17 December 2011 salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

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War CryEst 1879 No 7044THE

FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULS20p/25c

KEEP DANCING!

IS IT TIME TO MAKE A MOVE?

THEY’VE waltzed, jived and quick-stepped their way into the final. Tonight Waterloo Road’s Chelsee Healey, Neighbours legend Jason Donovan and McFly drummer Harry Judd hope to set the Blackpool Tower Ballroom alight.

– page 3

SOME 400 parliamentarians, staff and visitors gathered in the historic Westminster Hall for the annual par-liamentary Christmas carol service led by The Salvation Army.

The movement’s International Staff Band played a selection of festive music and accompanied the singing of carols, including ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Once, in Royal David’s City’.

John Bercow, the Speaker, who hosted the service, described it as a ‘very precious fixture in the parlia-mentary calendar’. Later, he told The War Cry why he believes the carol service is important: ‘It reminds us that, in addition to being a fun time, Christmas has a serious message. It causes us to think of

people who are less fortunate than we are.’

He added: ‘I admire The Salvation Army as an organisation that constantly translates “care” from a word into a deed.’

Other MPs commented on the positive impact of the carol ser-vice. Labour’s Sharon Hodgson spoke of how the half-hour service ‘brings Westminster Hall alive’. Conservative Gary Streeter, who

is chair of the all-party Christians in Parliament, said that ‘it is great to bring God and Christmas right into the heart of Parliament’.

During the service, Commissioner John Matear, the leader of The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland, prayed that government leaders would have wisdom, discernment, courage and direction. He also gave thanks to God for the gift of Jesus.

At the conclusion of the service, the Speaker’s Chaplain, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin pronounced the benediction. Afterwards, she told The War Cry: ‘This service is so popular because anybody and everybody can come to it. People look forward to it. They say that it marks the start of Christmas for them.’

NEWS2 The War Cry 17 December 2011

Parliament steps into Christmas

ALL-PARTY SUPPORT FOR WESTMINSTER CAROL SERVICE

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HEALTHp7

PUZZLESp12

INNER LIFEp13

FOOD FOR THOUGHTp14

RECIPESp15

THIS ISSUE:

Annual subscriptions to The War Cry can be ordered

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UNITING CAMBRIDGEp8

WHEN A LOVED ONE DIES

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The International Staff Band accompanies the singing

17 December 2011 The War Cry 3

BBC

KEEP

So far, the ninth series of Strictly has been full of sur-prises. No one expected to see Russell Grant being fired from a cannon. Or Harry Judd sport-ing some dashing-yet-daring green tights.

Some of the professional dancers have faced the unex-pected too. When Artem Chigvintsev suffered a severe back injury, Brendan Cole had to fill the Russian’s shoes by dancing with Artem’s partner, Holly Valance. Brendan also stepped in to dance with Anita Dobson, after her partner Robin Windsor contracted a foot infection.

The weekly eliminations have also put the public’s head in a spin. With so many skilled celebrity dancers, it has been difficult to predict who would go and who would stay.

Over recent weeks, news-papers have reported that there is no clear win-

ner to this year’s competition. Although this brings an ‘any-thing could happen’ feel to the proceedings, judge Craig Revel Horwood is not convinced it is a positive thing. During one show he said: ‘It’s just boring now. Everyone is good.’

But boredom is not good. And anyone’s daily routine can lack excitement. Some people have a happy fam-ily, buy the latest fashions and enjoy their job but feel that a certain something is missing.

Or perhaps

some feel a bit empty inside because they always struggle to pay the bills. Maybe they miss significant friendships or work. Life is a drag.

Whatever our circumstances, there are times when we can all feel unfulfilled or dissatis-fied with out lot; when what we have (or don’t have) just isn’t enough. We feel discontented. Empty. The spark has gone.

But there are certain steps we can take to overcome such feelings. Each day we can turn to someone who promises to

lead us, whatever comes our way. We can build a relation-ship with Jesus, whose influ-ence and example has the power to change the way we see life.

Jesus said: ‘I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10 Good News Bible).

When we get to know Jesus, life is full – of surprises. He teaches us to trust him in a way that we’ve never trusted anyone before. He shows us how to love others in a way that we never thought possible. With his help, there’s no telling what we might do or become.

We need, though, to let him take the lead and to follow in his footsteps – to live accord-ing to his teaching. It will mean having to submit to him, but getting to know Jesus is definitely a move worth mak-ing.

