Get your face in the picture this Christmas

Churches in more than 100 towns will be telling the Nativity with a fun twist this Christmas.

They have signed up to Get in the Picture, which invites locals to turn out in their angel wings, tea towels and other home made accessories to play their part in an instant nativity.

Dressed as a character of their choice, they can have their picture taken in a nativity tableau and download it later from the Get in the Picture website.

In addition to the photos, the website will provide details about local church carol services, a reading of the Christmas story from the Bible, and stories telling what Christmas means to people today.

The ecumenical initiative was launched by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in 2009. It has seen rapid growth from 44 locations in the first year to more than 100 this year.

Churches from Jersey and Torquay in the south to Greenock in west Scotland are taking part.

Bethel Baptist Church in Whitchurch, a suburb of Cardiff, did Get in the Picture in November when the community Christmas lights were switched on.

Instead of people dressing up, they produced a mural with holes for people to put their heads in. They enjoyed a bumper turn out, taking nearly 100 pictures in an hour and a half.

"It went really well," said assistant minister, the Rev Jonathan Vaughan-Davies.

"People, dads especially, could not believe it was all free.

"It led to some great conversations about what the church is and does, and what Christmas really means."

Newbury Baptist Church in Berkshire is holding Get in the Picture this Saturday in the town's Kennet Centre, following a successful year last year.

The church is hoping that Santa's visit to the shopping centre on the same day will boost visitors to the nativity.

Organiser Nikki Wilby said: "We're doing Get in the Picture again this year as it's a great opportunity to get out into our community and to engage with the public at a time of year when people seem to be more open to talking about Jesus."

Ian Bunce, Head of Mission for the Baptist Union of Great Britain is pleased that Get in the Picture is growing in popularity.

"We are delighted that more and more churches are taking part in Get in the Picture. It is a great way of people engaging with the Christmas story in a fun way and being reminded that Christmas starts with Christ."

On the web: www.getinthepicture.org.uk/home.htm