More than 200 people of all ages took part in Talybont-on-Usk on Christmas Eve in the traditional enactment of scenes from Jesus’ nativity in Bethlehem. The popular annual ‘Living Nativity’ event was organised by our Beacons Group churches along with the local community and chapels. The event started outside the White Hart pub in the village where Mary (played by Elsie Francis – on left on photo) arrived on her pony with Joseph looking for somewhere to spend the night. As they searched for accommodation, they were followed by the attending crowd who sang carols to torchlight, ably led by Aber farmer and baritone Glasnant Morgan.
Finding no room at the White Hart or The Star pubs, a villager told them to try Talybont Farm in the centre of the village, where they might find shelter. Fortunately for all concerned, farmer John Jenkins had already cleaned and prepared a large barn complete with manger area for the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus together with rows of hay-bale seating for the crowd.
For this part of the Living Nativity, the Holy Family was played by local couple Rhys and Sophie Guevara and their 6-month-old baby Evie (on right on photo). With the family sitting down by the manger, the Christmas story was retold by Glasnant Morgan and local minister Revd Liz Bramley, with everyone singing carols to musical accompaniment.
As Revd Liz explained: “Mary and Joseph faced a lot of unexpected challenges over Jesus’ birth. We face many challenges today, and particularly families in the Middle East. Glasnant Morgan’s reading of the poem ‘Joseph’s child’ told how Joseph realised the baby Jesus brought hope to us all.” In closing, she thanked everyone who had helped to make this year’s Living Nativity a really successful and meaningful community event, and particularly Talybont Farm, both Marys and Josephs and baby Evie, the local musicians, and the crowd of followers.
A bucket collection for the Middle East Humanitarian Appeal of the Disasters Emergency Committee was held at the barn and raised £385.