DANCING!THE competition has been full of twists and turns. Once or twice the celebrities have put their foot in it. But at last the big finish is in sight. The final of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing waltzes onto TV screens tonight (Saturday 17 December).

After weeks of salsas and sambas, the three finalist couples are on their last legs. They have just one more shot at impressing with their fancy footwork. Just one more set of routines to perfect. Once the public has voted, the winning couple will be announced. But who will it be?

Boredom is not good. The daily routine can lack excitement

SURPRISE: Russell Grant is ‘fired’ from a cannon

SMILES: the judges reward a great performance

IS IT TIME TO MAKE A MOVE?asks CLAIRE BRINE

KEEPDANCING!

was taken into intensive care. The pennyfinally dropped. My husband was goingto die.

‘The hardest thing I ever had to dowas to tell my daughters that Daddy wasgoing to die. My eldest, Rachel, didn’t

say anything – she justdrew. Lucy, who wasthree, burst into tears.It was so sad.

‘We all went intoRuss’s room, and Ithanked him for beinga lovely husband.Then Rachel wantedto go home. But shesaid she wanted me –

rather than my friend, Jackie – to takeher. I knew that if I left Russ at that pointI wouldn’t see him alive again. But Ithought of my girls and felt that myplace was with them now. I said good-bye to Russ, and the three of us walkedout.’

Russ died a few hours later. He was38. Judy felt that she was in a baddream. She kept thinking that he wouldcome back.

‘I arranged the funeral but really Iwas just going through the motions,’ shesays. ‘Looking after the girls kept mebusy. Sometimes they sobbed so deeplyfor their daddy. That was hard, because Iwas so tired and vulnerable myself.

‘During the times when Lucy was atnursery, I cried and cried. But I tried notto shut myself away in the house either. Iwanted life to get better. I took the girlsto parties and to see their friends. I keptgoing to church.’

Time passed, and Judy began to cometo terms with Russ’s death. She is quickto point out that it wasn’t easy, but shewas greatly helped by her faith in God.

‘Because God lives, I can face thefuture,’ she says. ‘Without him, I wouldnot have coped with my situation.Today, as I face the challenge of bring-ing up two teenage daughters, I know Ican trust him.’

aged five and three. ‘Russ had been suffering with

headaches, so he went to see thedoctor and was sent for blood tests,’says Judy, who has written her storyin a book, Lucy’s Rainbow. ‘Thenext day, the doctor came to see us.Immediately, I knew something waswrong.’

The doctor told the couple that Russwas seriously ill and would need to go tohospital the following day to see a con-sultant.

‘That night, Russ and I prayed together, placing the situation into God’shands,’ remembers Judy. ‘I felt that Godwas holding us.

‘At the hospital, the consultant told usthat Russ had leukaemia. We werestunned. Russ had tears in hiseyes and said: “I don’t want thegirls to not have a daddy.” It wasawful.’

But then the consultant started talking to Russ about thepossibility of a bone marrowtransplant. When his brother’sbone marrow proved a goodmatch, Judy felt a glimmer ofhope.

‘We were chuffed. But weknew that the transplant mightonly be a temporary solution.Doctors told us that Russ couldeven end up brain-damagedafter the procedure. There wasalso a 50 per cent chance that hewould develop another cancer.

‘I cried on the inside,’ saysJudy. ‘I couldn’t take it in. Icoped by focusing on the girls. Iremember going to the schoolfête, thinking: “I’m at theschool, Lucy’s riding a ponyand Russ has got leukaemia.” Iwas tired but got on with dailylife.’

When Russ had his transplant, the whole familyrelocated from their home in

Cheltenham to Bristol. They stayed in aflat near the hospital for ten weeks.‘There were complications with thetreatment, and Russ became fearful,’says Judy. ‘But when I visited him after-wards, he told me that he had a visionand had seen Jesus. He said he felt anoverwhelming peace.’

Eventually, the family returned hometo Cheltenham and Russ was an outpa-tient. But two days later, he took a turnfor the worse.

