Saturday, 5 December 2015

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

For seven years now, it's marked the beginning of my own countdown to  Christmas - a church full of Christmas trees displayed by local businesses / charities / groups over the second weekend of Advent. In 2013 and 2014, I threw myself into the planning team and was part of helping to develop the tree display into a whole site event, with craft market, cafe and live entertainment - a development that now seems firmly fixed.  This year, I could do nothing to help but watch excited and grateful at a distance, while others cheerfully absorbed the work I'd have done as well as their own. And as if by magic, everything has fallen into place beautifully. In spite of defrosting freezers and lousy weather, we're off to a magical start. If you live within reach of Morecambe, don't miss it, for goodness sake!

As I sat in church on Thursday night listening to our choir singing Rudolph and Let It Snow, I had one of those timeless moments of sheer gratitude for being there, in that building, with those people, to whom for this little time in history it belongs. Elgar used to perform in Morecambe Parish Church once, but now he has been thoroughly upstaged by The Tootle Sisters (yes, those really are discarded can-can skirts) and the school choir. Their music fills the place now. And for this year, quite likely to be this last year for me, I can be part of it.

Who knows what 2016 will bring for any of us? or even what tomorrow will bring? But for today we have here, we have now, we have each other. And knowing they can't last for ever makes them infinitely more precious.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . .  make the most of every second this year. 
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8 comments:

  1. Hilary Hopwood5 December 2015 at 17:56

    Wish we could have been there but it was not to be this year.
    So moved as always by your blog posts Debbie. I will hold on to what you said . With you in spirit each day and receiving from you. Thank you for your reflections and advice.

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    1. Anonymous10 December 2015 at 18:20

      Thank you so much Hilary - thinking of both of you so muchxx all the treats you can, don't forget! xxx

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  2. Linda Page5 December 2015 at 20:46

    xxxxxxxxxxxx Lovely to see so much of you these past few daysxxxxxxxxxxx

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  3. Emma6 December 2015 at 09:48

    <3 <3 <3 xxxxxxx

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  4. Unknown7 December 2015 at 14:48

    You and your family are in our prayers every day ....especially for me last night at the cathedral Advent carol service when Chris 'censed' the Vasconcellos Madonna and the choir sang 'Mother of God,here I stand' to John Tavener 's music with the words by Mikhail Lermontor- Memories flooded back when you came to share your reflections with the Madonna as the focus. That gaze of the Christ child- thirsty to get out into the world and share his message being nurtured and held lovingly by his mother-yet preparing herself to let go. Debbie you have such a wonderful gift with words I pray that you will have the strength to complete your book. If the 'Parachute is the taster then I,for one, can't wait for more. May God give you peace. All our love Gerry X

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    1. Anonymous10 December 2015 at 18:23

      Wow, that was a long time ago - amazed that you can remember it! And very touched. Thanks for everything, Gerry, and much love to you and Chris and the family xxxxx

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  5. Krew26 December 2015 at 11:17

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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