S. Lucy, V&M, 2007

So far this was a wonderful and busy week. It started with the finishing touches to the order of service for Baptism and Confirmations this coming Sunday. We look forward to have Bishop John with us to lead us in this and to speak to us as our Father in God. As a community we are also looking forward to support our three candidates who will receive the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. Bishop John will also launch the full programme for our Year of Grace as 2008 sees the 150th anniversary of the Dedication of our church.

The hymn list for the next six months has been done and also the Midnight Mass booklet. Preparation for the Nine lessons and Carols and the Crib Service are well advanced. Staff rotas till Easter had to be compiled and also preparation for various carol services of local schools.

On Tuesday night the church was packed for the Walthamstow Hall Junior School Carol Service. The pupils done extremely well, parents and teachers quite rightly well pleased. This was followed by a standing commitee meeting in which amongst other things we spoke at length about our celebrations for the Sesquicentenary from the Dedication of our church building. It promises to be a Year of Grace indeed.

This morning Fr Mark and I went to a local residential home where we had the celebration of Holy Communion to about thirty residents and visited another dozen or so in their own rooms. It was indeed a joy to share time with the residents and staff. Back home for a wedding preparation meeting, a wedding between two parishoners that proposed in Walsingham!

Tomorrow morning the church will be host for the County Hall Primary School Carol Service and next week we will have our own Primary School Carol Service. This together with the usual rounds of worship and pastoral duties. As you can see never a dull moment at St. John's; long may it be so.