‘I took him some breakfast and alsogave him a whistle, just in case he needed to call me. Fifteen minutes later,he blew it and told me he wasn’t feelingtoo good. I called for an ambulance. Theparamedics took Russ to hospital where,slipping in and out of consciousness, he

The War Cry 17 December 20114

I lost my husband but found FOR seven years, Russ and Judy

Hopkins experienced marital bliss.Life as a family with young daughtersRachel and Lucy was good. But on oneday in June 2000, everything changed.Russ discovered that he had leukaemia.Four months later he died, leaving Judy asingle parent caring for their two girls,

The hardest thingI ever had to do wasto tell my daughtersthat Daddy wasgoing to die

JUDY HOPKINS tells Claire Brine howleukaemia changed her family’s life

Judy and Russon theirwedding day

17 December 2011 The War Cry 5

CLAIRE BRINE

hope

THE War Cry has two signed copiesof Lucy’s Rainbow, published byAuthentic, to give away to readerswho can answer the followingquestion:

In the Bible, God sent a rainbow asa sign of hope to which father andhis sons?

Send your answer on a postcard toLucy’s Rainbow Competition, The WarCry, 101 Newington Causeway,London SE1 6BN or email youranswer towarcrycomp@salvationarmy.org.ukwith the subject line ‘Lucy’s RainbowCompetition’. Include your name andaddress in your entry.

Entries must be received byTuesday 3 January. The senders ofthe first two randomly selectedcorrect entries will receive a copy ofthe book. The Editor’s decision isfinal.

Life has changed for Judy sinceRuss’s death. Today, she still misses herhusband, but there is a sense of peace in her grief. In Lucy’s Rainbow sheexplains how she finds hope through thesymbol of a rainbow. She is also keen touse her experience to help others whoare bereaved.

‘I would advise anyone who has lost aloved one not to be afraid of talkingabout the experience or looking at pic-tures of the person who has died,’ saysJudy. ‘I also say to people that theyshouldn’t worry about comparing theirgrief with others’. Everyone copes dif-ferently. I also encourage people tounderstand that it is OK to cry – and tolaugh – after death. The most importantthing in grieving is to be real.’

People shouldn’t worry aboutcomparing their grief with others’

WIN JUDY’SBOOK

THE Archbishop of Canterbury asked readers of Radio Times to consider ways in which they can respond to Jesus at Christmas-time.

In an article entitled ‘What will you do?’, Dr Rowan Williams pointed out that

‘the Jesus we meet in the Bible is somebody who constantly asks awkward questions …rather than giving us a model of perfect behav-iour’. He explained that Jesus claims ‘the right to probe our motives and stretch our minds’.

He went on to write: ‘Christmas tells us two big things. First, what changes things isn’t a formula for getting the right answer, but a will-ingness to stop and let yourself be challenged right to the roots of your being.

‘And second, we can find the courage to let this happen because we are let into the secret that we are in the hands of love – committed, unshakeable love.’

The War Cry 17 December 20116 MEDIA

Comment

MORE clergy than bankers have resigned as a result of the Occupy LSX protest outside London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. Next week, the tented protesters may have to resign themselves to the fact that their high-profile battle against financial injustice could be over by Christmas.

Monday (19 December) is the date set for eviction proceedings to begin in the High Court. The action is being brought by the City of London Corporation on the grounds of trespass and ‘unreasonable obstruction of the highway’. According to the eviction notice, there is a ‘pressing social need’ to remove the tents and other structures.

It is pressing social need that has motivated, driven and sustained this protest. Back in October, one Occupy activist told The War Cry that ‘there are systemic problems in the world’s economy and democracies. There are vast inequalities that are at the root of a lot of social ills.’

Six weeks is a long time in politics. They have been weeks dominated by sovereign debt crises in Greece, Italy and Spain. The euro has been brought to the very edge of collapse. British public sector workers have taken to the streets. There has been debate about the morality of Britain’s bankers pocketing their seasonal bonuses while the rest of the country is tightening its belt.

Last week, a leading economic forum confirmed – vindicated, even – the message of Occupy. Britain has the fastest-growing income gap between rich and poor. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in the 1980s the wealthiest tenth of society earned eight times as much as the poorest. Today it earns 12 times more.

The Bible’s economic forecast is clear: we reap what we sow. Inequality yields its own returns – social unrest and personal misery. How long can a country afford to write off the physical, social and material needs of its have-nots?

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A SALVATION Army member who helps the community and cares for her own family members with health problems won a 4Children and Take a Break Family Heroes Award.

Joanne Clark received the regional award for Yorkshire and the Humber at a ceremony in London, hosted by TV personality Arlene Phillips and DJ Neil Fox.

The awards were set up by charity 4Children and Take a Break magazine to find selfless people who make life better for others.

