Christmas! What Does It Mean To You? Find Out What Some Project Leaders Will Be Doing..
Carols, candlelight, mulled wine, shopping, children's school plays, the birth of Christ... You will be well aware of what Christmas means to you... But just how will others in Bath be celebrating? We asked some Church and project leaders what it means to them... Read some thought-provoking and fascinating replies!
(PICTURES: BATH'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS (SWITCHED ON BY ACTOR JOHN CLEESE RECENTLY!, NICOLA NEAL, JAMES VAUGHTON, DON LATHAM, ONE25 LOGO )
Nicola Neal, former Youth Pastor at Bath City Church, now spearheading Revelation Life - a Christian project and charity in Uganda:
"We're running several Christmas projects this year in the four slums we work in which we are very excited about! We're giving over 60 wash basins packed with 
goodies such as clothes, soap, towels, bread, sweets, sugar, rice, etc to all of the families we have strong relationship with. We're also giving away over 200 live chickens which will give families a special meal on Christmas which they could otherwise never afford.
"Over 1000 children in all four slums will receive a new toy car or stuffed animal as possibly their only Christmas present this year. We are also throwing two huge parties and inviting everyone in the slums to come celebrate, eat lots of food, play games, and hear about the amazing love of Jesus! We're running all our projects from December 12-17th.
"We have many interns and volunteers out with us now which will cover everything we're planning to do. But it is a great time to experience Uganda as all the children and families are so excited to receive the gifts so we're very open to people coming out to help."
James Vaughton, Director of Bath Youth For Christ:
"The day itself will mean an early morning with excited children, gifts
and attending church, following that we will be at home, with my parents joining us a little later. The Christmas period as a whole will mean spending time with all the family and some close friends.
"Bath YFC tends to shut down from a few days before Christmas and then comes to life again, after brief hibernation, in the New Year, when most of the team head off to YFC staff conference in the first week of the New Year.
"Volunteers too are rested at this time."
Don Latham, pioneer of Menunited:
"Christmas will be traditional and at home with all the family - chidren and 
grandchildren and sister from London. Visit to the Abbey and a boxing day walk will no doubt feature.
"We try to keep things simple and traditional. It is good that Christmas day falls on a Sunday this year as this gives a great opportunity for churches to welcome non regulars on a Sunday and to share that Jesus is coming back again."
Josie Hill of Bristol based charity, One25, which reaches out to women trapped in the sex industry, helping them to break free from violence and addiction:
"Although on Christmas day I will be deep in the New Forest, swapping presents, sharing Christmas food and having a warm family time with my 'in-laws', my sense of Christmas comes mainly from the run-up to the day, through the work I do at One25.
"One25 is a local charity supporting local women to break free from sex work and to rebuild their lives as a valued part of the community.
"In December we aim to share with them a sense of Christmas. This can be driving out in our tinsel-strewn night outreach van, sharing food parcels, warm clothing and loving care to malnourished, lonely women on frosty outreach nights. It's also in giving mums rare family time with their often estranged children at our drop-in Christmas party with obligatory Father Christmas, enormous glittering tree and 
Christmas Carols. Sometimes it's in the quiet of a Tuesday afternoon when our prayer group meet in the outreach centre to pray for the women and children to be kept safe and healthy and to grow in self-esteem and motivation. I love Christmas at One25.
"Some key dates:
- 30th November - appeal for Christmas present donations for the women, also scarves, hats and gloves for the women through night outreach
- 1st December - Drop-in centre is given the Christmas treatment with tinsel, baubles and enormous tree and the weekly art class pinning up their festive artwork around the centre.
- 14th December - women-only Christmas lunch (for many their only Christmas lunch and a great time to value them and build relationships between staff, volunteers and beneficiaries)
- 19th December - women and children's Christmas party
"We are lucky enough to have recruited volunteers for this Christmas - all need enhanced CRB's so we have to do this in advance!"