Big Weekend part 2: Saturday

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 17 December 2007 18:04:54

This year was the fifth annual Carols In The City event (although it was called It's A Wonderful Life for the first couple of years; I think the name change may have been down to the fact that not many people made the link with the old film, and were just confused), and as with the previous four I had volunteered to sing in the choir in the main carol service. Before that, however, I was joining a mobile choir for some less structured carol singing. And before that, I was heading into town with my friend K to grab a quick coffee.

Well, the coffee part was all quite straightforward, and then K and I went to a shop so she could return some stuff she'd bought, and we hatched an elaborate plan (more of which later). Then I left her in the shop looking for necessary items to put the elaborate plan into action, and headed to the main library. A group of about ten or so of us braved the cold to sing a selection of festive favourites for about an hour and a half, with occasional accompaniment from passing gangs of teenagers, some of whom also threw in some rather unedifying dance moves and suggested we should apply to the X Factor next year. Ah, the wit of teenagers...

Following which, down to the central square where the children's choir were singing on stage, huge crowds were gathering around the German market, and loads of people were freezing in the name of servanthood as they wrapped presents, gave out chocolates and painted children's faces. I caught up with K and discovered that she hadn't been able to get the necessary items, so we started thinking of where we could get them. There then followed a brief Challenge Anneka interlude, as we legged it through the crowds to have a look through all the pound shops for what we needed (without success), and legged it back to the main stage in time for me to join up with the choir, all in the space of about 20 minutes.

The actual carol service bit was great, certainly from the back corner of the stage where I was hiding. The band were great, the soloists were great too, and the crowds ahead of us looked like they were really enjoying it. In particular, I could see a couple of the youth from our youth cell who seemed to be really passionately singing to God, which was quite touching. The hour or so on stage flew by, and I reckon we could have happily carried on for hours after.

But we didn't. Instead K and I made a sharp exit, and headed off to grab some snacks, curl up in front of the X Factor final, and be shocked at Rhydian being robbed. But overall, a great day - God was blessed, and man had some good times in the process. Job's a good 'un. And we'll return to the elaborate plan later...