I'm sure you are all pleased to know that the church mouse is still alive and kicking. It has been a hard few months with aches and pains of various sorts. I must have eaten some mouldy cheese, so I went to the doctor, but he suggested it was all in my mind! You really can't get a good service out of the NMS (National Mouse Service) these days. However we are all back to normal and so I will try to keep you up to date with all the gossip. As the saying goes "I don't repeat gossip, so listen carefully"

You might just make me out in this picture, hiding beneath the fourth pew from the front.

Isn't our Church beautiful when the sun streams through the windows like this. It really gladdens the heart to come to Church on SUNdays like this.

At the Men's breakfast this month we had a talk from Bob Gilbert. Bob has recently started coming to our Church because he says he is married to our new curate Jane Hodges. Yes, we've all commented on the feminist agenda where the wife now keeps her own name, some excuse about being a professional! But we are assured that they are properly married, but I'm not sure what the two boys are called (apart from Matthew and Thomas).

Anyway, Bob is a good man who cares about the environment. He works for Haringey Council to help them look after the environmental aspects of their work.

He gave a good talk to the Men's breakfast, and then a few weeks later he gave one of the sermons in the "Growing Saints" series (further details below). Perhaps he might help us to become a bit more green. We mouses are doing our bit by tidying up all the left overs dropped in the crypt during refreshments after the service. Keep up the good work Bob, and do make sure you keep that curate under control!

We had an excellent series of sermons around the theme of "Growing Saints".

Dr Mike Sheldon started off wit ha topical review of Euthanasia and the law about assisted suicide.

Bob Gilbert followed talking about our responsibility towards the environment and the dangers of global warming.

The Jim Fitzpatrick was interviewed about his life as a politician and the current issues surrounding MPs.

Finally Alan Green talked about the inter-faith issues in Tower Hamlets, and how we as Christian should respond to local people of other faiths.

An excellent series of topical issues which made us all this. Thanks to Alan and Jenny Sheldon for setting it all up.

This photo of Dr Mike, taken later at Christmas, indiactes what a handsome fellow our web master is. He tells me he is looking for others to help out with the web site. Any offers?

Jenny Sheldon took her husband to Uganda again this year. They have a long lasting interest in the plight of Ugandan orphans and were shocked when visiting a home for disabled children, just how far behind much of Africa is when it comes to caring for the disadvantaged.

They are trying to raise funds to support this work, which receives no state funding, and does not seem to come within the understanding of many Christians there. The mission they go to (Youth With A Mission) is trying very hard to give hundreds of orphans a better future, and they are pleased that many people in the Church here are also concerned.

Our caretaker, Eunice, has had to give up the work and now we have a new caretaker in the form of Alan - as pictured here.

Normally he is a cheerful chappy, and seems to enjoy working with us. As long as he leaves us mouses alone there should be no trouble.

It's quite hard work opening the great big iron gates every day, sweeping out the fags from the porch, clearing up the mess left behind, and generally keeping everything ship-shape. So Alan will have to develop his muscles, and lose his paunch. I'm sure the Boss will chase him around, so welcome Alan!

I was walking through St Paul's Cathedral on Christmas Eve when I saw this familiar figure hurry past (as in picture on the right). I followed her into the vestry and discovered it was none other than our own Reverend Jenny.

She tells me she is on the pastoral team at St Paul's and so takes the midday eucharist once a month or so. It's nice to know that our staff get about a bit. Even the Boss is a prebendary at St Paul's, so he has to preach there from time to time.

It is good to visit our mother Church from time to time, especially when Jenny is on!

Yes, it's that time of year again. Out comes the crib which succeeds in making the sanctuary look a bit like a stable. Just out of this picture is the third shepherd who is wielding a set of bagpipes. No-one has yet been able to explain to me how Scottish shepherds came to be in Israel at that time.

I also noted that Joseph looks as if he intends beating up anyone who seeks to harm the baby Jesus, but the Boss re-assures me that this is just his staff which has broken in half.

Another series of excellent services over the Christmas period, both at All Saints' and St Nicks' - thanks to all the staff for their hard work.

Once again the Church is beautifully decorated for Christmas. The Boss tells me it was done by Marion and Kathy, and he did thank then during the notices today.

We are fortunate to have such a beautiful church. I know I've said that before, but it does need repeating so that we can count our blessings.

So we come to the end of another year. Do please go onto the next blog which begins 2010.

Through all the ups and downs of the "Noughties" I am pleased to report that the Church is still healthy. Yes we have lost a fair number of our old saints - and we do miss them. But there is a small group of the next generation, and we must hand on the mantle to them.

So my new year resolution will be to get other people to do most of the work !! So then us old mouses can take it easy for a bit, put our feet up, raise our glasses and pray the God stays with us through this next decade - as of course he is bound to do, because as He told me - "Despite all your weaknesses, failures and sins I still love you".

Happy new year.