Christmas in Wales

Christmas in Wales

American Style Thanks-Giving

The British seem to have a thing about the Americans so American thanksgiving is celebrated by a lot of people here and the church we attend is no exception.  I think the real truth is that our church always likes to find ways to get together.  One couple took it upon themselves to cook a proper American style dinner for about fourteen of us.  This couple are the resident experts as they lived for about three years in North Carolina.  They did all the cooking and all the rest of us had to do was bring the drinks. 

The fascinating mix of people there was representative of the mix on Sunday mornings.  There are three strata:  students from Cardiff University; young couples with toddlers (and a number of singles that age) and seniors. The students all seem to be spiritual giants and Carolene and I are very much blessed by them.  One architecture student cooks lunch once or twice a month for everybody (even oldies) and his Thai Chicken is something else.  It seems that most of the thirtyish cohort have been to Bethel or someplace similar and are eager to act on their faith.  There we all were in this house in the North end of Cardiff having an amazing meal.

Now getting there was an adventure.  It was a cold bible-black night (I had to work that in somewhere didn’t I?) and there was a rugby game on at the Millennium Stadium so buses could not go through town.  We had to get off on our side of the Taff River and walk through Central Cardiff, which is a lot of fun on a game night, to the north end to catch a bus past Roath lake.  Our wait was about half an hour on a busy street across from a pub with a wide screen TV and lots of revelers.

Men’s Social Night

The pastor organised a pub night for the men at a pub called the Urban Tap House which is associated with a small brewery in Newport, so it was nice to support local business.  Again the mix of people was broad.  A few students, a few young family types, both of us seniors and the church ‘tweener.  The ‘tweener is well past age thirty but far from a senior.  It was a great night and we constrained ourselves to half pints so we could experiment with the variety.  We took a poll at the table to find out how each person got there:  one drove; one took the train (he was late); one the bus; one was driven by his wife; one rode his bicycle and the rest walked.  That about sums up how to get around in Cardiff. 

Carol Service

Last Sunday the church held its second annual carol service.  Last year they had it in the Welsh School of Music and Drama, a very posh venue.  This year they were told that it has to be booked a year in advance.  So leadership had a meeting and two people had clear visions of a carol service in Bute Park behind the Castle and a third confirmed this so they approached the park people who said no-way.  Somehow the pastor talked to the right person who said he would try it this once so we all went down there early and set up lights with two of the park employees.  Lights were hung in the trees, a band was set up and lamps with candles lined the path to the entrance to the park (which remained open past the usual sundown locking).  A number of passers-by joined us as well as some young families from the weekly toddler drop in that the church runs.  So there we all were with mince pies and mulled wine singing Christmas carols along with a number of doggie walkers and their dogs.  We are looking forward to next year already.