A IS FOR ADVENT CALENDAR AND ANGEL

We had a Church breakfast this morning so were there early to get things ready - along with several others, when we served coffee, tea, fruit juices, toast and jam, croissants - plain and chocolate - but I hasten to add I did not have a chocolate one - and for the super-healthy, fruit. 

It’s amazing how everything gets done when there is a good Team in place and also a good Team Leader - so well done to all the Team.  There was a great “buzz” during breakfast, when most people stood and chatted to friends, although there were tables in the other room,  while others cleared away.  It was a bit of a dash as I was singing as well, but we managed it with a few seconds to spare before the service went live, both in the Church building and online.

We had a great service with a sermon asking us what we should do while we were waiting.  For many of us, this season is one of busyness and doing, and there is certainly lots to do both at Church and at home - but of course, we also need to factor in periods of silence when we listen for God’s voice.  After that there was more coffee and chat and I then decided to look around for my daily photograph.

There are many lovely banners, but this Advent Calendar caught my eye, made by Jake, underneath which is a Nativity scene - one of many in our Church.  One little boy was playing with the figures and then the conversation turned to the fact that Joseph only had one hand!  I then related that the Joseph in our Nativity at home also had only one hand - but I explained to the young lady sitting there that ours was 55 years old and made of plaster of Paris, so obviously when Joseph had been taken out of the mould, his hand stayed in there!  However, it has never bothered us and was often a talking point when people look at our Nativity.

The angel, also made by Jake is at the front of the Church, is quite large - and looks amazing.  Throughout the first part of the service, one little girl aged about 2, found her way onto the platform and was investigating many of the things there - she was certainly entertaining but Alison was keeping an eye on her from one side, whilst I kept an eye on her from my side - making sure she didn’t touch any of the lights or the candles, which were on the Communion Table at the front.  She was having a great time and when it was time for the children to go out and her Mum picked her up, she was about to “throw a wobbly” so it was good that her parents just left her to wander - otherwise I’m sure there would have been much screaming and after all, what is a Church without the children, especially at Christmas-time? 

Having picked up some old bread, that is now soaking in the kitchen, with the fruit also soaking in brandy - ready to make a bread pudding, so there is a lovely smell each time we walk out there - hooray for Christmas - both the message and the smells!  

“Christmas is not just a time for 
     festivity and merry making. 
It is more than that;  
     it is a time for the contemplation 
          of eternal things. 
The Christmas spirit is 
     a spirit of giving and forgiving.” 
J. C. Penney