The efforts of our hastily assembled choir raised £229 for Christian Aid on the Saturday before Christmas.

Joan Long, our 88 year-old Father Christmas.

Jessica takes a photograph that may well be used in next year's publicity materials. Was it planned or just a happy accident.

The choir is in full voice as Maurene stands in the middle. She is not a chorister.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Maurene and I wish all of my loyal readers a very Merry Christmas. As I write this we are preparing to head out for our Christmas Eve midnight services. Photos are from the activities of the last few hectic days. Jessica was the photographer for the Central URC Service of Lessons and Carols.

Say it ain't so, Barry!

However controversial it may have been, Barry Bond's 765th home run was a benchmark in sports history. Bonds hit a 435-yard bomber out of AT&T Park - off the pitcher whose father had stopped Hank Aaron from hitting that mark in 1976. Now the ball is headed to the Hall of Fame with an asterisk, and the Mitchell Report has cast doubt on more home runs than just Bonds'.

This report was contained in the 21 December Guardian in a review of top American sports stories of 2007. If Barry Bonds hit a 435 yard home run then it removes any doubt about him being 'juiced' on steroids!

Rory Grace Malia

Born December 18, 2007

Self-explanatory

Alexis Bledel plays Rory on the 'Gilmore Girls'. I didn't know this until Jessica informed me.

Rory Calhoun -star of stage and screen

Rory Grace Malia

I am delighted to announce the birth of my granddaughter -Rory Grace Malia. Mom, Dad and baby are doing great! My only regret is that I won't get to see my first grandchild until the middle of January. The most helpful comment I have received thus far came from my nephew Kyle: "Now being bald and graying will finally work out in your new role as Grandpa!" Since I haven't any pictures as of yet, I thought I would attach photos of some other famous folks named Rory.

THE STORY OF CLIFFORD WHOSE HOME WAS A CHURCH PORCH

I met Clifford in 2003. He started sleeping on the porch of one of my churches in London. Maurene and I befriended him, as much as Clifford would allow, and gave him a sleeping bag, various items of clothing, and provided him with meals throughout his time on our church porch. This article appeared in this month's Trinity Lamp -the Newsletter of Trinity United Reformed Church, Mill Hill, London.

Clifford came up to London from South Wales about five years ago. He was among those who find the stresses of life too much to bear. He took to the road and became homeless. He found shelter first in a Totteridge church but was not able to stay there for long, so he boarded a No. 251 bus and, coming into Mill Hill, noticed a church with a side porch, bearing a name which was already known to him. In the autumn of 2003, he settled in this porch, and his bearded figure soon became a familiar sight to those going in and out of the Harwood Hall, beside Union Church. He worried no one and made himself scarce on Sundays. Winter winds soon began to blow and he was still there at Christmas. Our Minister, Revd. Ronald Garner took interest in him, brought him a Christmas dinner and gave dispensation to Peter Gibbins to give him the shelter of Harwood Hall in the worst weather. The organisation 'Street Rescue' was contacted and did its best to help him and during the following year of 2004 found him a hostel place in Brixton; but for Cliff, that life could not last for long and, after a gap he returned to his former shelter in the side porch of Union Church, opposite the Corner Lamp.

The Church congregation moved to Watling in May 2005, and by Christmas of that year, help had been found for him with Shelter in Canary Wharf. Sometime last year he collapsed and Street Rescue again came to his aid. This story ends with the news that Cliff died in September. London Street Rescue has written to say that Cliff had been grateful for the help and understanding shown to him. May he rest in peace.

"I was a stranger, and you took me in."

article by Thomas John Wright

Street musicians compete for the best spots in the city centre.

Just look at the happy faces on these shoppers!

Weary shoppers stream in to the Abbey for the hourly 'Shoppers Carol Service'. Twenty minutes of Christmas favourites and each shopper gets a free gospel of Matthew. Now that's putting the 'E' in evangelism!

Brits queue up at the Bollywood Christmas stall and remember the good old days when they were still an empire .

Santa riding Ganesh

Our Indian ornaments

Christmas Market 2007

The weather has been horrendous all week in Bath. Which I thought would make things difficult for the traders who participated in the Bath Christmas Market. But, in between showers I decided to check out the market on Saturday afternoon. To my surprise you could barely move down the high street let alone through the market stalls themselves. My other purpose was to go to the Bollywood Christmas stall to purchase some baubles for our tree. Double click on photographs for full effect.