Gorleston pavilion carols 750A

Full house for Gorleston theatre carol service

Cliff Park Community Church’s annual Carols and Coffee service on December 8 at Gorleston Pavilion theatre proved as popular as ever, with a full house and a generous amount raised for the local Food Bank. Compere Tony Mallion recalls the event.

 
For the second year the service featured the full Orchestrate! Project youth orchestra and Norwich Young Voices choir, both founded and conducted by John Stephens, who is one of the worship leaders at the church. Young people from Kids Church and the Q3 teenagers group also took part in a candle-light procession as the choir and orchestra performed O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Q3 member Alistair Wyllie read the nativity story.
 
Cliff Park’s minister, Rev Mike Simm, gave a talk based around Marmite, which he explained could be compared to some aspects of the Gospel story which people either loved or hated! Church member Tony Wells explained how he had rediscovered his Christian faith after many years and been baptised in the sea last summer. Judy Harvey led the prayers and Tony Mallion hosted the event.
 
The service, for which no charge was made, attracted almost 300 people, many of whom were queuing early to ensure they got a seat.  For the second year the bucket collection went to the Food Bank with a record £916 raised. The young collectors in the foyer were joined by a surprise special guest – Father Christmas.
 
The image above is courtesy of Jamie Wyllie.
 



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk?  

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