Shifnal vicar encourages children to seek out his lost flock
A Shropshire vicar has joined forces with local businesses in the town by asking them to display a flock of festive sheep for Advent.
The ‘Lost Sheep of Shifnal’ scheme is launching this week and aims to bring the community together and provide some fun for youngsters in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
It is the brainchild of The Rev Chris Thorpe of St Andrew’s Church, who has joined forces with a number of local businesses, as well as business promoters in Shifnal, to help celebrate Advent by hiding the sheep in shops around the town.
He said: “We have joined forces with local businesses and the new Love Shifnal campaign, which aims to promote the town, to launch this new idea.
“On Friday, December 1, which is the first day of Advent, the flock of sheep will disperse throughout the town into the beautifully decorated shop windows."
Rev Thorpe said that the toy sheep had been kindly knitted by members of his congregation, adding: “Each day throughout advent a 'lost sheep' will be featured in a shop window on the Love Shifnal Facebook and Instagram pages and followers are invited to guess its location.
“All 24 sheep will then be rounded up and returned to St Andrew's Church ready for the crib service on Christmas Eve at 4pm, when I will be reunited with my lost flock.”
Sally Themans of Love Shifnal said that this was a creative way of uniting local people at the important time of Christmas.
“This is a true community event - we are encouraging everyone to view the beautiful shop windows in Shifnal and we are very grateful to members of the St. Andrew’s congregation for getting on board too," she said.
