The morning after the evening before

So we were 22 for the English Service Christmas Meal and Message. This happened to be the exact number of places we had set at table and the most our lower room could accommodate, and we needed to be in the lower room as that's the one with heating. A number of folks brought friends and all was mighty fine !

There's a problem with the church electricity supply at the moment such that you have to be careful not to plug in too many things at once or the trip ... trips. Despite this constraint Mrs Davey managed to produce a turkey roast dinner with spuds in two kinds, runner beans, broccoli, sprouts of course and gravy. She was aided and abetted by myself, Gwilym and Catrin and the Chinese group's hostess tray.

People brought aperitifs and desserts, including pecan pie, pumpkin cake, mince pies and a kind of raspberry cheesecake.

Between the main course and the dessert I did my brief messagette, getting everyone to recount the visits to the infant Jesus and then talking about the responses of Herod, the religious leaders and the magi to his birth. Everyone responds - will you respond with apathy, with hostility or will you want to know more like a wise man ?

We said a fond farewell to Paul whose stay with us has been too brief but very happy. We'll miss you, Pole.

Now, looking back, it is hard to believe what everyone achieved in our embryonic kitchen.

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