Joanne helps to run the Salvation Army church at Dinnington. With her husband, Les, she organises a youth club, takes food to families on low incomes or suffering addiction

problems and helps to run the over-60 club. Joanne also looks after her severely disabled adopted sister as well as her children, Zac, who has dyspraxia, and Danielle, who was born prematurely and has problems as a result.

Joanne is a Family Hero

Archbishop poses Christmas question

MARY and Joseph were asylum seekers ‘fleeing oppression and lacking proper healthcare as Jesus was born’, says a university lecturer who was reported in The Daily

Telegraph.The paper ran the story

of Dr Stephen Holmes of St Andrews University,

who believes that the birth of Jesus was ‘a political event’ so today’s ‘celebrations of Christmas should therefore be political also’.

Dr Holmes wrote a report in which he commented that ‘the number of political themes in the nativity story is “striking”’. In it he made references to the governmental census (which prompted Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem) and he described the couple as asylum seekers when they fled to Egypt.

Elizabeth Hunter from religious think-tank Theos said: ‘Christmas is a time for family and for generosity. But it should also be a moment when we attend to a message of justice and freedom for all.’

Mary and Joseph ‘were asylum seekers’

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HEALTH 717 December 2011 The War Cry

Avoid suffering festive stress

CHRISTMAS is about a week away, and the lead-up to the big day is often overshadowed by stress. The pressure of shopping for presents, buying food and meeting social demands can take its toll. It can lead to anxiety, lack of sleep, headaches, loss of appetite and even poor concentration, all which are symptoms of stress. If chronic stress is not managed well, it can contribute to heart disease, stroke and cancer, so it’s important to take steps to control it.

Beat frustrating queues by shopping on the internet. Doing so will also save time and travelling expenses.

If going to the shops is necessary, don’t spread the stress. Tackle the shopping all at once. Prepare a list and set aside the time to get all the gifts in one day.

As money can be a major concern over Christmas, set a budget in advance and try to stick to it. This will help to reduce anxiety over nightmare credit card bills. Compare prices on the internet to get the cheapest deal. Such information can also be printed off and used to negotiate in store.

Children can be quite demanding, and at Christmas this may be more obvi-ous. Keep them occupied by getting them to lend a hand with baking, cre-ating Christmas decorations, party hats and name places or writing a quiz for Christmas Day.

Christmas is often associated with over-eating, so regular exercise may help relieve stress. It will increase energy levels, boost confidence and self-image and stimulate the release of the ‘happy hormones’ – endorphins.

Try to take some ‘me’ time to relax and do something you enjoy.

toothache. It is also suitable for children.

Teething gel: used for mouth ulcers and infants’ teething pain.

Cough medicine: an expectorant cough medicine can be used to relieve a chesty cough, while a dry tickly cough may be helped by a dry-cough mixture.

Rehydration solution: used to replace body

fluids lost through severe diarrhoea or vomiting.

Indigestion remedy: it comes in several forms including tablets, liquid and chewable sweets. It also relieves heartburn.

Antiseptic cream: used on cuts and grazes after cleaning.

Calamine lotion: used to relieve the irritations caused by sunburn and rashes.

Sticking plasters: protect open wounds and minor grazes.

Miscellaneous bandages, tweezers, thermometer and scissors.

SORE throats, indigestion and stomach-aches. At this time of year, these are

not uncommon. Every home should have a medicine chest, so that minor illnesses and injuries can be treated without having to visit the doctor.

Most items recommended for the family medicine chest can be bought for a suitable price at a pharmacy. Be sure to check that none of the items kept in a cabinet is out of date. Remember, too, to keep all medicines

out of reach of children. Consider keeping some

basics in your cabinet.

Aspirin: used to relieve pain and fever. Soluble aspirin can also be gargled to help with sore throats.

Paracetamol: helps to relieve fever, pain and

Keep a thermometer handy

Be stocking up the medicine cabinet

Library pictures posed by models

ferent perspective on the club and thewider world. As a result of one of hispieces for the programme, a fan askedfor his advice in finding a church toattend.

But a lot of what Stuart does goes onbehind the scenes. ‘I pop into the officesand talk with the staff – especially any-one who is going through a challengingsituation,’ he says.

Later, when he showed me round theAbbey Stadium, Stuart stopped andtalked with everyone he met – volunteerand paid staff behind the scenes in the

received.‘Fortunately for me,

Greg Reid the physio is aChristian, so I couldalways go to him and talkabout how I shouldapproach things. In thoseearly days, I spent timejust getting to know peopleand talking with them.Doors started to open. Iwas given staff access towander round on matchdays and talk to people.

