‘EXTRA SPECIAL’ CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 18th 2023
“An unforgettable experience all caught on camera!”
INTRODUCTION
When our Gospel Choir sang at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival we brought the traffic to a standstill and attracted the attention of the local constabulary. In Wellingborough last Thursday morning our Christmas Party similarly attracted so many people that the Finedon Road was itself gridlocked as over 150 revellers dressed appropriately in their sparkle and glitter descended on our Compass Church venue for the most amazing joyous gathering – this time our Community Police friends actually joined in with our dancing!
The attached photographic evidence confirms the sense of fun created by the Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir with a selection of Christmas carols and arrangements which bore all of the hallmarks of Gareth’s unique style.
That we were able to follow the raucous singing with crackers, festive food and drink was in no small part thanks to our eternally impressive band of volunteers who worked tirelessly to build upon Compass Church’s own festive decoration and create tables groaning with cakes, mince pies, sausage rolls and other savouries. Special mention has to go to the inimitable Sheila (“our travel and catering expert”) whose legendary catering was completed before jetting off to South Africa on another of her adventures.
What was even more memorable about the morning was that the joy was all played out in front of both Anglia News and BBC Look East cameras and reporters and subsequently seized upon by Four Counties Radio and Radio Northampton. The end product with cameos from Ruth, Jo, Valda, Sandy and Michael (“It helps me socialise and meet new people that you can call friends”), captured the unique part played by DSO in so many lives. The headlines below say it all:
“The room was like a magical Christmas grotto, there was even more magic than normal!”
“What a team, what a morning! That’s how to bring ‘Joy to the world’.”
“Lost for words. What a fabulous morning. I could see the joy on people’s faces.”
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you on Thursday January 4th