After being "Invaded from outer space" on Christmas Day, the congregation at St Paul's Church, York, is now wondering what fresh sensation to expect at the next family service on January 10.
The rector, curate, and two lay readers have vied with each other to produced startling visual effects to illustrate points in the address at the services. "Invasion from outer space in the year 2004" was the Idea of the rector, the Rev. G. Mountain.
He took into the pulpit a model of a Dalek, the mechanised creature from outer space in the BBC television serial "Dr Who." A chairman crept into the chancel to send a toy spaceman walking down the aisle towards the congregation, and a toy spaceship held by the Rector "made a lovely whirring noise."
The contrast
The rector, playing the part of a Dalek, and giving a recognisable imitation of that creature's monotone, said: "You must obey us or we will destroy you." This device, said the rector yesterday, was to point the contrast with "the real invasion from outer space when Jesus came not to destroy the world, but to save mankind."
Congregations at St Paul's have seen the rector in the pulpit lighting brandy on a Christmas puddin' ("the light of Christ") and putting crystals into a glass bowl to colour the water black ("sins of mankind"), red ("the blood of Christ"). and white ("God's forgiveness.") A 5ft.-iong cracker, pulled on the chancel steps, "went off with a tremendous bang." said Mr Mountain. "Its contents served to illustrate the address." Family services are held on the second Sunday of the month and the congregation numbers between 900 and 350, many of them children.
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