Website: www.woodford-methodist.org eflections OODFORD METHODIST COMMUNITY CHURCH R W PLYMOUTH Winter 2013 Reflections 39

Morning Worship and Children’s Sunday Club - 10.30am every Sunday Come and join us for our enjoyable weekly morning service. For more information, visit our website www.woodford-methodist.org or contact: Paul Tel: 403270 or Sheila Tel: 338517 We look forward to meeting you! Cafe Church in the Hall Fourth Sunday of every month at 4pm followed by Communion in the Church at 6pm Music from local church musicians, creative activities for the youngsters, open discussion for all and plenty of refreshments and cakes. Do come along to this very relaxed form of church. For more information contact Paul Tel: 403270. Editor’s letter... 2

Who would have thought it! The sun is Reflections shining through my window is the newsletter of on a glorious autumn morning and here I am working on this Woodford Methodist Christmas issue. I have, however, Community Church endeavoured to make this one a ‘bit Greenway Avenue festive’ so I hope you find the items Plympton interesting for even our cartoon friends Plymouth are enjoying this joyful season. We also have PL7 4RR the welcome return of Mike Sowden with articles on ‘Mission in the World Minister Church’ and with Operation Christmas Child still in our thoughts I’ve tried Revd. Paul Rees to cultivate a theme to this edition - gifts! - so, being Christmas I’ve Tel: 01752 403270 included an extra supplement. [email protected] On the subject of gifts, on entering my supermarket a couple of months Pastoral Care ago, I was startled by several large displays near the checkouts and exits. Julie Eddleston There, nestled between the bins of fresh Halloween treats, were stacks of Tel:01752 216858 boxed Christmas chocolates and stocking fillers. The Christmas season had begun and it wasn’t even October. Sometimes it seems that the gap Editor between Christmas and the rest of the year is getting shorter. Yet Robert Wallis Christmas is and should be so much more than what we buy. Gifts are Tel: 01752 339593 fun, both to give and receive, but they are only symbolic of a much greater [email protected] gift: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. Sub Editor Wishing you all a Blessed Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Mike Sowden Year. God bless. Tel: 01752 346227 [email protected] Inside this issue... Press Publicity Officer Patrice Ann Davison Paul’s letter 3 Tel: 01752 923314 [email protected] News 4 - 5

IMPORTANT NOTICE Operation Christmas Child 6 - 7 Memories of the 1980s 8 Due to copyright law, if you would like to contribute Reminiscences & reflections 9 an item for Reflections, would you please include which Mission in the World Church 10 publication it came from Mission in the World Church 11 together with the author. Hold the back page 12 Little Miss BOSSY BOOTS

Mum! Guess ...and £3.45 what! We for not carol got £1.25 singing! for carol singing! kindly, serve more willingly, witness more truly and follow

Paul’s letter… 3 Dear friends, Stewards This week as a family we have done the leading up to Christmas thing, we’ve asked our children for their Christmas lists. When they Corner were younger this was a really special time for What is there about Christmas that us as a family and we would put the lists by the hasn't already been said or written? I fire and wait to see if Santa’s elves would take can feel the sinking sensation at the the list away, leaving us in anticipation of Christmas day. prospect of all the preparation and work Inevitably as my kids are good kids then Santa would leave gifts involved in a family Christmas and for them under the tree on Christmas morning. church events. I shall play at "what if" to raise my spirits The thing is what I’ve come to realise is that we are pressured and spur myself into action! into being good and how we do Christmas morning is based on WHAT IF:---- how good we are. This pressure is again transferred to the Our Lord Jesus Christ had never been parents and families this Christmas who undoubtedly have a born? wonderful Christmas but be left in debt and deflated when the I had no faith or belief in anything? last shiny thing has been taken down after Christmas. In Britain I had no family or friends? at the moment we are going through what they call a financial No one speaks to me for days on end? crisis and there seems to be no end as yet in sight. More and I had no reason to try to celebrate even more people in debt, more and more families relying on charity on a commercial level? to feed their kids and more and more people getting more and I had no hope or reason to live? more disillusioned with what Christmas is all about. My health is poor but I have no one to care for me? The reality of Christmas is that the greatest gift that we have is SUDDENLY---- our relationship with God. It doesn’t cost anything and your don’t My faith and belief in the Lord Jesus, my have to live in anticipation of getting it, we don’t even have to put church, my family and my friends have it on our list, we just need to accept it. Accept that Jesus came made me realise how much Our Lord into the world, lived, died and was resurrected so that you and I has done for me, and will continue to do can have a relationship with God. The thing is once you accept so. this gift it won’t be like all the other gifts. You won’t be in debt for I must stop complaining, stop resenting it, you won’t even have to pay for it and best of all you will the work involved in celebrating remember that you received it this time next year. Christmas. Thank you Lord, for my family, my As a Church we live to be in relationship with God through Jesus church life and the continued blessings Christ and as a result of that we want to wish all of our of the Lord. community a blessed and gift filled Christmas. GOD BLESS US EVERYONE! All my love,

