Christmas preparations

Press, 20 December 1986, Page 10

Christmas preparations

Preparations for Christmas in Christchurch are in full swing. The annual Y.M.C.A. “Carols by Candlelight” will again be held at 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve on the banks of the Avon, opposite the Central Police Station.

The event is expected to last about an hour, with music to be provided by the Salvation Army Brass Band and readings by well-known people. Tapers and songbooks will be on sale.

Preparations for what is probably the biggest Christmas dinner in New Zealand are being made at the Anglican City Mission.

The dinner is open to

anyone, about 400 people are expected to attend. Dinner will begin at 12.30 p.m. in St John’s Church Hall, Latimer Square. Chicken, turkey, mutton, ham, and vegetables, followed by fruit salad and trifle, will be served. The City Missioner, the Rev. David Morrell, said that after dinner, Father Christmas would arrive with gifts for all. Singalongs, face-painting, a visit by Snazzy the Clown, and other entertainment would follow.

Gifts for people of all ages, were urgently needed as was made up fruit salad and cooked, preferably carved, chicken. The Mission’s shelter

would remain open through the Christmas break, said Mr Morrell. Christmas stress often saw people staying there after domestic problems or festive drinking that had got out of control, he said. Another open dinner is held by the Methodist Central Mission at the Aldersgate hall. It beings at 11 a.m., and takes a similar format to the Anglican mission’s,’ said Rev. John Roberts. About 100 people were normally catered for, many of them were people who lived alone or had been in an institution, he said. Mr Roberts said all the dinner’s needs had been met early in the planning.