Greetings to you all from London. Here in the UK we have had so much rain people are thinking of building arks. In my north London suburban parish we had a packed church for the 6 pm children’s Mass Christmas Eve, and a full church for the midnight. 10 am this morning was reasonable; there is a 12 noon service being taken even as I type by a visiting priest, but no more than 50 or so late risers. If I had the courage I would abolish the 12 next year. I feel exhausted and am recovering from a throat infection and cold during which I nearly lost my voice. I took the first three Christmas masses above and felt the Lord gave me a word and sustained my croaking voice throughout. Laus Deo. I will be off to parishioners in my former parish afterwards for Mass; just them, the parents, and their two student children, and myself. Then in the evening I will go and join a priest friend to watch the two-hour Downton Abbey special. It’s hokey I know but what can I say, I have so enjoyed the series. A very merry Christmas to you all.
Wife, three kids (including one home from school across the country) and mother-in-law at home here in SW Montana this morning. The lot of us (including the dog) will travel this afternoon ~5 hours to spend a few days with my sister, her husband and my mother in Idaho. [i]Joyeux Noël[/i] to all!
Merry Christmas to all from a snow-dusted West Texas! Had to do the earlier Christmas Eve service because of my son’s work schedule but it was still nice. Very, very thankful that my son HAS a work schedule, that his talents are quickly being recognized and he’s on a managerial track already. 🙂
The wind is howling and it’s very cold. Pray for those with no or substandard shelter, and also for those affected by the tornados near Houston. I believe there’s been loss of life. 🙁 We’re safe and warm, thanks be to God.
I have a ham and whole chicken roasting. We’ll have a lovely dinner and then go to see Les Miserables! I bought the tickets already in case it was crowded. With the weather, I don’t think it will be, lol.
Terry Tee, I love Downton Abbey, too! Our public television stations show it but we’re a season behind y’all, I think. When I was in England in September-October, I had to resist the temptation to watch it there!
I am on the train between Olympia and Centralia
I am heading back spending Christmas Eve at home. I am heading home now because I have to work tomorrow. I went to my Mothers church for Christmas Eve service; Having the service earlier is starting to become a pet peeve with me. Even as a Child we ” survived” going to the midnight mass/service. The Chistmas eve service are my fondest memories of Christmas.
We have all three young adult children home for Christmas, which is a real treat for us. Abigail also has a friend from Regent College, Kathy, visiting. We had a lovely time of reading Luke’s Christmas account and exchanging gifts, although our time has been complicated by the fact that the new cat, Ezekiel, disappearance not once but twice.
We thank God we found him both times–never a dull moment and somehow, never what you thought would occur on your holiday.
A wonderful time at the convent. A friend of ours was the celebrant of the mass and then a fun supper(noon) with the community of St Mary where there was wonderful friendship, some deep conversation, and a fair amount of family silliness. Some relaxing cleanup just in time for relaxed afternoon tea, more theology and some presents.
We attended the 8:00 pm eucharist at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville Christmas Eve and spent the day with our daughter Sarai, her husband Willie, and their 4 year old daughter Amalia, Willie’s mother, sister and her husband. In the evening they all went to see the movie Les Miz while Amalia and I stayed home to play with her Christmas toys. Home by 9:00 and ready to go tomorrow to try to buy next year’s cards and wrapping paper on sale. We’re almost out.
Les Miserables is a must-see. The PERFECT Christmas movie, the themes of redemption, justice, and mercy so extremely well done. The theater was packed after all so I’m glad I bought the tickets ahead of time!
My wife and I spent a nice week at our second home in Harbourtown, and Christmas Day service at St Michael’s in Charleston. Hamilton Smith preached and presided at a nice 10.00 service. It is a nice time of the year to be in the lowcountry. If you get a chance rent the lovely movie Joyeux Noel (about the Scots, English and German troops laying down arms at Christmas).
I took a 24+-hour break from the internet and work. TBTG. Christmas Eve at the Festive Family Eucharist with my mom — great fun — followed by attending the annual Christmas Eve gathering at the home of friends we’ve known for 40+ years. So amazing to see the kids all grown up with their own kids. Christmas morning with my mom and sis and then the three of us were joined for dinner by four dear friends. Our Christmas dinner table is always a time to include those with no family in the area. Such a blessing. Good food and wonderful conversation mostly centered on God’s blessings in our lives. Merry Christmas to all.
In the traditional way, at my parents’ home in the West Country hills with the rest of my family. We were all gathered together by Christmas Eve and since then it has been the round of churchgoing, eating, walking and best of all just spending time together. Today involved delivering some presents locally and seeing friends as is usual on Boxing Day. My parents are showing their age now physically, so it is a blessing to be still together, and there is a new generation growing up. By the end of the week we will all be dispersing again, but not just yet, there is more fun to be had together, exploring of the rather-soaked-December countryside, various family members’ cooking, and my father’s extraordinary generosity with his wine store still beckoning as well as some books to read which turned up in my stocking including Churchill’s ‘Marlborough’ when I can snatch a few moments to myself.
A Happy Christmas to everybody at T19 and thanks for the conversation and fellowship over the years which has been a boon – may you all be richly blessed.
