Once again a busy evening of carols, choir and readings all by traditional candle light. Derek led the service which included a tableau by the young people of the church based on the nativity scene, whilst the choir sang John Rutter's "Star Carol" and "Mary's Boy Child" which included a solo. Afterwards there were refreshments including two lovely gingerbread creations hand made by Gill Walley. Almost a shame to start them but lovely once we did.
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A dry evening whilst cold but a happy band of about 18 adults and 4 children entertained households around the village. The merry band finished in the Railway pub and sang some more in the warm. With the previous singing in the Church End Brewery the Dog Inn the grand total for all is £501. This will be split between Methodist Homes for the Aged and Ronald Mc Donald charities. Lovely evening being treated to a traditional Romanian Christmas meal by the group who use our church on a Friday evening to celebrate in their own language Romanian style. Our main course of food was sarmale (a cabbage wrapped meal ball) with a mămăliga (polenta) and goat cheese side. This was topped with cişcă (a hot pepper) which many found rather hot indeed! Second course was cotonac (a fruity nut and turkish delight bread) and turtă dulce (ginger bread biscuits) all washed down with fruit and tea to finish. We all experienced a lovely sociable evening talking and finding out about each others traditions and life experiences. We thank our hosts for a really memorable evening. Twenty two shoeboxes were taken to the midland collection point for the charity "Link to Hope" These were checked over and along with a further extra £30 in donations will ensure that the boxes make their way to Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine. 
Our traditional carol service lit by over fifty candles was busy with a full house of one hundred people singing their way through a busy service. Rev Derek Shaw led the service which featured the choir and the young people singing their nativity set. We once again greeted our own baby Jesus - eleven day old Chester and his family were welcomed. Interjected with the carols a variety of readers completed nine bible readings. Afterwards all were invited to retire to the school room for cakes, mince pies, tea and coffee. Thanks to all our participants both young and not so small. We even had a young drier up learning the trade for future years.
A very wet evening with heavy rain did not deter a good number of singers from heading out along the village to raise £150 for Family Action in Coventry and CRPS which is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Later the group went and entertained at the Railway Inn and raise a further £45. A lovely gingerbread cake made by Gill Walley was raffled and raised another £107. Many thanks to all those who listened out for us and supported us. A grand total of £302 will be forwarded split between our two charities..
A busy service where we were joined by our Romanian friends. They sang some Christmas carols both in English and Romanian which was a pleasure to hear. These families from several surrounding areas, use our church as a meeting point to maintain their Romanian traditions of worship so their children experience them. They came and joined some of us for a meal on Friday evening making the whole weekend something of a meeting between the two cultures.
At the end of the service Xavier entertained us festively.
The coffee morning today was in aid of the Salvation Army. We made £125, which included £10 for a beautiful Christmas wreath which was donated. Sheilas's daughter makes them in aid of cancer research and takes orders at £15 each. There was a good turn out, considering it was a wet morning.
Rev Derek Shaw lead our annual candlelit carol service to a very full chapel. The usual mix of carols and readings was added to with the children acting out a Nativity scene and the choir singing from John Rutter and the Twelve Days of Christmas. The later was even explained how it relates to some of the Christian elements it refers to. Four calling birds relating to the four Gospels for instance. Baby Lyla stole the show in her part as the Angel Gabriel in the nativity scene and then all joined singing Away in a Manger. After the service there was a superb spread of cakes and mince pies - we were looked after well by the ladies and their team.
Christmas scene from Alviseven on Vimeo. 12 days of Christmas from Alviseven on Vimeo. A good turn out raising £125 for the Sifa Fireside. We welcomed a few new attenders including two ladies that had lived in the village many years and had always meant to come along; hope to welcome them back next year. |
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