Sacred Heart Church,
Ferrybank  

One day Mary and Joseph were doing their usual work.  Mary was a house wife and Joseph was a carpenter.  It started off like a normal day.  As Mary was bringing back a big heavy jug of water, she got such a fright that she dropped the jug.  There was a real living angel, with the most beautiful smile and really sparkly wings and a lovely shiny gold halo.  then as Mary was so amazed, with her mouth so wide open that a person could fit in it, the angel said, "do not be afraid I come with love and good news, the Holy God has been looking for someone to look after his son.  He has picked you because of your good work and because of your great love of God.  God said that you must call him Jesus.  "But I can't have a baby", said Mary, after realising a bit what was going on.   "Oh but you can", assured the angel.

The next morning there was a big bang on the door.  Joseph went to see what it was.  On the ground lay a big heavy looking scroll.  He picked it up and brought it into Mary.  "This was on the ground", Joseph told Mary.  "What is it", asked Mary, "I don't know" said Joseph. "Open it" he said.  

Mary opened it, it read, 

'I accordinally invite you to my Palace to have a census.   My Palace is in Bethlehem.  

Signed King Herod'

"Great" sighed Mary.  

"What", asked Joseph clueless.

"King Herod wants us to travel all the way to Bethlehem to have a census".  "oh it won't be so bad Mary" comforted Joseph, "sure we can take the Donkey for you to ride on".  "OK! Thanks Joseph" said Mary.  

One week later Mary and Joseph set off on their long trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.  The donkey was getting tired so Mary walked the rest of the way dragging the poor tired donkey.  

Finally they got to Bethlehem.  That night they decided to stay in an inn.  They went from house to house looking for somewhere to stay.  Some of them said "Sorry, my house is full" or "I'm even squashed in here".  But then they came to the last house, the person said that they house was full but she said that they had a stable.  

They put the donkey in there, they was a cow there already, Mary then had her baby.  She made a bed for him in the manger.  Mary covered it with straw.  She then laid the baby Jesus into it.  

Soon angles saw shepherds minding their flocks of sheep.  They flew around them.  The shepherds were afraid.  Then the angles said, "Don't be afraid, we have good news.  A new King has been born.  "But where" asked the shepherds.  "In a stable, follow that star and it will guide you to it".  So the Shepherds followed the star and were soon at the stable.

Mary and Joseph welcome them and showed them the baby Jesus.  The shepherds then gave a lamb each for Jesus.  

Soon the word got around that there was a new King born in a stable.  All over the newspapers were the headlines "A KING BORN IN A STABLE" 

The three wise men were going to the palace for the census.  "Did you hear about the new born King", they asked each other.  "No" said king Herod, not realising that they weren't talking to him.  "Really!  its all over the papers".  "I didn't have time with the Census", he said.

When the kings had gone King Herod told his Soldier to go and kill the new born King.  The Angles heard about this, and went to tell Mary and Joseph.  They were shocked when they heard this.