Pandemic restrictions may have made it impossible for Derryvolgie Parish to put on its traditional sit-down Christmas lunch in St Columba’s Church in December 2020, but Derryvolgie’s hospitality team, led by Margaret and Lynn Perry, came up with an innovative alternative plan.
Having got together an army of helpers, preparations were soon underway to provide a Takeaway Christmas Lunch. Jobs were allocated and a couple of days were spent in preparing turkeys, hams, potatoes, desserts and all the other trimmings.
It was a great encouragement when the take-up rate of people receiving a lunch was up some 50 per cent on recent years.
The rector, the Rev James Boyd, said: “In the present situation, churches need to be creative in how they set about serving their members. In a very practical way, the Takeaway Lunch illustrated people prepared to use their skills in cooking, packaging and making deliveries, all in aid of a section of our parishioners and the wider community.”
He added that a ‘great sense of camaraderie’ made the Christmas Takeaway the success it was.
You can find out more about St Columba’s Derryvolgie by visiting their website www.derryvolgie.com.