Christmas Festival 2007

Click Here for details of this year's 2008 Festival. Read on for what people thought about the 2007 Christmas Festival

The 2007 Christmas Festival was our way of trying something special to help the community connect with the real meaning of Christmas.  It became a surprise feature during the pre-Christmas week.  Over 260 visitors attended the Festival, with the numbers totalling 400 when church members are included. 

Overwhelmingly, visitors loved the experience. ‘It was a joy to share in the Christmas Festival at the Church of Christ', wrote a visitor. 'A most excellent presentation which attracted many from the community and provided a wonderful space for reflection in the midst of the busyness of Christmas preparations. Thanks to all for the hard work.’

Susan Pierotti, who played the violin on the last night of the Festival, said ‘The stint at Willichurch is what Christmas is all about - it was a highlight for me.’

Another person from the community wrote ‘Thank you. You brought Christ back into Christmas. We all enjoyed visiting your festival. So peaceful, so meaningful. Thank you to all who must have worked so hard for such a wonderful result.’

What did people appreciate about the Festival? 

Free entry – especially when so many Christmas special events cost money to enter. It was very professional, and not at all tacky. There was something for all ages to enjoy.  Lights decorated the outside of the church building until late into the night. Inside, decorations and displays of Christmas items were featured. A maritime display provided a link with the local history of Williamstown. 

Children delighted in doing the free craft activities and having their photo taken in a life-size nativity scene, complete with animals, nativity characters and dress-up costumes for the children. 

Visitors purchased Christmas gifts at the stalls and relaxed with a cuppa and Christmas supper, or enjoyed the sausage sizzle. Jewellery was a popular sale item, with pieces made by women living and working in a slum in Klong Toey, Bangkok. The sale of their beautiful jewellery and hand-made cards supports their livelihood. Fair Trade tea and coffee were also sold.

Live entertainment played each night of the festival. The Newport Lakes Primary School choir was a great success, as were Willin Wimmin, the Newport Folk and Fiddle group, and Susan Pierotti, first violinist with Orchestra Victoria. 
 

Community Support

The church has a long history of involvement in community support. There was a giant Christmas tree, decorated to the hilt, for people to  place grocery items that were distributed to Emergency Relief in Hobsons Bay and to the Helping Hand Café. The Café is run by the church which provides free weekly lunches every Tuesday for people in need in the community. Find out more about Helping Hand Cafe here »

Many people feel sad and lonely at Christmas time, with memories of happier times. A quiet Memory Room was open so that people could light a candle for a loved one and leave a memorial card. The Memory Room was a special place of peace and reflection.

The star-studded Christmas Festival will be on again this year in December, in an even bigger and better way!