Monday 2nd June 2025
'Around the Coffee Table'
Hi friends, and welcome back to another ‘Around the Coffee Table’. How have your weeks been?! Parents, how are you doing after half-term? Hectic, calm, busy, joyful, stress-inducing? How are you doing?
We had a very good half-term. Kika has been very busy seeing friends and having days out with family. Half term means she wants to dress up as a princess every day. Parents of boys, do you have an equivalent?
I started work on Thursday. I had an induction day and then 2 days learning on the job. Working in a library is so sweet. I’m amazed at how fulfilling it is. There is a lot to learn… libraries are SO much more than just books. They are at the centre of the community and provide a wealth of opportunities for various groups, from Chinese rhyme time to chair yoga. They’ve got it all going on. I get to serve people in this job, which perfectly aligns with what we are called to do as Christians. The other day, I helped an elderly man find contact numbers for his water and gas supplier as he had moved house. Nothing to do with the library, but the library seems to be where people come who need help with various things. It was fulfilling, and he was highly grateful for the help. Working only 18.5 hours a week is also lovely. I don’t feel like I’m neglecting any of the things and tasks I had before the job.
I’m incredibly grateful to God as well that my Thursday mornings have been kept clear. I’ve recently started volunteering at my Church at the parents and toddlers group. We arrive at 8 am and set up our main hall with toys, soft play blocks, books, rugs, and more, socialising with the kids and parents as they arrive at 10. They can go out for snacks, and then we do song and story time, where we get to teach them a little about Jesus. The people who come are not all Christians, so it’s amazing we get to welcome them into our Church and introduce them to Jesus.
I also served at my first Kids Church yesterday! I loved it. I thought I would find it weird not being in the main service and missing the worship and preaching, but I had too much fun with the kids and team to think about it. We’re in the middle of a Fruits of the Spirit series at the moment, and zoomed in on kindness yesterday. The kids’ knowledge of the Bible is truly remarkable, and I felt truly humbled to be with them. I think I’m potentially leading the ‘big kids’ group in a few weeks so that will be a new experience!!
As I begin writing this paragraph, I am sitting in my Church building, having just finished my M&S wrap. Dinner got lost between work and life group today. Oops! I wanted the chicken and bacon caesar wrap, but had to settle for Hoisin duck. I’m finishing it off by indulging in some yum yums and a hot chocolate… I’ll get some veg in me tomorrow!
On that note, here’s a fun game. What do people prefer between those two wraps?
Anyway, I am off as I am leading the life group in session 4 of my 1 Samuel 25 series!! How to manage and deny revenge.
Series 4 begins on Wednesday. ‘Ezra and Nehemiah: From Ruins to Restoration’. I can’t wait!
God bless x
