Today was one of those days which felt like a long pause before something happens. This morning, like most other mornings this month, I woke up and clambered disorientatedly over the pile of presents. Like most other Sundays, I went to Church (the local Anglican church today – it was fab).
Like almost half of 2007’s Sundays, I prepared for our church meeting at 3pm, and took the bus later to and from our cell group, but today didn’t really feel like any other day.
Firstly, we sang ‘O Come O Come Immanuel’ in the service this morning. The lyrics are evocative and speak of redemption and release. With an organ backing, the words seemed to reverberate around the church and the sentiment seemed exagerated. It was as if we were singing the verses about Wandsworth, as if the verses themselves became an act of intercession.
Our church meeting this afternoon was different too. There were over 40 of us, everyone turned out to celebrate, hand out presents, share coffee and worship together. There was the same intensity about our gathering, as if we really meant the things we were saying and praying. It was such a joy to dish out the pile of presents, knowing I won’t have to purposely avoid tripping over them tomorrow morning, although I wish I could be there to see people opening them. I love giving gifts.
The very atmosphere of Wandsworth today seemed to be imbued with a sense that we’re approaching something. Traffic jams lined the main road outside of our meeting place, and we marvelled that Jesus is perhaps the only person born 2000 years ago who still has the ability to bring the city roads to a standstill.
By the time we had finished, a thick fog had fallen, and the greasy streets seemed muffled and silenced. The last few days have been manic here, but tonight it felt like everyone had bought shopping enough, emptied Sainsburys enough, wrestled with wrapping paper enough, squeezed onto buses enough and there was a momentary lull. (I’m sure tomorrow will be pretty hemmed again, but it was nice that it all stopped for at least a few hours).
In cell we watched the Greatest Christmas countdown, ate cold turkey and marvelled that this was the last cell of 2007 for us. Again we recognised that we are anticipating something, that the celebration approaches, as do the endings, seperations and goodbyes of the end of the year.
Some of my housemates have already started the journey home for Christmas, my house feels half-inhabited, even here I can feel the strange ‘nearly-Christmas’ feeling. As I jump on the train tomorrow I know that instead of summising that people are off on a night out, or commuting home from work etc, we’ll all be engaging in similar trips to connect with and spend time with friends and family. I like the sense of antipation that brings, and the friendly understanding between fellow passengers clambering aboard carrying brightly coloured bags of presents.
My Christmas tour will take in Canterbury, Dunstable, Northampton and then Canterbury again. I am so looking forward to seeing different people, celebrating together, drinking vast quantities of Schloer and generally reflecting on the good bits of 2007.
Back in a week or so!!
I haven’t sung ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ this year, unless singing it randomly in the house counts (and let’s face it, most songs get sung randomly in my house). I do love that one. Evocative is definitely the word.
Hope Christmas was fun and that you coped with the random piles of stuff everywhere. See you at New Year!
I love ‘O Come, O Come…’, but I don’t remember singing it at any services this year, which is more than a tad disappointing. It has been sung at home, but most songs get sung in our madhouse at some time or another!
Hope Christmas among the piles of random stuff was fun, and I look forward to seeing you at the New Year!