This Christmas, Emmanuel Bristol is organising a Nativity Window Trail for residents of Bishopston, Ashley Down, Horfield, Northville, Westbury on Trym, Henleaze and Westbury Park to enjoy. The window displays will give an amazing opportunity to marvel with the angels, journey with the wise men and see the baby Jesus born in a dirty stable.

For one weekend only (Friday 11 – Sunday 13th December), residents of North Bristol are invited to uncover the wonder and joy of the Christmas story by following the six unique trails. Forty-six houses are involved – each house will tell a stage of the Christmas story in creative and inspiring ways. You can start at the beginning, middle or end, take in the whole trail or just parts of it! The windows will be lit from 4-8pm.

At each window, there will be a QR code that links to a website containing the next part of the Christmas story and a Christmas Carol to play as you enjoy the scene.

Jim Walford, vicar of Emmanuel Bishopston, explains:

“Christmas 2020 will be very different for all of us. For many, this has been an incredibly challenging and depressing year. As a church, we recognised that people would be looking for COVID-secure activities to do and we also knew that we probably wouldn’t be able to host Carol Services as usual. We hope that the Emmanuel Nativity Window Trail will provide a chance to experience the Christmas Story in a fresh and relevant way. The reality of God coming to Earth as a baby really is, as the Angels said, ‘good news for all people’ and we know that this Christmas we all need that hope more than ever.

“At the Church of the Good Shepherd on Bishop Road, where Emmanuel Bishopston usually meets, the Church Hall will be decorated by the children of Emmanuel Bishopston and Magic Dragon Pre School. In addition, if coronavirus restrictions have been lifted, we hope that some real-life characters from the Christmas Story may be hiding in the garden for families to spot!”

To find out more, visit https://emmanuelbristol.org.uk/nativitytrail/