Paul

WOODFORD METHODIST Miss COMMUNITY CHURCH SAYA Our facilities are available for letting PRAYER We have a large hall and stage, well equipped kitchen, lounge, a small car Thank park and all the facilities necessary for you for children’s parties,meetings, table top sales families and fairs and is disability compliant. To look around or for further details of price and availability, phone John Shinner on 01752 339435 News ... 4

ACTION FOR Have you Heard... CHILDREN O That all our ministers have a day This year, 2013, has been a good year off. Paul’s day is FRIDAY. We for fundraising. Thank you Woodford are greatly blessed to have Paul and his wife Amanda so would for all your support. you please respect their time and only contact him in an emergency. For general matters please Concert at Central Hall contact your pastoral leader. On 27 April the Plymouth Youth Concert Band, Montpelier School Thank you. Choirs and Pan Band Club gave us a wonderful concert. The profit for the evening was £1,166! That, our dear friend May Ashford has recently celebrated her 90th SPONSORED EVENTS birthday! We hope you had a very Step Out for Children on 8 June produced a total of £1,561. Our happy birthday and enjoyed a contributuion was £67.00 wonderful day.

Leap of Faith at Kartworld on 13 July. Our minister Paul, Marion That, earlier this year, on 3rd Metters and Peter, the District Chair, were among others who made October, our dear friends Pearl the leap down the second longest zip wire in the UK - all very scary and Roy Wallace celebrated their and exciting! We raised £249 toward the grand total of £2,500. Diamond Wedding Anniversary! It Thank you Paul and Marion! can never be too late however, to say congratulations. They first Harewood House Coffee Morning during the week beginning met one Sunday afternoon when 23 September. Our day raised £139.69 toward a grand total of Roy, who had just finished two £708.00. Thank you for all your help and contributions. years national service was walking along Plymouth Hoe. It FUTURE EVENTS was love at first sight. They first By the time this goes to print, these three events will probably be moved to Woodford in 1957 and completed. Splash Out for Children at Saltash Pool and Santa Pearl is a member of the Pins and Abseil at Princesshay Shopping Centre, Exeter, both taking part on Needles group while Roy sang for 30 November and Santa Zip Wire at the Eden Project on Saturday for many years with the Devonport 7th December. Apollo and Burraton Male Voice Choir. Bible Society - Plympton Action Group The most recent fundraiser was our Autumn Event. A Cambodian About the little boy I saw at the Day led by our local representative, Revd Terry Brighton, and held at doctors with an enormous Ridgeway Church on Saturday 5 October. Cambodian friends bandage over his finger. “What Boran, Sadin and their two nieces cooked delicious food for us. A have you been doing to yourself?” beautiful display was provided by a friend who has worked in I enquired. Obviously in some Cambodia. The small number of people who attended thoroughly discomfort he replied, “I scratched enjoyed the day,and we raised £72.00 toward the work of the Bible my finger on a rusty nail and now Society. We look forward to your valued support for our events its gone all festive!” during 2014.

or F unto us a child is born unto us a son is given. News... 5

ON SCREEN THETHE BIBLE on screen

That ‘THE BIBLE’ the acclaimed mini-series telling the major stories from the scriptures is breathtaking in scope and scale. Powerful performances, exotic locations, action-packed re-enactments and state-of-the-art CGI bring to life miracles, iconic characters and tales of faith and courage from Genesis through to Revelation and features some of the most famous stories ever told, reworked for a new generation.

