Flat out

On this the shortest day, I woke up at seven and posted the Morning Prayer YouTube link to WhatsApp then dozed for an hour before getting up. There was time before going out to prepare next week's Morning Prayer and reflection ready to record. Then I went to the Eucharist at St John's. There were seven of us. Father Colin celebrated. Pearlin joined us as she wasn't working today. 

Earlier in the week she was asking for prayers for her elderly mother in South India. She home is in a region which had been experiencing terrible rain storms and the family home has been flooded, and for two days there were no telecoms. This was particularly difficult, not just because of concern for mother's welfare, but because Pearlin is able to organise support for her through a network of friends and relations her mother may not be able to reach, given that breaches in communication networks can be piecemeal and localised. Well, we have the same problems here from time to time, don't we?

Before going home to get the car and take Communion to Sandra at home in Danescourt, I called at Diana and Peter's to ask his help in obtaining localised socio-economic data to assist the Ministry Area Council in questioning the financial demands being made by the diocese. It's nice to know someone who knows how to navigate their way through specialised academic research studies. He was saying how important it is to ask the right questions in order to get the information you need about the economic strengths and weaknesses of particular communities. Then, interestingly he said that to get a general impression of a community's ability to be generous, it would be look at Christian Aid Week donation income on a street by street basis, as collectors often observe how poorer communities tended to be more generous, but richer communities cannot be relied on to pay their way.

After lunch I took Communion to Ray at home. I made a mistake noting down his address, the difference between Saint David and Sir David rendering Google useless. Thankfully I had his phone number, and was only a few minutes late reaching his flat. I was delighted to learn that he was born in Adamsdown and was a choirboy in St John's City Parish Church for eight years. Amazing to think that he was drafted into the RAF in the year I was born, and served in India for nearly two years, just like our much missed friend Russell.

When I got home, I did this week's Sway distribution with Mailchimp, then devised a carol service for St Peter's on New Year's Eve. The little Christmas tree in a pot which Clare had delivered, I installed in the front rom, and Clare decorated it, just with white candles, nice and simple, looks good.

Then I went to Tesco's to get some wine for the Chestnut Casserole, which has equal status with turkey on our Christmas dinner table. After supper, the only thing left on my to-do list in need of urgent attention is the three different sermons I need to prepare for this long weekend, so I made a start and completed the one for Midnight Mass. Then I went out for a short walk in the drizzle to get some fresh damp air, and recorded next week's Morning Prayer before turning in for the night, I've got quite a lot done today.