This year, Sodbury Vale Benefice is spreading seasonal cheer online with their digital Advent calendar – inviting everyone to share in the hopes, memories, and joy of Christmas as seen through the eyes of their community.
Running from 1 to 26 December, the calendar features 26 virtual ‘doors’, each one revealing a 45-second to one-minute short video clip of a different person or group from the benefice’s four churches.
Every clip gives a glimpse into how people in Sodbury Vale celebrate Christmas, from favourite memories to reflections on what the season means to them.
“We’ve made a joyful digital countdown to Christmas for all to enjoy,” said the Revd Christine Butler of Sodbury Vale Benefice. “We wanted to make more of Advent in the lead up to Christmas, and to make something that’s a bit of fun too. It’s a daily moment of festive cheer and connection; a space to reflect on the wonder of Christmas and the hope Advent brings. We thought it would be sad to stop on Christmas Day, so we added Boxing Day as well. People will have to wait for the exact date each day to watch the video clips.”
Each calendar door is also illustrated with images from CribFest 2024, the benefice’s much-loved annual nativity display that showcases nativity cribs from around the world – from simple handmade cribs to stunning semi-precious displays.
“A lot of people tell us that Cribfest starts off their Christmas, and that in the years we didn’t have it, they felt bereft by it. People come from quite a long way to attend, because some of the cribs are just amazing and from all over the world,” Christine said.
Excitement is already building for CribFest 2025, running from 3 to 7 December at St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury. This year’s theme, ‘Good News’, aims to point visitors towards the story of Jesus. On the final day, the town is hosting its annual ‘Chipping Sodbury Christmas Sunday’, complete with two donkeys in the lay-by next to the church.
“We invite everyone to experience the joy of Advent – through our online calendar, at CribFest, or both,” said Christine.
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