Churches Together in Birstall in association with Bishop St Methodist Church are making a series of giant nativity puppets to tell the story of Jesus’ birth at Christmas Lights switch-ons and other events this year.  This is the story of their creation.  Rachel Parkinson, Minister at Birstall Methodist, writes:

For the last four years, Birstall Youth Cafe on the School Lane playing fields has been opening its doors to local youngsters every Wednesday and Friday.  Last night Anne Crosby, the Curate at St James, and I took along some puppet-themed activities to set alongside the table-tennis, pool and general good-natured hanging about.  We took fabric pens to decorate a robe for the third King / Wise Man and had another go at making papier mache beads.