Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011

The Christmas break for me ran from 21 December to 3 January. It's been a good relaxing time for the most part, but there has been some work involved and an unpleasant visit to the dentist. The only downside has been a robbery that meant that some of the family did not receive the Christmas presents they would have. Well, that and the dentist.  The dentist is always an experience I hate.  I have been 3 times in the last few weeks and have to have an extraction on 3 Jan.  It could be worse of course, I could be in pain with no access to a dentist!

This year I was not involved in leading or preaching at Christmas, which meant that I could choose the services I attended.  My only duty was to lead intercessions at the mid-night service. So I was at the last Christingle service on Christmas eve, the midnight communion service and the Christmas Day service.  Christingle was still well supported even though Christmas eve fell on a Saturday.  I had expected the numbers to be down but that was not the case.  Indeed the attendances have been good through the whole period.

Karen and Robert were waiting for us in the church car park on Christmas Day and we spent the rest of the day with them.  Present opening was super fast this year as Andy took change and 'speed delivered' the presents from the tree to the recipient.  I'll let you imagine what speed delivered means.  The there was a family dog walk in the increasing gloom in the later afternoon.

On Boxing Day (St Stephens Day) we went to visit my nephew for the evening meal.  His wife had cooked for all of us and his family.  Once my children and my sisters children get together you can be sure of a loud evening with plenty of banter and probably quite a bit of "Sing Star" - competitive karaoke.  We were not disappointed.

The next three days operated on the more classic 'Pete Time', getting up late and going to bed late.  The routine became sleep, eat, walk the dog, repeat.  Except for building the new computers at church.  These must be usable by 3 Jan when the office opens for business.  For the first time ever we have purchased new equipment - two identical machines and a more sophisticated storage and backup system.  The basics are ready but there is much more to do before our vision is complete.

Today I led a spoken only service which I was expecting would not be well attended - I was wrong again.  While not at the levels of a normal Sunday there was a respectable number in the congregation.  There were also some old friends, who we increasingly only see once a year.  refreshments were no available but I invited the congregation to stay and chat.  The 45 minute service was followed by about 45 minutes of chat.  Really good to see that we don't need refreshments for this to happen.

P.S. How do I get my google+ photo's on my blog?  With picasa it's easy, a link is provided, but with google+ I haven't a clue!