After the celebrations

Christmas seems to fall into two halves at St. Cuthbert's. There's the actual celebration in church which starts at 6p.m. on Christmas Eve with a packed church for Carols, the lighting of Christingles (now less emphasised then in the past) and the Blessing of the Crib), and continues through Midnight Mass and the Eucharist for Christmas morning. But before that there are the more secular hors d'oeuvres in the Church Hall. It's always beautifully decorated. You've seen how Kaydar was able to make use of it for their Nativity presentation, and before that the Lunch Club had had its celebrations. Festivities in the Hall peak with the annual concert by Leadgate Gleemen and our own Handbell Ringers - the whole occasion by candlelight and in an aroma of mulled wine and warm mince pies. It's all been fun...