With a number of regular attendees away because of the Bank Holiday weekend and other commitments, nonetheless over 40 people enjoyed Café Church in the Itchen Abbas Village Hall on Sunday afternoon.   The rain held off for a sufficient period to allow a lively game of football in the garden, alongside equally competitive table tennis games inside, and the crafts table (orchestrated expertly by Verity Greig, as usual) was a very popular destination.   The usual array of delicious savoury and sweet treats, along with Judith Mezger’s signature hot dogs, satisfied appetites while tea, coffee and soft drinks were offered as refreshments (with the attentive Theo Mezger ensuring no one was thirsty even for a moment).  With some core members of the team away, Georgie Walker was extra efficient in the kitchen and, as ever, we were blessed by the contributions of several wonder bakers and sandwich makers!

The highlight of the Café was a superb talk given by Nick Fuggle, which drew on the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace described in Daniel Chapter 3.    Nick spoke of the fourth man with ‘the appearance of a God,’ as perceived by King Nebuchadnezzar, powerfully linking the presence of Jesus then (amidst the three men in such an inferno) with his presence with us today amidst the fiery trials we too can all face.   It was clear from conversations after the talk that Nick’s message was perfectly timed for a number of people present who needed this reassurance as they contend with real challenges in their lives.