Monday, December 15, 2008

Sunday Family Service

Sunday was really special.

The Sunday School kids sang a bunch of Christmas songs (carols plus some contemporary ones like the Colin Buchanan fave, "Happy Happy Day") and the congregation loved it.

Beth carried out her solo part (two whole stanzas by heart!) quite confidently. Considering how shy she can be, I thought she did really well and I was really proud of her. It's hard to imagine that just two Christmases ago, she stood on the same stage, petrified by the pressure of performing in front of so many strangers.

I enjoyed helping Anne with the kids. My role was really just to stand in front of the kids, flip the pages on the clipboard so they could follow the lyrics, hand out musical instruments, and sing along. That was fun! Think I may have discovered a new ministry. :-)

We also had a visit from the Three Wise Men. Loved their richly coloured robes and turbans. One of them was actually the artist who painted the wonderful painting that stands on the stage in the sanctuary. It depicts a road that leads over the hill. If you approach the painting, you get the feeling that you are going to step right into it and carry on walking up the hill. Marvellous.

The church was packed with regulars and more than the usual number of visitors, which made the whole place feel extra festive. Service was followed by our monthly feast. Loved the crispy roast chicken and ham. We had Christmas pudding with custard and ice cream to finish, but I missed our usual dizzy array of sweets. I'm getting spoilt.

Our family had a special guest too, Beth's Prep teacher Ms H. We happened to meet in the school corridor one morning and I asked if she would like to come for Family Service as Beth was going to be singing, and she said yes.

It was nice getting to know each other as two adults, outside the constraints of the school environment and the occasional awkwardness that comes from one party being "the teacher". Here's to a new friendship!

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