Angel Delight

Above and below: scenes from last year’s angel parades

More than a thousand children across Hull will be starting their Christmas holidays this month by parading through the streets dressed as angels.

The angel parades will take place around the streets of Hessle Road and North Hull on the evening of December 15, and around Preston Road on December 17.
Each parade will involve hundreds of local primary school children dressed in halos and wings, carrying lanterns – plus there'll be music, food and entertainment at each of the events
"It's a way of bringing together the whole community and reaching different groups and faiths," said co-organiser of the Hessle Road parade Jacky Goaten.
"There is a negativity towards children and young people in our area, so we wanted to provide something positive for them to do. Older children have been helping with publicity and in designing banners with a graffiti artist."
For more info on the parades, contact Unity in the Community on Hull 852292.

Heralding harmony

Meanwhile, angels are also the subject of an exhibition running at St Mary's Church, Lowgate, from December 3 to January 6.

The exhibition features dozens of artworks of angels from all faiths - including Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam and Judaism.
"Angels are one of the things that all these religions share," says Rev Paul Burkitt, vicar at St. Mary's.
"In the Bible, angels announce the first Christmas, and for this reason the exhibition is called Heralding Harmony - because angels announced peace to the world."
During the exhibition, a 10ft-tall painted angel artwork will hang outside the church from the bell tower.
Items handmade from olive wood by people of Bethlehem will be on sale during the exhibition.

For more information on this and other angel events in Hull, visit www.lowgate.org.uk/angels.html *

A Christmas message for Hull

World religious leaders Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Desmond Tutu are expected to send messages of support to be read aloud at a church service in Hull on December 13.

The Live Simply service, at St Giles Borromeo Church in Jarratt Street, near Hull New Theatre, will be open to people from all religious faiths and backgrounds.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the service (beginning 7pm), which will highlight the injustices in world trade, particularly in the gold mining industry.
Norah Hanson, who has helped organise the service, said: "When the whole world is run on profit, there has to be a better way. We want to bring Hull people together, from all faiths and backgrounds. That's what our Live Simply service is all about."