For the first time in my life, as far as I can remember, I am spending Christmas on foreign soil. At least once during my Coast Guard service I spent Christmas on patrol at sea– I no longer remember what year(s)– but even then our national colors were flying overhead.
This Christmas we are in Mityana, Uganda (50 miles west of Kampala). There was no public Christmas Eve worship to attend. We prayed Christmas Eve Vespers in our lodgings with a guest, and practiced singing the Christmas hymns in Luganda.
Today we attended the 3.5 hour morning Eucharist in St. Andrew’s Cathedral, with 3 bishops (the Diocesan and 2 retired bishops) officiating. My wife was one of the musicians for the service (on keyboard).
After the service we were invited to a meal at the bishop’s home, with his household of more than 20 people (his wife, their natural and adopted children, various in-laws, etc.). The meal was followed by more singing, dancing, praising, and praying.
Returning to our home, we had 2 sessions of skype-ing with family in Massachusetts.
December 23, a restaurant meal with my sister’s family. Lots of laughter.
Christmas Eve services in two Delta churches. Lots of music. Prayed with a poor soul after church.
On Christmas Day, we drove to my brother-in-law’s house for dinner. After dinner, we went out back and took turns throwing knives at a dinosaur painted on plywood. Lots of fun.
All three Harmon children are home here, which seems increasingly unusual, and we went to Saint Michael’s to worship as a family before Midnight Mass at Christ Church, Yonges Island where we did a 1662 sung liturgy.
Home alone, and with joyful memories of Christmas past.
For the first time in my life, as far as I can remember, I am spending Christmas on foreign soil. At least once during my Coast Guard service I spent Christmas on patrol at sea– I no longer remember what year(s)– but even then our national colors were flying overhead.
This Christmas we are in Mityana, Uganda (50 miles west of Kampala). There was no public Christmas Eve worship to attend. We prayed Christmas Eve Vespers in our lodgings with a guest, and practiced singing the Christmas hymns in Luganda.
Today we attended the 3.5 hour morning Eucharist in St. Andrew’s Cathedral, with 3 bishops (the Diocesan and 2 retired bishops) officiating. My wife was one of the musicians for the service (on keyboard).
After the service we were invited to a meal at the bishop’s home, with his household of more than 20 people (his wife, their natural and adopted children, various in-laws, etc.). The meal was followed by more singing, dancing, praising, and praying.
Returning to our home, we had 2 sessions of skype-ing with family in Massachusetts.
It has been a memorable Christmas.
Pax Christi!
Chuck Bradshaw
December 23, a restaurant meal with my sister’s family. Lots of laughter.
Christmas Eve services in two Delta churches. Lots of music. Prayed with a poor soul after church.
On Christmas Day, we drove to my brother-in-law’s house for dinner. After dinner, we went out back and took turns throwing knives at a dinosaur painted on plywood. Lots of fun.
All three Harmon children are home here, which seems increasingly unusual, and we went to Saint Michael’s to worship as a family before Midnight Mass at Christ Church, Yonges Island where we did a 1662 sung liturgy.
I went to a local Anglo-Catholic church for the Midnight mass in Portland. Then went up to Tacoma to spend time with mom .