As well as this the exterior lighting is finally progressing. Would you believe that the recession has meant that delivery of the lamp-posts was delayed for weeks as the couriers would not deliver until they had a full lorry-load for this area? However today they arrived and we hope that tomorrow the electrical connections will be finished. Hopefully, I shall find time to upload some photo's tomorrow.
The programme of works for the Restoration / Reordering has now arrived and beginning on the 5th January the interior of St Mary & St Giles will see workmen arrive to complete the installation of stone and woodwork that is being prepared off-site at the moment. Also, at All Saints, we are about to install lighting into the church car park as well - so plenty of liaising with people over major projects has also been a feature of the last few weeks too.
Lots of illness in the parish at the moment has been keeping me extra busy what with large numbers of folk receiving the Blessed Sacrament at home or in hospital.
Over the last four days we have seen over 750 people at worship in St Mary & St Giles. It all started on Friday morning when our Church Aided School came to St Mary & St Giles for their Carol Service and Nativity Play. My homily included a bar of Fruit and Nut, a copy of the TV Times, a Ten Pound Note, and my Lightsaber (yes you did read that correctly) and finally an empty box covered in gold foil - but I'm not giving away the punch-line just yet!
On Friday afternoon one of the local Funeral Directors held its annual Memorial Service in St Mary & St Giles. This really does fulfil a need and it draws people in from all over the area. The Order for the Service was drawn up by myself some years ago and includes a section where all those who have died are prayed for by name and candles are lit for each of the months in which they die. One of the features of this Rite each year is the large number of infants that have died - in part this is due to Milton Keynes having the youngest population in Europe and consequently a high proportion of neo-natal deaths. We had the largest number of people attend this Rite this year including many parents of still-born babies or infants, nearly all of whom afterwards were lighting candles at Our Lady's Shrine even though I had not mentioned that opportunity. I have always thought that there is something quite instinctive about this for English People, and the image of Our Lady is significant too.
Sunday morning saw an increase in numbers at Mass, although unfortunately one of our Churchwardens had a fall and has suffered a hairline fracture in his hip which has got to heal itself. Mercifully, he was discharged from hospital today, and is determined to get to Mass on Christmass Day.
Sunday afternoon saw our annual Nativity Play with Carols (no Hark the Herald or Adeste fideles in these parishes until Christmass itself). This year as many of our teenagers are at University and there is a gap in the young teenage range we allowed a few older children to take part! See for yourself from the pictures below and thanks must also go to our own "St Mary & St Giles Church Band" for providing the music.
Today has seen the final round of Carol Singing around the Parish raising money for our Advent Appeal: the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa through the charity "Ethiopiaid". Carollers were invited back to the Vicarage for refreshments including Fr Ross' homemade mulled-wine (with an added kick: Cointreau!).
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