Finally, the last week of January is here and we made it! Payday is in sight!

But as a true digital native, I want to take this opportunity to have a little #throwbackthursday moment and reflect on our Christmas period.

I don’t know if anyone else felt it, but because it was our first Christmas season out of lockdown, I had forgotten how hectic it gets with meet ups and parties. But in the midst of all the fun and frivolity, we had some really beautiful moments that built on Christmases past.

Advent

This year we followed the Making Room For Advent devotional by Bette Dickinson and I really enjoyed it. Not only did I have fun creating the social content, but I found it so interesting seeing the story told from Luke’s perspective. Seeing how Mary and Martha really are the perfect pictures of trusting in God, what He promises and His timings. It is truly humbling thinking about how God, the great I AM, meets us where we are, as a tiny human, defenceless and innocent, in order to save us from our sins. And to have a devotional from a woman, focusing on the unwavering love He has for us and how He surrounds us with the right people who see us and raise us up, even when we’re doubting ourselves, is amazing.

If you care to catch up on the devotionals, check out our Facebook Page or you can read the weekly versions on our blogs.

Christmas Cards

We delivered the most amount of cards we ever have and were early enough in our distribution to get a fair few entries into our card competition. It was so wonderful seeing all the beautiful colouring from the kids in the area and a huge thanks to all our partners for the great prizes:

• Pullums Dance Academy
• Grounded
• BRL with Uber Boat by Thames Clipper tickets
• Kerri Clarke NHS discounted haircut
• SENspired Messy Play free session
• Triangoals free football sessions for a month

Street Trees

The street trees came back and were great ways to bring different pockets of the community together and involve the kids. Thank you again to all the street hosts for keeping an eye on the trees, making sure they stayed upright in the wind and snow. We know from verbal feedback from neighbours that they were really appreciated; little twinkly lights, spreading the Christmas joy for all, even those who don’t celebrate, during the cold dreary nights.

Christmas Day joint Service

For the first time, we managed to join House Of Bread & Salam Assembly churches to have the most vibrant celebration we have arguably had to date! It was so wonderful to come together, pray, worship and focus on #GodWithUs in multiple languages! It was also a success in that it was the first time we were able to organise and open the centre on a bank holiday, independently of BRL and Tandem. We are blessed to share the space with amazing churches who have the same heart for the area as we do and we look forward to working together on other services in the future! Watch this space!

All in all, though it was busy, December was a great success for us and if it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have had such beautifully decorated trees across the estate, so many cards coloured in, such well-attended and supported carols or such a vibrant Christmas Day Celebration! Thank you to all our partners, Street Hosts, church family, neighbours and residents. Without all of you, it wouldn’t have happened.

Here’s to 2023! Roll on Spring!