: “We wanted to organise something really special for our members after such a challenging year, but we also wanted to give something back to the local community and support a worthwhile charity.”
This year has been all about bringing communities together in new and creative ways, and a Drive-In Living Nativity service did just that.
Revd Peter, who is also Area Dean for the Framland Deanery, said: “It was quite unbelievable, just the most fantastic thing.
“We couldn’t have done it without the local radio station and, of course, the young farmers who came up with the idea and extended it to reach out to the community which was such a generous gesture.
“This wasn’t about what we couldn’t do, but something we could do,” he said. “It all just worked out, and there is something really special in that. We are amazingly blessed.”
Those who attended clearly appreciated the service, with many messages and pictures being shared on social media.
The donkey particularly enjoyed the attention, letting out big hee-haws of delight, when he’d finished carrying Mary, while a few vehicles were a little over exuberant in the flashing of their lights during carols and ended up with flat batteries by the end, but the young farmers, armed with jump leads, saved the day.
Emma Lovegrove, County organiser for Leicestershire Young Farmers, said: “I am so proud of all the members, some who were as young as 11 years old, who came together to make this event possible.
“It was a very special Christmas service that will live on in our memories for many months to come. 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone - it was so nice to end the year on such a high.”
Revd Peter added: “Someone said to me, with all the changes and everything else going on it hadn’t felt Christmassy until they came, sang carols, heard the Christmas story, and were reminded what Christmas is all about - and that’s a lovely thing.
“Though we don’t have a solid base for anything we might see as normal in our lives right now, what we do have is the rock solid base of Christmas, and that never changes.
“It was a lovely thing to do for people, and at the same time reminded us that Christmas begins with Christ.”