Leading up to Christmas Day

A few Christmas Activities leading up to the 25th

Christmas Carol Service

Each year we have a Christmas Carol Service in our gym here on the college campus.

Everyone in the neighbourhood is invited. A great opportunity to relax with our neighbours, hair dressers or car mechanics in a completely different atmosphere! 

Choir - college students and staff.

Nativity puppet show.

Christingle

We experienced our 1st Christingle Service when we first moved to England.

This year we had the joy of helping to prepare for it.

The tradition started in 1747 in Germany and found its way to England in 1968.

The orange is a symbol of the world.

Red ribbon - blood of Christ.

Fruits skewered on sticks - fruits of the earth.

Lit candle - Christ, light of the world.  

While most of us were in the assembly line for getting the Christingles ready, Ragnar was giving classes on how to use the new coffee machine!!

Ladies Prayer Meeting

A group of ladies from our church meet together each Thursday morning to pray for various needs in our church family.

I have been blessed by being able to join them the last few weeks.

When I arrived at our friend's home last week, I was pleasantly surprised that our time around the Throne of Grace was followed by a  Christmas Dinner, fit for a King - turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings!

What a fun, early Christmas celebration with my British friends. 

Student Party
A great Saturday night with the students!!
They sure know how to have fun and keep us entertained.

Creativity shows here as they made a model of the campus with Ginger Bread cookies!!

 Some fun photos of a few of them.

Afternoon at the Parsonage

Our pastor and his wife invited all of us to their home on Sunday afternoon.  We enjoyed the casual afternoon at the Parsonage with folks popping in and out. 

 Lots of traditional mince meat pies were served by their 2 sweet daughters. 

Kids receiving Christmas gifts at the church.   

Staff Party

The staff from all of our departments on the college campus meet together once a month to bring each other up to date.

We are usually all in a festive mood though in December, and this gathering ends up being a fun Christmas Party.

Here we are unwrapping gifts and being caught 'stealing' them from each other!! 

Volunteers

We miss having the Volunteers over each Monday night.

Having our traditional Christmas meal together followed by a great evening of fellowship and trying on their new scarfs from unheard of yarn, didn't have to be left out of the picture though.  

Most days while Ragnar was away were more than full, but keeping those needles clicking each time I sat down, trying to get these 3 scarfs done on time, filled even in those few 'spare' moments.