A home away from home. This is what the Naga Christian Fellowship (NCF), Delhi, has always been to its members, made up mostly of students and people from all over the world. For the hundreds who had to spend Christmas away from home the NCF made everyone feel at home. The spirit of Christmas with its message of love was specially experienced by all who came to the NCF Church, which was packed to capacity that a very large number had to stand outside. The service was a smooth affair and every item in the programme matched the mood and fervour of Christmas, beginning with the first hymn to special numbers, and Pastor Rev. Ricky Medom’s Christmas sermon.

After the service, the area outside the church became a hive of activity, as volunteers got busy setting tables for Christmas lunch. All food dishes were specially prepared and contributed by the NCF members. There was not only delicious Naga food — three types of pork, roasted chicken,  fermented bamboo shoots and beans, spiced vegetables, dal, and macaroni for those that found the other items too strong, but also a pleasant surprise, in the form of Syrian Shawarma (Donner kebab), prepared on the spot by a Damascus family.

There were games for children after lunch, which everyone enjoyed watching. Where normally a report on a Christmas service would end here, this reporter felt that the activities after lunch also merit mention. Post lunch NCF members stayed back to clean up. There was truly a spirit of unity and joy as everyone pitched in to wash and dry up the plates, dishes, spoons and knives, pack them for another round of festivity.

It may have been time to pack up for the day. But for its members, it is never pack-up time at the NCF. NCF meets every Sunday at 10.30 a.m. at Nagaland House, Sector 12, R.K.Puram.

Merry Christmas to all!
    
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