Cliff Park Community Church's Carol Service with a difference!

It was a sermon with a difference when Cliff Park Community Church took over Gorleston Pavilion theatre on Sunday morning for the annual carol service. Worship leader Donna Dodson donned a Good Fairy costume and waved a magic wand to give a talk which combined the Christmas story of Good News with the theme of pantomime which reflected the Pavilion's current Cinderella. It was even delivered in rhyming couplets which she had specially written

 

The service attracted a full house of around 300 people who enjoyed coffee and mince pies as well as traditional carols which were accompanied by the Great Yarmouth Brass Junior Band, with their conductor Richard Ward. They all entered into the spirit and wore Santa hats. Richard Ward said it was a very good way for the band to end their autumn season of concerts and appearances 

 

The service opened in darkness with the children of the Kidz Church coming through the auditorium with light sticks and joining Joseph and Mary (Jamie Stapley and Hannah Hanks) on the stage. Church member John Stebbings had made a manger for the opening scene

 

Tony Mallion hosted the service and interviewed three of the church's young people who had each spent time working for various overseas missions. Abigail Lee spoke about her time with Soul Survivor in Spain and Katherine Bullen about her month with Aids victims in Uganda. Andrew Roberts, who only arrived back from India on Friday told the audience about the year he is spending teaching at a mission school. Puppets were also included in the morning's events