Already a ratings blockbuster in the USA – over 13 million people tuned in to the first episode – The Bible also became the fastest selling TV show on DVD since 2008.

The Bible starts on Saturday 30th November at 9pm on Channel 5. If you've missed the first episode see it on ITV Player.

Community Coffee Morning

First Thursday of each month Starts again next year on 6 February, 2014 Coffee and home made cake for just £1.00 ALL WELCOME

Christmas Services in December

16 - Woodford Wives at 7.30pm 17 - Women’s Fellowship at 2.30pm 22 - Carol Service at 4.00pm Christmas Eve - Midnight Communion starting at 11.30pm Operation Christmas Child All you need is… Love - the journey of a shoebox

PREPARATION PACKING COLLECTION You and millions of other people across the world engage Choosing a gift for a boy or girl. Boxes are taken from Drop Off Points to in this fun activity! Processing Centres

SHIPPING PROCESSING DISTRIBUTION Hundreds of trucks/lorries and sea At Processing Centres, each shoebox This is when your shoebox gets into the hands of a child! containers transport your boxes is checked by volunteers

thousands of people wrap and pack shoeboxes so that we beginning of Operation Christmas Child, in Wrexham, 23 churches to proclaim and demonstrate the love of God Why I do Operation Christmas Child... can deliver them to children who may otherwise never years ago. These boxes have been donated by kind- amongst communities in need in 18 countries across receive a gift. hearted people in different countries. Last year, over 150 Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We know that every shoebox you send brings joy, hope boxes of presents were donated by Woodford. This year and smiles to a child whose life has been haunted by Operation Christmas Child is a global children’s project of the number rose toover 200 which included donations from Our presents were blessed by our minister Paul before poverty, disaster, disease or war. What is more, every Samaritan’s Purse that uses simple gift-filled shoe boxes other organisations. going on their way to Samaritan’s Purse for distribution. shoebox gift that is freely given to a child overseas is a containing school supplies, toys, hats, gloves, and toiletries Imagine the wonder of every child as they receive their symbol of the true meaning of Christmas, of God's to let hurting children know God loves them and they are Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts are collected in box, maybe the only present they have ever had. unconditional gift to mankind, the birth of His son Jesus not forgotten. An amazing 100 million shoeboxes have the UK, United States, Canada, Australia, Austria, Finland, Christ. Each year in the UK alone, hundreds and been received by children across the world since the Germany, New Zealand and Spain. It works through local Memories of the 1980s by Rob Wallis 8

True romance may not have worked for Charles and Diana or Andrew and Fergie, but their weddings were just two of the highlights of the 1980s. Another for a different reason was the threat of a new disease identified in 1981 - the AIDS virus. I suppose being a Beatle fan the news item I remember most was the the murder of John Lennon in New York City on 8 December 1980.

The eighties were dominated by the Conservative government. These were turbulent times and many state owned industries were privatised. We had the miners strike, and a string of disasters. The Bradford Stadium fire, the Hillsborough football crush, the wreck of the Herald of Free Enterprise at Zeebrugge and the Pan AM crash at Lockerbie, but on the world stage the good news was that the Berlin Wall which stood for 40 years was demolished. In 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands and Britain went to war. They were liberated twelve weeks later. In 1986 the space shuttle ‘Challenger’ exploded on take-off killing all seven crew members.

