The church hosted a Christmas breakfast yesterday for those who would otherwise be alone on the day.
By 9am, the breakfast hall was filled with laughter, children running around with an unfounded sense of urgency and people tucking into juicy strawberries, all the while church volunteers bustled away in the kitchen.
That was where longtime church member Julie Hamilton could be found.
Although she would never admit it, Mrs Hamilton was instrumental in keeping the breakfast going.
Traditionally, the church would host a big community lunch on Christmas Day, however, because of Covid-19-related concerns it had altered its plans by reserving the breakfast for the most vulnerable people in the community.
Sarah Chalmers, who had helped plan the breakfast, said everyone loved the annual lunch so much that they wanted to keep it going, even if it was a little smaller.
"Christmas can be such a lonely time for people, so the breakfast is a way to create community cheer," Mrs Chalmers said.
Judging by the sounds of popping Christmas crackers and laughing children, the church had certainly succeeded in doing so.
According to Mrs Chalmers, Mrs Hamilton’s waffles were the "stuff of legends" and were cooked up on special occasions such as these.
Despite not being one for the spotlight, Mrs Hamilton was not shy about her waffles, which had all been eaten upon being served.
Her special trick was hidden in a family recipe — and though it was to remain a secret, she was happy to share the magic by whipping some up for everyone to enjoy.
In fact, sharing the love was what Christmas was all about for Mrs Hamilton.
"We wanted everyone to have a fun day, and some people wouldn’t otherwise. We just wanted to give them a highlight in their day," she said
"That’s the real meaning of Christmas. It’s the relationships we keep."