‘At that time there was alot of uncertainty about thefuture and questions about whether theclub could survive.

‘So many people went through theclub that it was hard for me to buildmeaningful relationships. I remembergoing along to meet the new intake of

scholars, the youth play-ers. A few weeks later,the manager and thecoach who were runningthe scheme were gone,and the scheme felldown because there wasno one else to step in.Within a matter of weeksof me beginning, the

club secretary who helped to bring mein had gone to Blackburn.’

But gradually Stuart found his feet.He does the match-day announcements.He writes programme notes, throughwhich he hopes to give supporters a dif-

The War Cry 17 December 20118

Turn to page 10

Chaplainpitches

AT any level of football, it’sall about taking your

chances. For the past six years,Stuart Wood has been chaplain ofCambridge United. His debut sea-son at the Abbey Stadium was theclub’s first after being relegatedfrom the Football League, and hehas been an ever-present amongmany changes. Players and back-room staff come and go, but Stuarttries to make himself available toany of them – as well as fans – whocould do with support.

Stuart’s road to the Abbey Stadium beganwith a coach journey. One day in 1996, having taken up a post as a church youth-worker in Cambridge, he was travelling backfrom London. He was praying about the cityand found himself writing down the words‘chaplain – Cambridge United’ on a piece ofpaper.

He was not sure what the idea would entail, sohe put it on hold. Nine years later, after beingordained, he became a part-time minister atBarnwell Baptist Church, in an area of the citywith links to the football club.

Sitting in his church, Stuart explains that whenhe started talking to people connected with thechurch, ‘the penny dropped’. He approached theclub and was appointed chaplain.

He arrived at a difficult time. Cambridge werekicking off life as a non-league side in theConference, where they remain – although theyare presently in the right half of the table for apromotion push.

‘The club had just come out of administration,so there was a huge turnover of players comingthrough on trial,’ Stuart explains. ‘Six weeksbefore the start of the season, they had only fouror five players signed to the club. I was new tooand was very green – I didn’t have any experienceof chaplaincy, and I didn’t know how I would be

When Istarted, theclub had justcome out ofadministration

in

Stuart chats withgroundsman MickBrown

9P

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STUART WOODtells Philip Halcrowabout supporting theplayers, backroomstaff and fans of non-leagueCambridge United

17 December 2011 The War Cry

weeks the player will be out of action.But then their concentration probablyreturns to the game and the players onthe pitch.

Stuart, however, lets his mind wanderfrom the game.

‘It isn’t something I have been askedto do, but when one of the players getsstretchered off, I go down to the medicalroom. I started by doing it for our ownplayers, but now I also do the same forthe opposition.

‘In the immediate aftermath of aninjury, a player might start thinkingabout what it is going to mean for hiscareer. If he has a contract coming upfor renewal, getting an injury can makehim feel vulnerable.

‘If you are an oppo-sition player, you mightnot have your familyand friends at theground – the physiowill leave you with theCambridge club doctorbut then will go back tothe pitch. So you mightbe there with a doctoryou don’t know or onyour own, wonderingwhat might happen toyour career.

‘If you are aCambridge player,your family and friendsmight be there, but itcan be an unpleasantexperience for them. Amother might just wantto give her son a hugbut can’t, because he isbusy being stitched up.

‘So I go to the med-ical room just to bewith the players andhelp in any way I can. I talk with them or I get

to bring a tribute on behalf of the club at his service.’

Stuart has also helped to establish abook of remembrance and a memorialgarden for people connectedwith the club. He believeshis role is to help in anyway he can. At a club thesize of Cambridge United,that means getting stuckinto some less predictableactivities.

‘A few years ago, therewere some pigeons nest-ing in the main stand.They were flying round and their droppings were landing on seats. So I got a team of young people togetherand we went in and cleaned the seats.

I’ve also washed advertising hoardingsand got in a group of young people to weed and pick up leaves.

‘There are onlytwo staff who lookafter the facilities, andthe rest are volun-teers. Doing someweeding shows con-cern for them.’

Stuart also showsconcern for players.When a player isinjured during a

match, supporters might applaud themas they limp off or are stretchered fromthe pitch. They might worry how seriousthe injury is and wonder how many

The War Cry 17 December 201110

From page 8

A corner of theAbbey Stadium isset aside as amemorial garden

Stuart talks withyouth playersTaylor Parr andLewis Smith

offices, the groundsman keeping the pitch in top condi-tion, two scholars in the room where kit is laundered.