Greetings to you all from London. Here in the UK we have had so much rain people are thinking of building arks. In my north London suburban parish we had a packed church for the 6 pm children’s Mass Christmas Eve, and a full church for the midnight. 10 am this morning was reasonable; there is a 12 noon service being taken even as I type by a visiting priest, but no more than 50 or so late risers. If I had the courage I would abolish the 12 next year. I feel exhausted and am recovering from a throat infection and cold during which I nearly lost my voice. I took the first three Christmas masses above and felt the Lord gave me a word and sustained my croaking voice throughout. Laus Deo. I will be off to parishioners in my former parish afterwards for Mass; just them, the parents, and their two student children, and myself. Then in the evening I will go and join a priest friend to watch the two-hour Downton Abbey special. It’s hokey I know but what can I say, I have so enjoyed the series. A very merry Christmas to you all.
Wife, three kids (including one home from school across the country) and mother-in-law at home here in SW Montana this morning. The lot of us (including the dog) will travel this afternoon ~5 hours to spend a few days with my sister, her husband and my mother in Idaho. [i]Joyeux Noël[/i] to all!
Merry Christmas to all from a snow-dusted West Texas! Had to do the earlier Christmas Eve service because of my son’s work schedule but it was still nice. Very, very thankful that my son HAS a work schedule, that his talents are quickly being recognized and he’s on a managerial track already. 🙂
The wind is howling and it’s very cold. Pray for those with no or substandard shelter, and also for those affected by the tornados near Houston. I believe there’s been loss of life. 🙁 We’re safe and warm, thanks be to God.
I have a ham and whole chicken roasting. We’ll have a lovely dinner and then go to see Les Miserables! I bought the tickets already in case it was crowded. With the weather, I don’t think it will be, lol.
Terry Tee, I love Downton Abbey, too! Our public television stations show it but we’re a season behind y’all, I think. When I was in England in September-October, I had to resist the temptation to watch it there!
I am on the train between Olympia and Centralia
I am heading back spending Christmas Eve at home. I am heading home now because I have to work tomorrow. I went to my Mothers church for Christmas Eve service; Having the service earlier is starting to become a pet peeve with me. Even as a Child we ” survived” going to the midnight mass/service. The Chistmas eve service are my fondest memories of Christmas.
We have all three young adult children home for Christmas, which is a real treat for us. Abigail also has a friend from Regent College, Kathy, visiting. We had a lovely time of reading Luke’s Christmas account and exchanging gifts, although our time has been complicated by the fact that the new cat, Ezekiel, disappearance not once but twice.
We thank God we found him both times–never a dull moment and somehow, never what you thought would occur on your holiday.
A wonderful time at the convent. A friend of ours was the celebrant of the mass and then a fun supper(noon) with the community of St Mary where there was wonderful friendship, some deep conversation, and a fair amount of family silliness. Some relaxing cleanup just in time for relaxed afternoon tea, more theology and some presents.
We attended the 8:00 pm eucharist at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville Christmas Eve and spent the day with our daughter Sarai, her husband Willie, and their 4 year old daughter Amalia, Willie’s mother, sister and her husband. In the evening they all went to see the movie Les Miz while Amalia and I stayed home to play with her Christmas toys. Home by 9:00 and ready to go tomorrow to try to buy next year’s cards and wrapping paper on sale. We’re almost out.
Les Miserables is a must-see. The PERFECT Christmas movie, the themes of redemption, justice, and mercy so extremely well done. The theater was packed after all so I’m glad I bought the tickets ahead of time!
My wife and I spent a nice week at our second home in Harbourtown, and Christmas Day service at St Michael’s in Charleston. Hamilton Smith preached and presided at a nice 10.00 service. It is a nice time of the year to be in the lowcountry. If you get a chance rent the lovely movie Joyeux Noel (about the Scots, English and German troops laying down arms at Christmas).
I took a 24+-hour break from the internet and work. TBTG. Christmas Eve at the Festive Family Eucharist with my mom — great fun — followed by attending the annual Christmas Eve gathering at the home of friends we’ve known for 40+ years. So amazing to see the kids all grown up with their own kids. Christmas morning with my mom and sis and then the three of us were joined for dinner by four dear friends. Our Christmas dinner table is always a time to include those with no family in the area. Such a blessing. Good food and wonderful conversation mostly centered on God’s blessings in our lives. Merry Christmas to all.
In the traditional way, at my parents’ home in the West Country hills with the rest of my family. We were all gathered together by Christmas Eve and since then it has been the round of churchgoing, eating, walking and best of all just spending time together. Today involved delivering some presents locally and seeing friends as is usual on Boxing Day. My parents are showing their age now physically, so it is a blessing to be still together, and there is a new generation growing up. By the end of the week we will all be dispersing again, but not just yet, there is more fun to be had together, exploring of the rather-soaked-December countryside, various family members’ cooking, and my father’s extraordinary generosity with his wine store still beckoning as well as some books to read which turned up in my stocking including Churchill’s ‘Marlborough’ when I can snatch a few moments to myself.
A Happy Christmas to everybody at T19 and thanks for the conversation and fellowship over the years which has been a boon – may you all be richly blessed.
#9 – I put the movie in my Netflix Queue. Thank you for the recommendation. The event it is based on has always fascinated me.