The power of pop music made itself heard when Britain’s top rock The cool dude of the eighties would stars joined together to form ‘Band Aid’ producing the single ‘Do make his presence felt by lugging They Know It’s Christmas?’ The Boomtown Rats singer, Bob around on his shoulders the gehtto Geldof organised ‘Live Aid’- and £50 million was raised to help blaster radio blaring out heavy metal famine relief in Africa. In 1986, and inspired by Live Aid, Comic music such as Iron Maiden while the Relief and Red Nose Day started and in the same year BBCs music of more dance ‘Children In Need’ which began in 1980 adopted Pudsy Bear as tunes came from its logo. Another phenomenon was Michael Jackson's album Wham, Eurythmics, ‘Thriller’ which sold 48 million copies worldwide. Adam Ant and Sting. In the cinema ET:The Extra Terrestrial was the box office success of the decade and among the other most watched films were Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Star Wars sequels -The Empire Do you remember:.. Rubic’s Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, Back to the Future, Cube, the first clunky mobile Batman, Flash Gordon, Chariots of Fire and Ghandi. phone and the start of the On TV American soaps dominated with Dallas. At the time it was Internet. Teenage Ninja Turtles, the most popular TV series in the world. Other imports were Pacman and the Sega Megadrive, Dynasty, The Dukes of Hazard, Cagney and Lacey and The Six Commodore Computers, Atari ST, the Million Dollar Man. start of the Iran - Iraq war, the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl USSR, the Alternative comedy began on British TV with The Young Ones, Return of Haley's Comet and students and carried on with French and Saunders, Hi-de-Hi, ‘Allo ‘Allo, protest on Tienanmen Square, Beijing, and Blackadder and do you remember the ITV show 3-2-1 with China. Dusty bin! Reminiscences and reflections.. 9

By Rob Wallis

rom the point of view of the Christian faith, Advent starts 4 Sundays before Christmas. It was probably the FGerman Protestants or Lutherans who invented the idea of the advent calendar as running from December 1st to 25th. As a child, Gerhard Lang's mother had made him a advent calendar so that he could count down the days until Christmas. She placed 24 sweets onto a piece of card and each day the young Gerhard would take and eat a sweet. When he grew up Gerhard Lang made the first printed advent calendar in 1908.

By the end of the 1950s, chocolate advent calendars had appeared, and by the following decade they had become widespread. People still make or buy advent calendars nowadays, with hundreds of different varieties appearing across the globe. Today, the most typical advent calendar is printed on cardboard with twenty four small doors. These calendars have many themes from religious ones with nativity scenes, to winter wonderland and children’s favourite characters. A Father Christmas stocking advent calendar offers a different idea. The stocking has an ornament inside which you hang on the tree on each day of advent the last one being Christmas Eve.

Every good and Perfect Gift is from above. “I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Mike Sowden Children praying for a better future

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of of heaven belongs.” Yet many churches still wrestle with how to embrace and engage children in Sunday worship. The Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) is mindful that the care and nurture of children is an important part of holistic growth in the Church and is seeking to ensure that children are at the centre of transformation.

Victoria Sikhakane is the MCSA’s childcare coordinator, covering Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa, responsible for developing and implementing childcare policies for the Church. “Many of our societies are increasingly becoming aware of the need to embrace children as part of worship,” Victoria says. “There’s is a young man in our church who was a Sunday school child, and is now a youth member leading a Sunday school class. In 2012 he mentored young boys who were part of the confirmation class. Childcare does ensure a continuum of spiritual growth and development of character.” Victoria believes that children can lead their parents to faith through their enthusiasm for Church. “In many local communities the Church is there to serve not only those who call themselves Methodist, but all who seek a place to worship, or spiritual nourishment, acceptance and fellowship,” she says. “This is even more so with children who attend church with their friends regardless of whether their parents are associated with a church or not. Some of these children end up making the church their permanent spiritual home and sometimes their parents become members of the same church.