He aims to build relationships with people and is readyto be with them in important moments of life and death.

‘When a dad of one of the directors was ill, I visitedhim in hospital, and when he died I led the funeral service,’ says Stuart. ‘Then there was a lifelong fan whohad a brain haemorrhage. I visited him in hospital, and a couple of days after he died his daughters asked me

PHILIP HALCROW

I have hadsome goodconversations

1117 December 2011 The War Cry

a phone for them if they want to make acall. If their family is there, I talk withthem, calm them down or get them a cupof tea.

‘I have had some good conversationswith players in thosesituations. One, who isnow playing in theleague, has come to seeme every time he hascome back to the club,because I went to seehim in the medicalroom after he hadinjured his knee.

‘I try to take oppor-tunities to build a relationship with a person even if it is onlyfor a moment.’

Stuart details some of the ins and outsof life at Cambridge United in KeepingFaith in the Team, an account of his expe-riences at the club during the 2010–11season. Players come and go from a club.So do managers. That’s football.

Stuart hopes to have a positiveinfluence, however fleeting a person’stime at the club.

‘I have tried to work on being a goodmodel of what a Christian is – to

challenge the wrongmessages people get sent aboutChristianity,’ he says.‘I try to be accessibleand down to earth. Iknow that I can beonly part of some-one’s journey in life.

‘Probably the deep-est conversation aboutchurch and God I hadwith a player lastedabout half an hour.The player was on

loan to us for a month. He has gone now.I don’t know whether I will see himagain.

‘I feel that I have to take the opportu-nities. I hope people will say it was goodto have met the chaplain.’

� Keeping Faith in the Team by StuartWood is published by Darton,Longman and Todd

When one of the playersgets stretchered off, I go down to the medical room

I have tried towork on being agood model ofwhat a Christian is

12

Fill the grid so that every column,every row and every 3x3 boxcontains the digits 1 to 9

Solution on page 15SUD

OK

U

HONEYCOMB

QUICK CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

ACROSS

1. Spirited (7)

5. Lazy person (5)

7. Shelter (7)

8. Comical (5)

10. Give temporarily (4)

11. Illustrious (8)

13. Complied (6)

14. Full-grown (6)

17. Hugged (8)

19. Slip (4)

21. Whinny (5)

22. Study of rocks (7)

23. Belief (5)

24. Cultured (7)

CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1 Dashing. 5 Idler. 7 Harbour. 8 Funny.10 Lend. 11 Glorious. 13 Obeyed. 14 Mature. 17 Embraced. 19 Skid. 21 Neigh. 22 Geology. 23 Creed. 24 Refined.

DOWN: 2 Strange. 3 Iron. 4 Girdle. 5 Informal. 6 Lingo. 7 Hallowe’en. 9 Yesterday. 12 Detached.15 Unknown. 16 Merger. 18 Bribe. 20 Roof.

QUICK QUIZ

1 Alfred. 2 Minsk. 3 Q and Z. 4 Fusilli. 5 RockyMarciano. 6 China.

HONEYCOMB

1 Kennel. 2 Within. 3 Hearth. 4 Ledger. 5 Ignite. 6 Pencil.

Look up, down,forwards, backwardsand diagonally onthe grid to find these celebrities,hosts and judges on ‘Strictly ComeDancing’ 2011

ALESHA DIXON

ALEX JONES

ANITA DOBSON

AUDLEY HARRISON

BRUCE FORSYTH

BRUNO TONIOLI

CHELSEE HEALEY CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN

CRAIG REVELHORWOOD

DAN LOBB

EDWINA CURRIE

HARRY JUDD

HOLLY VALANCE

JASON DONOVAN

LEN GOODMAN

LULU

NANCY DELL’OLIO

ROBBIE SAVAGE

RORY BREMNER

RUSSELLGRANT

TESS DALY

ZOE BALL

The War Cry 17 December 2011 PUZZLEBREAK

QUICK QUIZ1. In the Batman stories, what was the name of Bruce Wayne’s

butler?

