Christmas Carols

Sunday 11 December we held our annual carols service. City of Peace church loses a number of it's members every year to annual holidays abroad around this time and so we take the opportunity to press out the last drops of wine that remain in the remnant before they depart for distant shores. Natalie spent the whole of Saturday decorating tables in Café Forever for the after service lunch, complete with edible golden fruit, while Andrew, our chef, prepared food. Then on Sunday at 8am I left for the Café to join Tom and Simon to haul the equipment across to St John's hall. I left most of it to them as I was focusing on sorting out the sound for the choir and musicians. We managed it all, just in time, and loads of people turned up! Most of the children got dressed up as shepherds, angels, wise men etc... The service went well and I think the talk I gave and the audio I arranged was good. It felt as if it worked really well. So nice to work together in such a group and to see how collectively things become special. Then we all trundled off back to the Café where we had an amazing meal, served by no less than Duncan, our director! The food was great; pumpkin soup, chicken pie and banoffee pudding. It was really a little bit like a heavenly banquette. The children all had too much cake and sweets and at about 2pm everyone began leaving -  I was exhausted!

Angels, Shepherds and a sheep! Beautiful Café

Christmas at ASDA

Saturday 3rd December the entire Café Forever team, Forever Young and City of Peace church, with the aid of wonderful locals including 'The Space', put on a magical Christmas market in the parking lot at ASDA. It was very well supported by local shoppers and enterprisers. At 7am Marlene had us all in the parking lot putting up Gazebo's and creating the space for the 11 am start. We only just made it in time! There was a santas grotto and a visit by peppa pig, carol's singing and a story telling tent as well as incredible homemade gifts and foods. The kitchen team from Café Forever laid on the hot food and I am so encouraged by everybodies enthusiasm and effort. It was a lot of fun, but not effortless, and we all finally got into our homes at about 9pm that evening. Next project - City of Peace Christmas Carols next weekend!  What a market! Pumpkin soup, Thai Chicken noodles,  Mulled alcohol free wine

What's the joke then? Story telling tent by 'The Space'

One last chance!

There's a friend I have been talking to for a number of years, just recently he received an eviction notice. The grounds against him are what one would call unsurmountable. I was going to post a page up about his situation but never did. It has been a very tense situation, and needless to say we expected the worst but hoped for the best. We have prayed with him on a number of occasions and he has slowly but surely been coming into a closer relationship with us, attending church and bible study. We are slowly seeing reforms in his attitude and character. Today he and I went to the local housing office to discuss his situation - the letter had said that court proceedings were underway. Well we walked away glad! As mad and as unbelieveable as it sounds, somehow the housing office was graceful. They said that this was his last chance. I hope that my friend will continue to behave correctly despite what the world throws at him. We are all praying that he will hold to the agreement. PLEASE join us in praying! It is really crucial! If he defaults, not only will he lose his accommodation, but we will lose our reputation at that specific housing office, making it really hard to assist anyone else who comes through us for help. It is a real opportunity for a great testimony.
As I was walking back I thought about how Jesus has often been misrepresented, people take his name in vain. What I mean is, people use the name 'Christian' but then they don't walk like Jesus did. I am not calling myself innocent of this, but I realise through my own implication, how much our actions actually affect the work of Jesus - for better or for worse! We are the keepers of his promises!