Tutu the ‘donkey’ at church Nativity service

ST Bartholomew’s Church in Nettlebed held its annual Nativity service which featured a retelling of the story of Jesus’s birth through carols and readings.

The event, which took place on December 21, also featured an illustrative tableau put together by children in the village.

It was led by associate vicar Hugh Balfour as rector Mark Ainsworth was leading a service in Rotherfield Greys.

The carols included Once in Royal David’s City, Little Donkey, We Three Kings and Silent Night. The church was so busy that it ran out of hymn sheets.

The Nativity tableau featured Tutu, a Shetland Pony, as the Donkey, handled by owner Maddie Sharkey, as well as a real-life baby from the congregation as baby Jesus.

Delivering his Christmas message Rev Balfour asked the congregation to think about the importance of the manger in the Christmas story. He said: “When a baby is born, what are the three top questions? How’s Mum? What sex is it? How much does it weigh? Those are the top three.

“Does anyone ever ask, what sort of cradle did you have? The question doesn’t arrive, does it? But for Luke, in his account, it’s of prime importance.

“He mentions it three times and the angels mention it. [They say] ‘This will be the sign. You will find the baby wrapped in a cross, lying in a manger’.

“He was in the manger because there was no room in the inn. Right at the beginning of his life he was excluded. This is the one who is the saviour, the king of the universe, who has come from another world. Heaven has invaded earth and we reject it because we’re too busy.”

Rev Balfour said that the challenge at Christmas was to make room for Jesus. He said: “Our lives are a bit like the inn. How many people here have got full lives? Quite a lot of you have got small children... and life is pretty full and furious. But the challenge of Christmas is to make room in our lives for Jesus Christ.”

The service concluded with prayers, and mulled wine and mince pies were served.