2. What is the capital city of Belarus?

3. In Scrabble which two letters each have a scoring value of10 points?

4. What is the name of spiral-shaped pasta?

5. Who was the only heavyweight champion to finish hisboxing career having won every bout?

6. What is traditionally given for a 20th wedding anniversary?

DOWN

2. Unusual (7)

3. Metal (4)

4. Waist belt (6)

5. Casual (8)

6. Language (5)

7. All Hallows Eve (9)

9. Day before today (9)

12. Separate (8)

15. Anonymous (7)

16. Union (6)

18. Inducement (5)

20. Cover (4)

1. Shelter for a dog

2. Inside

3. Surrounds a fireplace

4. Book of financialaccounts

5. Catch fire

6. Instrument forwriting

Each solution starts onthe coloured cell andreads clockwise roundthe number

WORDSEARCH

COMPETITION WINNERS

THE winners of the competition for the DVD TheWay are O. Dominic of Lowestoft, S. Willcock ofUckfield, N. Henderson of Gravesend, J. Bakerof Farnborough and T. Hawes of Southend-on-Sea.

The saintly title of a Brat Pack film starring EmilioEstevez was St Elmo’s Fire.

O N A V O N O D N O S A J A D S C EN R A N R E B O I Y L A D S S E T NA E B M T U I R O R Y B R E M N E RM O C B E D S R U A L R R N K O N ND O R N O L D S R C E Y A E N J M UO E E O A L K U E U E N O D D X A CO G B X D L N N J L C F O L A E I LG A R I N H A A I Y L A O L E L S CN V U D D D N V D W R G N R S A L HE A N A U D L E Y H A R R I S O N EL S O H T L L B S L E I A A W Y Y SK E T S O L U C V J L U D H N D T UA I O E O I L L A B E O Z U Y T E HO B N L R C H E L S E E H E A L E YE B I A N I T A D O B S O N T L B OD O O W R O H L E V E R G I A R C NE R L J B O A O I U O N U S E O O YN I I S S H B N O E O E E S E U H D

CANON Andrew White is the vicar of St George’s, Baghdad – the only Anglican church in Iraq. In the past year, 2,000 of his congregation have been killed. He has had a price on his head and when he leaves the church compound he travels with 30 armed guards, provided by the Iraqi Government.

He knows what it is to live under an oppressive regime but says: ‘Sometimes God calls you to be where you don’t want to be. He places you and gives you a love for that place and its people. I’ve never been happier anywhere than I am in Baghdad.’

Captains Denesh and Kalpona Biswas are Salvation Army officers working in southwest Bangladesh. After they converted to Christianity from Hinduism, Kalpona was disowned by her family and Denesh lost his job. They work in an extremely poor area and life is not easy for them, but nothing can sway them from their conviction that they are where God wants them to be.

All over the world, Christians are suffering oppression for what they believe. And yet they are still prepared to stand up and be counted for Jesus, in spite of the fact that doing so might lead to persecution or even death.

During Jesus’ ministry, the Jewish nation was living under Roman rule. They longed for a messiah – a saviour – who would free them from oppression and restore their nationhood. But Jesus was not that kind of messiah. He was not a warlord.

However, he did come to bring freedom from oppression. To know Jesus

is to know true freedom – an inner freedom that is independent of circumstances. This freedom comes from the conviction that he promises eternal life to those who believe in him. Liberty comes from knowing that whatever happens in life – or death – Jesus will be with us.

INNER LIFE 1317 December 2011 The War Cry

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MANMISSION

with aAt the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went into the synagogue in Nazareth, as he often did. He was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah’s writings and invited to read to the assembled congregation. What he read described his forthcoming mission so precisely that he said: ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing’ (Luke 4:21 New International Version) In this series, PHILIPPA SMALE looks at how Jesus saw

the work God had given him to do

Grand‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to set the oppressed free’ (Luke 4:18)

Captains Kalpona and Denesh Biswas

designs Canon White welcomes children to church

frme.org

FOOD FOR THOUGHT14 The War Cry 17 December 2011

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Nativity sets the sceneWE have a lovely nativity set that was given to us many years ago. The figures are now a bit chipped, and the stable has lost most of its straw, but every year I place it in a window so that passers-by can see it.

So much of the scene depicted in the nativity stems from tradition rather than the Bible. The Gospels make no mention of a little donkey, for example, but animals are often a feature of the nativity scene. (It is also questionable that a Jewish woman would give birth where animals were present.)

What the Bible does tell us, though, is that Mary and Joseph were travelling to Bethlehem for a census. While they were there, Mary gave birth to a son and named him Jesus. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.

As well as Jesus and his parents, there are also shepherds and wise men in our nativity set. But it is unlikely that the two groups arrived at the manger at the same time. According to Gospel writer Matthew, the wise men did not see a ‘baby’, but a ‘child’, which suggests that Jesus was no longer a newborn by the time of their visit.

