Methodists encourage children and adults to be Messengers of Peace

This Christmas, new worship material is encouraging adults and children alike to become Messengers of Peace.

Produced by MethodistChildren, the Messengers of Peace service material invites congregations to make a Christmas 'Peace Box' containing items including a passport, iPod and nappy pin.

These items can be used to tell the story of the Nativity on Christmas morning, or throughout Advent, and to draw out its significance for our contemporary search for peace.

Steve Pearce, Children's Secretary for the Methodist Church, said: "In our mixed-up world, peace can often seem in short supply.

"But this material reminds us in a fresh way that we can all be messengers of peace as we seek to communicate God in our daily lives."

Using Christmas Day as a focus for peace, there are also ideas for music and prayer, including making 'peace doves' and using sign language during worship songs.

Said Pearce, "The use of symbol and sign language in the service will not only make it more accessible to those with hearing difficulties, it will also introduce a new dimension to worship for everyone."

The material is based on the highly successful Peacebuilders resources, launched in March this year in India. Because each church is different, the material is flexible enough so that it can be tailored to suit the church and congregation.