Two years ago Ruth Baddock's short play about Christmas was performed in front of the congregation at New North Road Baptist Church in Huddersfield on the Sunday before Christmas.
 

The play is about three friends, one of whom doesn't know the meaning of Christmas, and the others explain it to her. Dan Wood, the church's youth and children's worker at the time, was only too happy to use it in the Sunday service.

'The script, especially for a 12 year, was outstanding, and I was more than willing to put my own ideas for that year's nativity to one side and let a member of our Junior Church really shine,' he said.

'We managed to find a way of including the other children and young people in a way that added to the script, rather than taking anything away from it. I was so impressed with the work Ruth had done that I really used her script as the basis for the service.'

Ruth, now 14, said it came about due to her love of writing and acting. 'I've always loved writing and acting so I figured that it would be fun to combine the two together.

'Previously I'd watched films and been in productions that showed the real meaning of Christmas and I wanted to do the same thing, but in my own way, so that's why I wrote the script.'

It was suggested that other churches may wish to use it, so now The Baptist Times is helping to share Ruth's play. The script can be downloaded via the link below.

Dan said the events show why it's vital to encourage children's giftings. 'It's so important to recognise the gifts our children and young people have, and to nurture them and encourage them.

'I'm pretty sure Ruth, Kiyra, and Jadeseyha will remember that they were given this opportunity, and I hope and pray they realise that they have been given gifts by God which they can use for his glory time and again.'

Download a copy of Ruth's Christmas script