Perhaps the Christmas story did not occur exactly as our nativity set displays it, but the image of Jesus in a stable sums Christmas up in a simple way.

Today, many people celebrate Christmas by decorating their homes. But as the years go by, nativity sets seem to feature less prominently. Large, inflatable Santas can be seen on family driveways, and fairy lights create pictures of snowmen and stockings. Jesus, though, seems to be left out in the cold.

Perhaps this year we could set ourselves a simple challenge. Instead of focusing on the glitter and glitz of Christmas, we could ponder a simple nativity scene.

by CATHERINE WYLES

The image of Jesus in a stable sums Christmas up in a simple way

Nativity sets the scene

17 December 2011 The War Cry 15

SUDOKU SOLUTION

WHAT’S COOKING?

Cherry blondiesIngredients:

170g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

150g soft brown sugar 180ml maple syrup 1tsp vanilla paste 2 eggs 180g plain flour, sifted100g French glacé cherries,

roughly chopped

Method:Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/

Gas Mark 5. Grease and line the base of a 20cm square cake tin with baking paper.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan over a very low heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, maple syrup and vanilla

If, after making your Christmas cake, you have any glacé cherries left over, try these recipes from Glacé Cherries Provence

Cherry and almond biscotti

paste. Whisk in the eggs,

one at a time. Add the flour to the pan and beat. (Do not over-beat the mixture as a lumpy batter will result in gooey blondies.) Carefully fold in the glacé cherries.

Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 25–30 minutes. The cake is ready when it is firm to the touch and an inserted skewer comes out almost clean, with just a few crumbs.

Leave the cake to cool before removing from the tin and cutting into squares.

Tip: Add a handful of white chocolate chunks to complement the glacé cherries.

Makes 12–15

Method: Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5. Place

the flour, orange zest, sugar, almonds and glacé cherries in a bowl.

Beat together the eggs and butter, then add to the flour bowl. Mix the ingredients together to form a dough. Turn out onto the surface and cut in half.

Shape each dough half into a log, measuring 24cm long. Space the logs well apart on a greased baking sheet, then flatten each one until it measures 7cm wide. Bake for 20 minutes.

Leave to cool for 20 minutes, then cut each log into 12 slices. Space the slices slightly apart and return to the oven for a further 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 24

Ingredients:

225g self-raising flour Zest of 1 orange 100g golden caster

sugar 75g whole almonds, roughly chopped

75g French glacé cherries 2 eggs 50g slightly

salted butter, melted and cooled

Luke and commemorate the 400th anni-versary of the King James Bible.

Mary and baby Jesus accompany first-class mail, while Joseph and an angel wing their way second class. Jesus in the manger, an angel alerting

shepherds and (at a right royal £1.65) the Magi looking for a new king complete the set.

Stephen Agar from Royal Mail says: ‘Christmas stamps help deliver festive messages of good cheer and celebration across the UK and around the world.’

The festive message of the

Nativity is the best news the world could have. Jesus is God showing us how much he loves us.

God entered the world in a way that humankind could understand and relate to. He came as a fragile, helpless, dependent baby. To an imperfect world, God gave his perfect Son to save us from the deadly consequences of our selfishness and sin.

God coming to earth at Christmas says that our Creator has not abandoned us to sort out the mess we make of life by ourselves. Jesus was born, crucified and raised so that we can be forgiven and put right with God.

When we admit our wrongdoing, put our trust in him and turn from our old way of life, we will know his forgiveness. We will also experience the peace on earth the Christmas angels sang about.

YOUR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY CENTRE

Royal M

ail

FRANKING

writes RENÉE DAVIS

The Salvation Army (United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland) on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army. Printed by Benham Goodhead Print Ltd, Bicester, Oxon. © Linda Bond, General of The Salvation Army, 2011

FOR many people, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. But for postmen and women up and down the UK, it’s also the busiest. According to the Royal Mail, the festive mailbag for 2011 will be bulg-ing with some 2 billion items, and 155 million of them will have been ordered online.

The first set of UK Christmas stamps appeared in 1966. On them were children’s paintings of a king and a snowman. Over the years, the sea-sonal releases – alternately Christian and secular – have proved a big hit with users and collectors. They reflect what people love most about the festive season. Santas, starry nights, seven swans a-swimming and Wallace and Gromit have graced past seasonal offerings.

This year’s stamps, depicting scenes from the Nativity, are inspired by accounts in the Gospels of Matthew and

SENSE

Stamps carry a message