Christmas at the World Cafe

There was a nice variety of munchies on offer at our World Cafe Christmas yesterday ... including hot fruit punch!

This little elf was apparently awake at 5am, but no they weren't baking or wrapping presents. Not sure what they were doing exactly.  Anyway, Mandy Elf, thank you for all you give to our World Cafe. 

Actually, a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all our World Cafe Team  ...  Frank & Lynda, John, Denise and Mandy  ...  thank you for your time and energy and your caring heart towards students.

This is what happens when you leave Awad

in charge of your new camera!!

PhD Christmas Cafe

What a shame more people didn't come along and join in the Christmas festivities last Friday :-(  There were lots of tasty nibbles and, regardless of so few participants, the 'legal steal' gift game was lots of fun. Everyone went away with a nice gift!!

Just wait til we play 'legal steal' at the TABLEtalk party!!!

Carols on Campus

Thank you soooooo much to all those who came along to support our Medway Carols on Campus.  We may not be able to compete with Canterbury Cathedral or the Royal Naval Chapel at Greenwich when it comes to numbers or choirs BUT there was a real sense of God's presence at our humble offering of music and message; and those who didn't come, missed out!!

There are lots of people to thank  ...  Jodi who came early and helped with the tree, etc; Chris for his expertise with projection; Arun for his fancy lights and general air of calmness when I'm panicking; Joseph & Aiste for the readings; Lorraine, Arun, Joseph, Joy, Karen & Jodi for their beautiful musical giftings; Jeremy for the prayers and Saju for his great message of 'making room' for those around us, for the strangers and most especially, for Jesus.

 

A thought for today ...

Christmas Movie Nights

We have two Christmas Film Nights coming up this week and next. Do join us!!!

WHEN:                                  Thursday, Dec 7th  7:30pm        WHERE:                                Gillingham Baptist Church hall (ME7 5TJ)                      WHAT:                                       'Arthur Christmas'

WHEN: 

Monday, Dec 11th  6:30pm

WHERE:

Jellicoe 106

WHAT:

'The Grinch who stole Christmas'

A Night of Testimonies

Thanks RockSolid for a great night of testimonies, I only wish I'd be able to stay for the whole evening.  A special thank you to Emmanuel for sharing his story. 

For a long time to come I will remember his phrase "God saves and God sustains" ... how quickly we can forget that.

A Christmas Prayer

CELEBRATION beyond

the tinsel

and

superficial

trappings

which

distract

& dilute

the

meaning

of the

coming

of

Jesus.

HARMONY

to flood

in where

discord

reigns in

families & communities

and where

war destroys lives,

homes

and

HOPE.

REFRESHMENT

for the

jaded

and

exhausted

and for

those

who are

cynical

and

lack

enthusiasm

and

JOY.

INCLUSION

as

Jesus taught us …

of the

poor

and the marginalised

as well as

the

powerful

and the privileged.

SENSITIVITY

to

those

for whom

this time

is

particularly painful

because of

grief, separation, loneliness

and

alienation.

TIME

and

PATIENCE

to

listen

to others, FREEDOM

from the

lies

of

prejudice

and

preconceptions.

MORE COMPASSION

for those

whose

cries

for

justice

are

IGNORED.

A SPIRIT

Of

determination

to bring LIGHT

into the

dark places

where

hunger, famine,

abuse and

oppression

keep

people bound.

SILENCE

of our

fears and anxieties,

our doubts

and

questions,

and a FREEDOM

to release our PRAISE

for the

coming of Christ.