This article is reproduced with the kind permission from Mission Maters She opens her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy Our mission partner Sarah Wright is a member of two women’s groups. One of these is connected to the Nepali Church she attends each week; the other is an ecumenical Christian women’s group

In the ecumenical group there is a Sri Jana, who helps in through difficult circumstances. strong emphasis on encouraging coordinating the ecumenical Sarah is working with other members to lead the group group, has recently been women in the group to collect themselves. This has been a appointed as a pastor in her those stories together into a challenge as many have little or no church. Sri Jana says she thinks book so they can be published. literacy skills and no experience in there are perhaps only about ten They hope to inspire others with leading. Helping the women other women pastors in Nepal. It the hope and blessing that these progress has involved helping them is good to see that the Church in stories offer. develop both skills and confidence. Nepal is recognising women’s It has been wonderful to uncover leadership gifts in what has Visiting Methodist Church some natural leaders who had traditionally been a patriarchal House in London, Sarah gave previously been sitting quietly and society. us insight into the way they seen encouraging them to take their God change people’s hearts to newfound skills and confidence Within the group there are some enable them to leave behind back to their churches to use them women with amazing testimonies unjust cultural practices. She there. of God’s work in their lives shares Maya’s story:

“ “

This article is reproduced with the kind permission from Mission Maters Hold the back page... 12

Christmas?

(1845 – 1905) 1. How many angels spoke to the shepherds? Christian Philanthropist a. 2; b. a multitude; c. 1 2. When Mary was found to be with child, she and Dr Thomas Barnardo was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1845. He Joseph were: was brought up by his half-sister Sophie because his mother a. married; b. companions; c. engaged was too weak When he was 16 years old he got the job of a 3. A manger is: wine merchant and as a 17 year old he was a travelling a. a feeding trough; b. a barn; c .a stable preacher. He came to London from Ireland in 1866 intending 4. What is meant by "Heavenly Host"? to travel to China to be a missionary. However, in the capital a. an arch angel; b. greeting angels; he found the streets of the East End swarming with children - c. an army of angels; d. an angelic choir dirty, ragged, hungry and neglected. Longing to do something 5. What is the most accurate definition for "Magi"? for them he hired a stable and opened a "ragged school". One a. Magicians; b. Wise Men; c. Astrologers cold, wintry night a small boy, aged about ten, clad in rags, d. Eastern Kings begged to be allowed to sleep in the stable. His name, he said, 6. Who told Joseph what to name the baby? was Jim Jarvis, he had no father, no mother, no home, and a. Mary; b. An angel; c. God; d. Wise men there were many others like himself in London. Barnardo took the youngster to his own home and at midnight the two of them went out to track down some of these homeless lads. Answers 1. c; 2. c; 3. a; On the roof of the old rag market Jim revealed to an 4. c; 5. c; 6. b astonished Barnardo eleven boys fast asleep in their concealed hiding place. Later, under Jim's guidance, Barnardo became familiar with a number of other hiding places where homeless boys slept. Revd Charles & Elsie Church In 1873 Dr. Barnardo, as he then was, married Miss Syrie Louise Elmslie and at once extended his work to destitute girls. At Barkingside, Essex, a beautiful village gradually took shape, each ivy-clad cottage housing a family of girls Nativity Play with a "mother" in charge. The number in his care grew until Rehearsal it numbered more than 7,000 boys and girls. Branch homes sprang up and over 3,000 children were boarded out in private homes in country districts. Dr. Barnardo did much to encourage emigration and altogether he settled 10,000 of his young people in Canada.

He then founded the first of many homes where street children could sleep the night. From then on the workload of his humanitarian venture steadily increased until, at the time of his death, his charity was caring for over 8,500 children in 96 homes. In his lifetime Dr Barnardo helped almost 20,000 poor and homeless children. Following his death in London at the age of 60 in 1905 his work continued and to the date “Yes Emilly, it’s a good idea but the nearly 60,000 children have been rescued, trained and placed angels texting the shepherds from your out in life. He is buried in front of Cairns House, Barkingside, East London which is now the head office of the mobile phone wouldn’t have the same children's charity he founded. dramatic effect.” Supplement

