Vigil Mass surprise

A persistently rainy day, so I caught the bus into town and back to buy a salmon from Ashton's in the Market. Many pubs and eateries were closed  at ten thirty and the streets less than busy, but not quite deserted. New covid restrictions and fesrs may already serve as a disincentive to town centre commerce and conviviality this yesr. Then a walk in the wet down to Berry's the Butcher to collect the turkey, sausages and streaky bacon. The fridge is very full now!

As feared, after my sister's new gas boiler installation she wasn't give adequate instruction on using the thermostat to be able to control the thermostat, so the flat is still not as warm as she needs it to be. She simply didn't understand the words used by the enginners, and they told her without showing her how to use it hands on.  What is common knowledge to one is a mystery to others, and the new technology gap between generations is wider than ever.

At tea time, Owain arrived then early evening in time for supper, came Kath, Anto and Rhiannon. All negatively lateral flow tested today. After a big pasta supper I started on my sermon for tomorrow, then churchwarden Richard arrived at a quarter to ten, to take me to St German's for the ten thirty Vigil Mass. Fr Roy Doxsey and I shared the service between us, with a congregation of forty. 

A young couple came, bringing their month old infant for the first time. Dad brought her up in the Communion queue snuggled in her arms, wearing s bright red babygrow and Santa hat. I wondered why his eyes shone so brightly before realising he was carrying the tiny tot. It was a moment of sheer Christmas delight. After the couple asked how soon they could have her christened. We agreed on Sunday, the feast of Stephen.

Richard drove me home through deserted streets, and I arrived at half past midnight. I had to write an email to James the church baptism organiser, to warn him of the surprise baptism. I remembered a similar short notice ceremony on Christmas dat at St James fifteen years ago, not long before it closed for good. That was for a Czech Roma mother. The urgency was becausee it was the only day off the family had in a life of menial toil. So important to make the effort to meet the need, no matter how tired and stretched you know you're going to be.