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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Monday, 14 December 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
TWO churches in the Oxford Diocese are joining a national project by broadcasting Christmas events using some of the most up-to-the-minute social media.
Periscope is made by Twitter and lets you broadcast live video to the world via a Smartphone or tablet.
Bigstock Dorchester Abbey's Posada Party on 20 December at 10. 30am and St Luke's, Reading's Crib Service on 24 December at 4pm will be transmitted live via the social media streaming app Periscope.
Periscope allows people to broadcast and watch events all over the world, simply using a tablet or smartphone with the app installed.
The ChurchLive project has been launched by the Church of England nationally and sees services broadcast from churches via Periscope.
The services can then be watched again on the katch. me/ChurchLive website.
While the service is recorded, another smartphone user will be logged in to respond to queries from people watching online. The Revd Canon Sue Booys, the Rector of Dorchester Abbey, said: "It's exciting to be part of a really quite new project.
We have a family who moved to the Caymen islands and they will be able to watch this.
It is one of the loveliest services with children doing crafts and enjoying the Christmas story. "The Revd Graeme Fancourt, from St Luke's, said: "This service will be full of people who don't normally come to church.
We advertise it through social media and last year most of the people who came heard about it through Facebook or Twitter.
It will be interesting to stream it online so that people can interact in different ways. "Tallie Proud, the Digital Media Officer at Church House Westminster, said: "We're really looking forward to these Christmas services on ChurchLive.
During a time when lives are particularly busy, it will give people all over the world the opportunity to slow down, experience church at Christmas and hear about the birth of Christ. "Follow @ChurchLive on Twitter to be alerted when services are about to go live.
Anyone interested in taking part can contact Tallie on 020 7898 1457 or talita.proud@churchofengland.org