Dear friends… A Prayer for Christmas Continuing with the theme of gifts I make no apologies for adding one of my own. After all, what is Christmas without a gift. I’ve also Dear Lord, promised myself to take a little time to reflect on W hat’s it really all about, this “season of celebration”? Jesus - God's gift to us all. To think about the People rushing everywhere, overspending, double- love that lies behind that gift and hopefully every other gift we will receive and to maybe reflect on booking diaries in frantic attempts to meet the some words from Christina Rossetti’s carol: demands of a twenty-first century Christmas. ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ And what about those who find Christmas anything What can I give Him, poor as I am? but joyful – those who have lost loved ones, those If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, who are old and alone and tired and longing for it all If I were a wise man I would do my part, Yet what I can I give Him, give my heart. to be over? What’s it really all about? Lord, in the middle of the busy-ness and bustle, help I hope you to will enjoy this extra present. us to remember that this is nothing new. Jesus came into a world of rush and frenetic activity. He came to a town so busy that there was no room for his family. And help us to remember that you know what it’s like ’m reminded about a story I once heard to have a loved one – your dear Son - away from about a lady who was visiting a friends home at Christmas. Ihouse for a coffee morning during the Lord, still our hearts, and open them to recognise and warm summer months. She had an occasion to get something from her handbag when it receive your great gift to us. was noticed that a small piece of tinsel fell May we make room for Jesus and know the peace and out on to the floor. Her friends remarked that security of his presence this Christmas. it was the wrong time of year for tinsel as Help us to know that this is what it’s really all about. Christmas was still six months away. Her answer was that we decorate with tinsel to In the name of Jesus, Amen. remind ourselves of the peace and goodwill that is preached and spoken about at Source: the Internet Christmas time and carrying it in her handbag was a call to mind that these feelings should not be just for Christmas but all year round. CHRISMAS

Basics(but who knows them?)

Where was Jesus born? The candles act as Who told Mary that she Source: the Internet reminders to would give birth to a (Answers: Christians: son? Bethlehem, An Empty Box Who was Jesus’ The first candle is the An angel, The story goes that some time cousin? candle of 'Hope', so ago, a man punished his 3 year Where did Joseph, John the Baptist, prayers on this day Egypt. old daughter for wasting a roll of Mary and Jesus go to focus on hope. This gold wrapping paper. Money was escape from King candle represents the tight and he became infuriated Herod? 'Patriarchs' such as when the child tried to decorate a ADVENT Abraham and David. box to put under the Christmas A survey found only tree. Nevertheless, the little girl 12 per cent of adults The second candle is brought the gift to her father: an in the UK could CANDLES a symbol of God's empty box. He yelled at her, answer those simple 'Peace'. This candle "Don't you know that when you questions correctly. reminds Christians of give someone a present, there's Theos, the theological the Prophets who supposed to be something inside think-tank which foretold that the it?" The little girl looked up at him commissioned the Messiah would be with tears in her eyes and said, survey, found that born. "Oh, Daddy, it is not empty. I blew middle aged people, kisses into the box. All for you, 55 to 64 years old, During Advent there The third candle are no flowers Daddy." The father was crushed. know the most, with represents 'Love' and He put his arms around his little 18 to 24 years olds decorating the church, stands for John the but it is customary to girl, and begged for her the least. Baptist who baptised forgiveness. have an Advent Jesus. A spokesman said: Crown also known as It is told that the man kept that “No one seriously an Advent Wreath. The fourth candle gold box by his bed for years and thinks that being a These are made from symbolises ‘Joy’ and whenever he was discouraged, he Christian or member a circle of evergreen when this candle is lit would take out an imaginary kiss of the established plants such as holly Christians remember and remember the love of the Church is the same and ivy. This Mary the mother of child who had put it there. In a thing as being British symbolises God with Jesus who was joyful very real sense, each of us as today. But if we are no beginning or end. when the angel humans have been given a gold serious about social The evergreen is a Gabriel told her she container filled with unconditional cohesion, we can’t reminder that God was to have a special love and kisses from our children, afford to ignore the does not change. The baby. friends, family or God. There is no stories that have holly is also a symbol more precious possession anyone bound us together as of the crown of thorns The fifth candle could hold. a culture for 1000 that Jesus wore when reminds Christians of years. Any attempts to he was crucified. Four the birth of Jesus on down-play the candles are fixed Christmas Day. Christmas story in round the circle and order to help social another is placed in cohesion are likely to the middle. A recent be counter- idea is to use four red productive.. candles and one white, red being a colour associated with Christmas. CHRISTMAS KRISS KROSS Fit the listed words into the correct positions in the grid according to their length, which is indicated to help. It’s not so easy as it looks but I’ve given you a start once you get going - Yule love it! (Solution on back page of supplement). 3 letters 5 letters 8 letters Eve Angel Reindeer Fun Choir Ivy Robin 9 letters S Red Candy cane 6 letters Tag Christmas N Tinsel O 4 letters 10 letters W Crib 7 letters Poinsettia M Lantern Pine A Snowman Tree N

