Lantern Parades – Christmas 2012

Two reports about Lantern Parades held in our area this December:

TRINANT ANNUAL LANTERN WALK 2012

“About 100 children and parents attended this year’s walk which was preceded by an unusual meeting in our Chapel. Children from the Pentricwm Drama Group treated us to a performance of their Christmas Play with audience participation in 7 Christmas carols and songs (they must have known that Methodism was born in song!). Rev. Gareth Edwards, who had introduced the group to the “audience” and opened the proceedings with prayers, gave the children a vote of thanks before closing the event with a Christmas Blessing.”    (RM)

BLACKWOOD LANTERN PARADE & CAROL CONCERT

“On 6th December, people from all over Blackwood gathered at Market Place with lighted lanterns to begin a parade, led by a drum band, down the High Street to finish at the Methodist Church for a Carol Concert with mince pies, sausage rolls, welsh cakes and non-alcoholic mulled wine afterwards. Despite the weather, nearly 300 people packed into the church to sing carols and hear poems & readings and items from the Mynyddislwyn Male Voice Choir and Oakdale Silver Band, and from choirs from local schools.” (GJE)