Christmas at St Cuthbert’s starts with Advent
This year as well as the beautifully decorated windows around the parish we are following the story of Jesus’ birth. We are very grateful to Open Doors for allowing us to tell the story of Herod’s Secret policeman.
To find out about the work of Open Doors please visit: Home – Open Doors UK & Ireland. If you enjoyed the story of Herod’s Secret policeman then you can order the book from Open Doors here: Herod’s Secret Policeman – Open Doors UK & Ireland and best of all. It’s free!
The first candle represents ‘The Patriarchs’ which focus on Abraham, our father in faith, and David, the ancestor in whose city Jesus was born
Today is the first day of Advent but our Advent story starts tmr where we will show our first Window.
Advent Window 1 – 83 Stanstead Road
Advent story 1
This is a story about something that happened a long time ago, but which is still happening today. A long time ago, there was a very old, very clever, very cruel king. His name was Herod. And, although he had been the king for a long time, his people hated him. no one could say out loud how they really felt. If you said something bad about Herod, even when he wasn’t there, he was sure to find out. Herod had spies everywhere. And he had lots and lots of secret police.
2 Advent Window – 15 Whitley Road
Advent Story 2
This is one of them. This is Secret Policeman Number 3. Nobody knows his real name. But for as long as he could remember, he had always worked for the king. One day, Secret Policeman Number 3 was guarding the main gate when some visitors arrived.
“We are Wise Men, Three Wise Men, From the East” They said.
Advent 3 Window – 110 Old Highway
Advent 3
“Wow. I’ve never met Three Wise Men from the East before. (Thinks for a moment.) I’ve never met Wise Men from the north, south or west either, now that I think about it”. Said the secret policeman
“We have travelled a long way”. They said
“A very long way.”
“A very, very, very long way.” they repeated
We have come to see the new prince.
(Pointing.) Following that star.
“We don’t have a new prince. All we have is an old king.” said the secret Policeman
Then take us to him.
Advent Window 4 – 79 Whitley Road
Advent 4
So Secret Policeman Number 3 took the Wise Men to the king.
“We are Wise Men.
Three Wise Men.
From the East.
We have travelled a long way.
A very long way.
A very, very, very… Continued the Wisemen until Herod Interrupted rudely
“Never mind that! Why are you here?”
“To see the new prince.” They answered nervously
“What new prince?” Herod said angrily
The one… er… foretold by the star.” they replied.
The Wiseman whisper to each other “I’m starting to think that coming to see King Herod wasn’t a very wise thing to do…”
Advent Window 5 – 69 Standstead Road
Advent 5
“Would anyone like to tell me where this new prince might be found?” Herod asked his advisors
The advisors started whispering together frantically.
King Herod often asked his advisers questions as a kind of test. If they answer wrongly, Very Bad Things might happen.
“In our scriptures, it says something about Bethlehem?” The advisors said
“There you go. Try Bethlehem. And do come back and tell me where this prince is, so that I can meet him as well.” Said Herod
The men nodded and bowed as they left and Herod waved the secret policeman over to himself.
Oh no, oh no, he’s mad that I brought those Three Wise Men from the East to see him, a Very Bad
Thing is about to happen. thought the secret policeman
“Follow those Three Wise Men from the East. Tell me where they go, in case they don’t come back.” Herod told him.
“Do you really think a prince could be born here without you knowing, Sire?” Said the Secret Policeman
“Of course not! There are no other rulers except me! But he might be a threat. People might follow him instead of me.” Said Herod “So find out all you can. And go in disguise.”
“Yes Sir” said the Secret Policeman
Adsvent window 6 – 4 Walton Road
Advent 6
A large trunk was brought in and left in front of the secret policeman, he rubned his hands together, excited.
“Goodie! I love disguises!”
He started pulling things out of the trunk. he found items such as a multi-coloured clown wig, oversized sunglasses, a vicar’s outfit, a large, brightly coloured bikini! Finally, he found a man’s dressing gown, a tea towel and a toy sheep.
Aha! I’ll go as a shepherd. The secret policeman thought. He then disappeared into the night. And
if there was one thing he was very good at, it was disappearing into the night. The problem with the night, of course, is that it is very dark. And Secret Policeman Number 3 didn’t know the way.
Then he saw the star that the Wise Men mentioned.
2nd Sunday in Advent
Our Candles are out the front of St Cuthbert’s in Whitley Road, Rye park. Come and see them.
There are four candles that represent
Sunday 1st in Advent – Patriarchs
Sunday 2nd in Advent – Prophets
Sunday 3rd in Advent – John the baptist
Sunday 4th In advent – Pink to represent Mary
Christmas Day – White to represent Jesus
For more details click here
Advent 8 – 87 Old Highway
Advent 8
I’ve never seen that star before tonight, the secret policeman thought to himself. It’s all very odd.
but he follows the star anyway, stumbling and unsteady.
The star lit his way to Bethlehem. And he was just arriving at the town when the secret policeman walked abruptly into a shepherd
“Watch where you’re going!” said the Shepherd
“Sorry. I’m just, er… a visiting shepherd. Look, I’ve got a sheep and everything.” the Secret policeman said
“We’re shepherds as well!” the Shepherds said
Your sheep isn’t moving much.
“She’s fainted. She had a fright.” The secret policeman said
“Ooh, did you see the angels as well?” The Shepherds said
“They were frightening, weren’t they?! Did they tell you about the baby?”
“We’ve seen the baby. We think He’s the Messiah, the one true King who will rescue all of us!”
The shepherds were so excited about this idea, they didn’t notice the secret policeman exit.