’m pleased to present these Christmas thoughts com- posed by our good friend Norman Lewis who pro- Iduced them after humming this well known carol in his greenhouse. This story has been so well chronicled that day – if they do – it would be for all to read – in black and white-- of interest to hear what they think and To me, delivering a babe in a say? Stable, just does not seem right. Birthdays are usually celebrated Harken to the Herald Angels -Listen! So, I put on my thinking cap-- by a party – this one is, too, and Listen! to them sing - viewed this with an open mind as, we all are invited – yes!! both me they tell the story of a new the birth of this child was so and you -- all are invited to God's Babe – born a King, but, not of important to each of us -- to all house, probably not too far away so, Royal blood – they, just come-- Mankind. why not go to celebrate with others -- and go -- forget the likes of enjoy the Christmas carols – join the you and I -- remember, just those The 25th December, then, was congregation whilst they sing and in high places - those they know. not as we know, Christmas Day- pray? You will find a warm This King, was to be Lord of all His birth, made it that, so, why welcome in whatever church you go Races - black through to white-- were the inns all full - was that and, when you leave, there big or small -- whatever, rich or a fact? Was that stable birth will be that special feeling poor and, we know, He would love meant to be – to show the deep inside and, you won't each - He would love them all. world He was one of us – not A2 need to ask the reason for, We are told, he was stable born, King of Royal blood but, just deep inside, you will know. amongst the new mown hay - this like you and me? seems quite unimaginable, compared with today, as the The views I have expressed will Norman Lewis story tells us the inns were be controversial – they are meant full – no room – do you know the to be as I ask the reader to think reason, why? about that special story – seriously. I have tried to view this We take Christmas for granted - most stable in the mind's eye but, enjoy the day but, I wonder how find it so difficult, no matter many folk really think about that how much I try. story -- what really happened on The 1 Corinthians 13 of Christmas If I decorate my house with beautiful bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny baubles,but do not show love to I heard the bells my family, I’m just another decorator. on Christmas Day If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Their old familiar mince pies, roasting a perfect turkey, and lay a carols play, magnificent table, but have no love for my guests, And wild and sweet I am just another cook. The words repeat If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing Of peace on earth, home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not have goodwill to men! compassion in my heart for those in need, I am just another social service; it profits me nothing. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow If I decorate the tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes and attend a myriad of holiday parties but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. LOVE stops the cooking to hug the child. LOVE sets aside the decorating to help one’s wife with the housework. LOVE puts the Christmas present shopping on hold in order to run the elderly neighbour to the doctor. LOVE is kind, though harried and tired. LOVE doesn’t envy another’s home that has more expensive presents, or even co-ordinated Christmas china Solution to and table linen. Christmas crossword LOVE doesn’t yell at the children to get out of the way; but is glad that they are there to be in the way. C R I B A doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in LOVE P O I N S E T T I A return, but rejoices in giving to those who can’t. N R LOVE bears all things, even irritating relatives. It I V Y R E D believes all things, and encourages teenagers to aim C E high for their future. It hopes all things, endures all T A G things, even a spouse who is depressed about their job N prospects. R E I D E E R LOVE never fails other people. V C E Computer games will crash, even cashmere jumpers will C H R I S T A S F wear out, and golf clubs will get lost. But the gift of love will O U endure forever. I L A T E R N Source: the Internet R P N O I G B T I N S E L I L E N