Bishop of Norwich launches new Christmas film
The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham James, launched a new short film entitled 'The Story of Christmas.' at Wednesday's Norfolk Christian Digital Communications Awards.
Many people don't feel that their Christmas season has started until a certain ad is shown on TV or Christmas cups are available in coffee shops. Increasing hype around the battle of the seasonal ad campaign has come to mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Shocking statistics in a recent study showed just 12 per cent of adults know the nativity story, and more than one-third of children don't know whose birthday it is. So the Diocese has decided to make a film to help those of all ages learn the story and discover what Christmas is really about.
The new film aims to help young and old discover the true meaning of Christmas and has been created by the Diocese of Norwich. The animation re-tells the nativity story and is narrated by the Bishop Graham.
Bishop Graham (pictured right speaking at the awards night) said: "Everyone celebrates Christmas. Not everyone knows the story of Christmas, though they often think they do. So we need to tell it as vividly as possible in the language of today”.
The Venerable Jan McFarlane, Archdeacon of Norwich said: “For vast numbers of people Christ is still very much at the heart of Christmas, even if their knowledge is a little hazy. Our hope is this film will remind us of the wonder which lies at the very heart of Christmas in the form of a tiny infant born to teach us the power of unconditional love.”
The engaging film depicts the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, the birth of Jesus and the visiting shepherds and wise men. It has been made in a style that will appeal to both children and adults alike.
Churches and schools are being encouraged to share the film through their social media platforms, and to show the film in services, assemblies and R.E. classes in the run-up to Christmas.
Christmas booklets, bookmarks and colouring sheets can also be ordered online and the film can be seen above, on the Christmas website or on YouTube.