Jesus Had Difficult Days Too...

Nick the Pastor had strung pretty lights from the balcony, and after Wednesday's "Oasis Cafe", folk had helped him move out many of the chairs, and put the tables to the side. On Friday morning I was at the supermarket at 8, buying refreshments, and at church by 9.30 preparing the space. After the dreich drizzly Monday, and the cold fog of Thursday it was good to see bright sunshine again.

I put shiny gold covers on all the tables [then put chairs round them] I stacked the gold boxes along the back wall [and stuck on labels ready for children to write their names]  At the front, the craft materials were sorted and ready to distribute. Foodstuffs in place in the kitchen.
We had a quick sandwich lunch and were at church by 1.10
Altogether there were 13 adults on the team, all present, plus a teenager and 3 children from church families.
We ran through the programme, assigned tasks [welcome, registration, kitchen duties etc] and then Nick prayed for the event, for the team, and the families who would attend.
At 1.55 we opened the doors. Nobody there! Bob and Dan stood outside to welcome people.
Nobody came
By 2.30, nobody had arrived. I tried not to be despondent. "Its the last day of half term and the sun's shining" "People will have gone to the beach" Everybody suggested good reasons why there was nobody there. Nick and Bib were encouraging "Don't be despondent, Ang, Jesus had difficult days too..." Rachel WhatsApped a few mates, whose general response was "Oh we're out because the weather's so good" 
What to do?
I said it would be good to show the PowerPoint I'd prepared [God had a Plan, Jesus came at Christmas, the light of the World" As we got the three church children settled, another family came in, and then another. We watched the PP, and sang the Boing!! song, And began a craft activity. By 3pm we were up to 10 children. And more came - we had 15 in total. 

They clearly enjoyed the crafts, and the Mums chatted away. Yes, we did have to rearrange the programme drastically. Nick did two magic tricks, we had a coffee break at 3, and finished early, as many of the children were preschool and KS1 and had clearly done all they wanted! And we didnt have enough children for the team game. 

We did play the Light Game successfully. This is like the Jelly Bean Game, but instead of acting like a Bean you act like a light [Head Light, Search Light, Traffic Light, Starlight, and Lighthouse] That game went very well.

They were all very proud of their shepherds and spinners. And took unfinished crafts and worksheets home in their boxes.

Everyone helped with clearing up - and we are planning a church lunch today to use up the food [Pizza and Soup]

Yes, it was hard, when there was nobody there at the start. I wanted to get in the car and go home, but I am glad I waited. And we sang The Lighthouse Song [they know that from school assemblies] which is always a great pick me up. 

Jesus is the peace in my troubled sea

Thank you everyone who sent encouraging messages, your words were greatly appreciated