The shepherds turned to where the Secret policeman was “What did the angels say to – oh!”
But Secret Policeman Number 3 was no longer there.
He had disappeared into the night.
Advent 9 – 44 Murchison Road
Advent 9
The secret policeman, still carrying his sheep, stumbling and
feeling his way around, followed the star. First the star and now all this stuff about angels
and the Messiah. It’s all very weird he thought.
Suddenly out of no where a women appears and the secret policeman walked straight into her
“watch where you’re going!” the women said
“Sorry, I’m just a visiting shepherd with my sheep.
“Not another shepherd! First you barge in on that poor young mother, and now you run around town bashing into people.”
“What young mother would that be?” the Secret policeman asked
“I was called in to help her with the baby. And you know where
they put the child? In a manger – an animal’s feeding trough. I mean,
not hygienic, is it?” the women said
“No. And this was just round the corner, was it?”
“Yes… (Suspiciously.) Why isn’t your sheep moving?” She asked
“Er… concussion. She got knocked out when we bumped into you.” the secret policeman muttered
A noise behind her destracted the women for a second and the secret policeman took his chance
“Anyway, you’re not to go and bother her – oh!” she exclaimed
But Secret Policeman Number 3 was no longer there. He had disappeared into the night.
Advent 10 – 22 Whitley Road
Advent 10
The Secret policeman continued his search, still carrying his sheep, stumbling and
feeling his way around. The star, the angels, and now a baby in a manger. It’s all very strange. He thought to himself.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the three wise men appear and the secret policeman walks straight into one of the wiseman, who in turn bumps into the next, who steps back and treads on the toes of the third.
“Watch where you’re going!” they all shout together.
Advent 11 – 21 Rumbold Road
Advent 11
“Sorry, I’m just a visiting shepherd with my sheep.” Said the Secret Policeman
“Why isn’t your sheep moving?” said the wisemen
Shhh, she’s asleep. She’s tired out after walking so far. Said the Secret Policeman
“Oh, have you come a long way?” said the wisemen
“We have also come a long way.”
“A very long way.”
“A very, very, very, very, very long way.” They all chanted
“But it was worth it to give the baby our gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
“Why would you give a baby such expensive things?” Said the Secret Policeman
Advent 12 – 81 Old Highway
Advent 12
“He’s not just a baby! He is God’s special gift to us all.” said the wisemen
“He will save all of us! We’re going to go back home to tell others all about Him.” They said
“Are you going to tell Herod?” Said the Secret Policeman
“Of course not! We’re not stupid. ” They replied
“We’re wise.”
“Very wise.”
“Very, very, very… hang on a minute, how did you know about Herod?” said the wisemen
But the Secret policeman had vanished into the night
He had disappeared into the – well actually, he had gone to see
the baby.
Advent 13 – 20a Walton Road
Advent 13
The secret policemen entered the stable unnoticed, still carrying his sheep, looking amazed. It was not a place you’d expect to find a prince. It was dark and smelly and there were animals there. But as the Secret Policeman looked at the mother, the father and the baby in the manger, he had the strangest feeling.
The star, the angels, the manger, the gold, frankincense and myrrh. It’s all very… wonderful! he thought.
Advent 14 – 3rd Sunday in Advent
3rd Sunday in Advent- Church Window
Our Candles are out the front of St Cuthbert’s Come and see them. There are four candles to represent
Sunday 1st in Advent – Patriarchs
Sunday 2nd in Advent – Prophets
Sunday 3rd in Advent – John the baptist
Sunday 4th In advent – Pink to represent Mary
Christmas Day – White to represent Jesus
Further information
Advent 15 – 130 Stortford Road
Advent 15
“Hello? Another shepherd”. said Joseph
“Your sheep doesn’t look too well.” said Mary
“I’m not a shepherd. This is a present. For the baby” The Secret Policeman put the sheep next to the baby.
“Thank you.” said Mary
“But we don’t have any time!” the secret policeman said
“The king thinks your Son is a threat. And that means a very bad thing might happen to Him.”
Advent 16 – 49 Dymokes Way
Advent 16
“We know. I had a dream about it. We have to go.” Joseph said.
“But where will we be safe?” Mary asked
“I’ll take you. I know where you can cross the border without anyone seeing.” The secret policeman reassured them.
“How do you know?” asked Josept
“I… used to be a secret policeman.” The secret policeman said
“And what are you now?” Asked Mary
“I don’t know. Somebody different, Somebody better.” He replied
Advent 17 – 8 Ogard Road
Advent 17
So, Secret Policeman Number 3 led the mother and
the father – whose names were Mary and Joseph – away from
Bethlehem and on a special secret route into Egypt.
Advent 18 – 68 Old Highway
Advent 18
“You’ll be safe here.” Said the Secret Policeman
“Thank you.” Said Joseph
“What will you do now?” Asked Mary
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll become a shepherd.
I’ve got the uniform!” Said the ex-secret policeman
Advent 19 – 57 Rye Road
Advent 19
“If Herod finds out that you have helped us, he will kill you.” said Joseph
“I’ll be careful. I’ll have to hide. (Thinking for a
moment.) But maybe in the future lots of people will believe that your
Son is the true King. And there will be other rulers and kings who
won’t like that. So maybe a lot of us who follow your Son will have
to hide.” The Secret policeman replied
Advent 20 – 21 Beechfield
Advent 20
“We don’t know how to thank you.” Said Mary
Mary and Joseph looked down at the baby Jesus and don’t notice as the SECRET POLICEMAN leaves.
“We don’t even know your real name – oh!” Started Joseph realising the Secret Policeman was no longer there. He had disappeared into the night.
