The three-minute animated video can be adapted and personalised by parish churches for use throughout Advent and Christmas.
Featuring various families preparing for and celebrating Christmas, the film is part of the Church of England’s Comfort and Joy campaign. A programme of online services and reflections with content will be shared through December and up and until Epiphany.
The video explores how the uniquely difficult circumstances of 2020 will shape the festive season ahead for many families.
Describing the situation for many people this Christmas, the narration says: “There’ll be presents we give and blessings we share, generous tables, crackers to pull - and empty places of those not with you, some that are gone forever, and some just not able to travel.
“We’ll have eyes filled with tears and hearts with love. Whether they’ll be arms around us or chats around screens and giggles on phones, we’ll still have trees to set up and cards to write, calendars to open, and carols to sing, candles to light and prayers to say and the greatest story of all, with light from the stable and the Christ child promising comfort and joy for everyone this special Christmas time.”
The video was launched by the Church of England team on Monday 30th November and churches will be able to personalise the video ready for sharing on social media while encouraging people to access services through A Church Near You.
More information
- More information on Comfort and Joy, including details on streamed national services throughout Advent and Christmas, can be found on the Church of England website.
- A Church Near You is the Church of England's church-finder website, with pages for all our 16,000 churches. The public will be able to find onsite services and watch online events on this site this Christmas.