Diary w/e Apr 20

Sun 14 Apr
Adrian led morning worship for the first time and did well. Excellent sermon on cursing the fig tree from Dr Harrison Perkins, assistant minister at London City Presbyterian Church. Our friends, Braithwaites came to worship and to lunch with us. No  detainees turned up for evening service. There are 499 detainees there.

Mon 15th
At home starting to sort caterers for out Golden Wedding celebration - probably a sit down buffet with service for 50 guests. So far 25 acceptances of preliminary invite, 7 declines. So far invited are family and those there 50years ago and four friends of 50 years standing. and our pastor and family. We will fill up the 50 with church friends probably. 8/10 elders at special prayer for the 11th, Chuck, who has struggled with undiagnosed infection since September heart surgery. Elders day of parade and fating for Chuck. I am, to my surprise, getting used to church fasts. 20 hours no problem. No food and only water. Transplanted my first vegetable seedlings. Are they peppers, courgettes, or tomatoes?

Tues 16th
Encouraging early morning prayer at IPC. Five of us praying for well over an hour together.Lunchtime talk by Chris Roberts on Gethsemane. He suffered like us as a man. Our suffering is unlike His with the cup he had to drink. He suffered for us because there was norther way to pay the price for our sins. Excellent. Pastoral visit to my 91 year old, the temperature of whose flat I said was like he native Myanmar.

Wed 17th
I hosted five of us from five different countries at our U3A history group discussing the history of salt and spices. First day of the year warm enough for short sleeves outside. Prepared house group on Amos 1-3:2. Motyer's exposition very helpful. Only three of us met at our's.

Th 18th
Cooked Rogan Josh Chicken for dinner. Planning our Golden Wedding lunch. Tax return completed for my friend

Fri 19th
Good Friday at London City Presbyterian Church (Free Church of Scotland) - combined service with five London International Presbyterian congregations invited too. Afternoon in Postman's Park for after church picnic. Then walking in the City of London from Aldersgate to Fenchurch Street and up to Sky Garden for great  views.

Sat 20th
Breakfast and Bible Study with the two brothers who were on the book table. Good conversations with our Muslim neighbours there about arranging meetings for mutual understanding.