Sharing the Methodist Way of Life at Christmas

After Winter Wonderland and Narnia, Hope Church Cleveland, in the Darlington Methodist District, is recreating Journey to the North Pole for local families to enjoy a festive Christmas mingled with the Methodist Way of Life.

Hope Church in Cleveland will be welcoming children and families later this month for their third annual Christmas experience. The church will be transformed into a magical journey to the North Pole, where young visitors clutching specially made passports will train to become Santa's helpers through carefully crafted stations exploring kindness, joy and other fruits of the spirit.

Families will move through Mrs Christmas' Gingerbread Kitchen to reflect on kindness before visiting the Joy of the Elves workshop, each station offering a blend of festive fun and gentle spiritual reflection. Every child will leave with a bell and a bible verse to hang on their tree at home.

The event represents Hope Church's commitment to providing memorable Christmas experiences without financial burden. Emma, who organised the experience, explained this year's approach: “We keep our concept of spaces within spaces and prayer zones, but to maintain engagement, we believe that each year's theme should be completely different.”

Information cards at each station carry logos linking activities to the Methodist Way of Life, connecting festive experiences with deeper values. “For instance, when they made gingerbread with Mrs Christmas, it is service and we encourage visitors to think about how they can serve others,” Emma added.

Catering to the community's needs 

The initiative grew from conversations at the church's community grocery and welcome space three years ago, where parents shared their struggles with Christmas costs.

Emma recalled the catalyst: "Parents were discussing the cost of booking Christmas experiences, such as visits to a garden centre or a local period house. With entrance tickets starting at £15, a family's expenses could easily exceed £100. They felt like they were failing their children by being unable to afford it.

The church's response was immediate. “We suggested that as a church we could make something locally, where there was an experience, photo opportunities, a small gift, time to spend together, but not a three-figure price tag. It is our gift to the community.”

The first year featured Winterwonderland, built largely from donated items. “We did not know what we were doing,” Emma admitted. Year two brought Narnia, introducing spaces within spaces using screens and pop-up tents.

The transformation requires intensive organisation, with just forty-eight hours to build the experience. Quality assurance comes through a soft opening with selected families the night before, allowing organisers to resolve any issues.

Feedback continues through conversations during refreshments and follow-up sessions in January, ensuring each year improves on the last whilst delivering Christmas magic accessible to all families.

The event will take place on 20 and 21 December