Friday 28 December 2007

Relax - The 'festive season is almost done!

I continue to be amazed by the number of people who don't get the true concept of Christmas, after all the clue is in the name I guess!

This year saw an extremely good turn out for the Christmas services, better than we have seen for some time and that, coupled with a meal we put on for those who were homeless or would otherwise have been on their own, made our celebrations complete.

Watching a short film as a family last night, the characters gathered round the fire to tell the 'Christmas Story' and so it went: "T'was the night before Christmas . . ." Our children looked at each other and the seven year old piped up first with "That's not the Christmas story. it's . .Mary, Joseph . . .bethelehem . . .Donkey .. Jesus . .Angels!" and so on!

The school Christmas plays involved Bossy Fairies, grumpy Sheep, Oliver, The Jolly Christmas Postman and many other main characters beside, all except one!

How sad that we speak of being an inclusive society and demonstrate it by doing Diwali in an area with less than one percent of 'other religions' and yet we don't tolerate the Christian faith in the fear that by doing so will offend! Yet Hindus (that includes Sikhs by the way) and Islamic believers are happy for Christmas to be about Christ.

The truth is that those who would see us leave Christ out of CHRISTmas do so because 'they' want to, niot for any reasons of concern for others. Once again, self and an inability to possess integrity or the courage to stand for themselves means they seek support for the act in a way that removes accountability.

As always, secular society stands on its high moral ground with nothing in terms of integrity or substance to support it. Happy Argos-tide!

Wednesday 9 May 2007

Finally got a blog sorted - of sorts!

Well, after encouraging so many others to get into blogging, here I am myself!

I'm a CofE dog-collar, working in an urban priority Area (UPA) which means that it's not a pretty rural or trendy inner city parish!

80% of the families here are touched by drug related problems. I get to bury 20 year olds who have died from overdoses of various substances and meet so many families damaged by the freedom drugs, sex, alcohol and the like bring.

In all - a very interesting life

Watch this space,

Vic