This Christmas will be unlike any other the Reverend Steve Bunting has known before. It will be his first in the pulpit of his own parish church, preaching to a congregation.
Christmas is a busy time in any church and for Steve it will be a case of juggling the needs of the community and a busy service schedule with those of his own three children.
He is a relatively new convert to Christianity, having taken up his faith in 2003, waiting a few years to make the decision to be ordained and then beginning his training in 2009.
During his final year he was followed by television cameras for the four part BBC documentary Vicar Academy, an experience which he felt helped show the work of the church in a more positive light.
Steve Bunting
Now fully immersed in life as assistant curate at All Saints Church in Mumbles, Swansea, his festive duties will include acting as deacon to the Vicar Revd Canon Keith Evans and also reading sermons at around half of the 13 carol services being held between now and the big day.
"It's a great time of year to be involved in the church because there are a lot of community events and lots of people coming to us who don't usually.
"We've just had the South Wales Fire Service carol concert and will be hosting one in aid of the local life boat as well as our own events.
"It's also a very exciting time of year to be a Christian because we remember how Jesus came into this world and we come together to remember that God didn't stand back and let the world fall apart.
"It's such a brilliant occasion because it reminds us how it all began."
The biggest service he will preach at will be the church's Christmas Eve carol service where around 500 people are expected.
Although Steve has had experience of a large audience, having preached to around 1,500 people at the BBC Radio Wales carol concert in St David's Hall, Cardiff, recently, he admits he is more nervous about taking the sermon in front of his home crowd.
"I know that there will be lots of people there who only come to church once a year and I feel a responsibility to do the job properly.
"I want to give them enough so they are prepared to think more about God and dig a little deeper and that I make sure the story of God sells itself to them."
It will actually be the first time he has been able to take part in a Christmas Eve service since becoming a Christian, as having young children has prevented him from attending midnight mass for the past decade.
This year the church has opted to hold its evening carol concert a little earlier on Christmas Eve so children can attend and Steve will be reading a sermon aimed at them which will take place by the nativity crib.
In the services at which he is not taking the sermon, Steve will welcome the congregation to the church and assist the vicar by leading prayers and helping with the Eucharist.
Steve Bunting
But alongside the busy church schedule, he will be trying to see as much as possible of his three children, who are five, seven and 10 and obviously very excited at this time of year.
"For them this will be the first Christmas that their daddy has been a vicar so it will be very different. But they all love my job and will be coming to church to see me preach and I think they are looking forward to it.
"Obviously I will be busier than normal with two services on Christmas Eve, one on Christmas morning and one on Boxing Day.
"I will see as much of them as I can in between though as it is such an important time of year for family."
Looking back on the whirlwind of the past few years, which has involved not only taking up a new religion but long stints of residential training and time away from his family, Steve says: "Religion has given my life an extra dimension and purpose.
"I understand why I'm here and what I'm meant for.
"Before I was running around working in finance and concentrating on making money but it just wasn't enough for me. Christianity and my faith give me that purpose for being here."
Since taking up his position, Steve has been involved in setting up a youth group which has seen youngsters playing laser tag in the grounds of the church and is in the process of setting up a new Sunday school.
He hopes this Christmas his services might encourage more people to explore their faith.
Read more about Steve's experience on Vicar Academy.
