Blue Christmas Service, Pukekohe Anglican Church
This Tuesday, December 19. Blue Christmas services are held in churches around the world to offer a space for people to gather in the lead-up to Christmas. They acknowledge that for some, Christmas can be a sad and difficult time due to losses experienced during the year, or because of grief processes still being worked through. It acknowledges it is painful having people missing from our Christmas celebrations.
We open the invitation to anyone remembering the death of a loved one, or who faces a difficult Christmas season for other reasons such as ill health, redundancy, separations, loneliness and so on.
There will be an opportunity to light candles and to hear words of comfort and reassurance. Please do extend this invitation to anyone you know of who may appreciate it — family, neighbours, work colleagues and so on. Pukekohe Anglican Church is the brick church on the corner of Queen St and Wesley St. All welcome.
Suellen’s sweet Christmas tradition
The festive season is always a great excuse to indulge your sweet tooth, and this time of year poses the perfect opportunity to bring a real showstopper to the Christmas table.
For Suellen’s family, that showstopper is Croquembouche, an impressive tower of cream puffs bound together with spun sugar that is popular at weddings in France and Italy.
What began as a birthday treat at a local French café has become a cherished Christmas tradition for Suellen and her 17-year-old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Sadie. Every year, the trio gather in Suellen’s apartment at William Sanders Village to cook this festive dessert - a holiday highlight they all treasure.
Click read more for the recipe.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!