The Mousetrap
A Christmas ‘Sideways Look at Life’, the Mousetrap featured in Carols for Christmas at the Congregational Church in Wiveliscombe.
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May you experience God’s peace in your life at this Christmas time and in the New Year.
“We all know about the real Christmas. Don’t we? Mary and Joseph. Away in a manger. Donkey. 3 wise men and the shepherds. Of course you do. You probably even played a shepherd or a wise man when you were 5.
Now you’re older and it’s all Noel Edmunds, booze, bills and unwanted visits to relatives.
This film brings Christmas back to it’s roots. The real Christmas. Where the manger mings, the baby cries and where a star really shone. The Christmas that is for everyone, everywhere.”
Andy Pearce (St Helen’s Bishopsgate, London)
With warnings from Trading Standards about counterfeit goods, Ursula Millar speaks on 10 Radio’s ‘Pause for Thought’ about ‘A Real Flesh and Blood Baby’.
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At this time of the year, Christmas and New Year, trials of any kind, but especially bereavement are poignant. Here then is ‘When Trials Come’ by Keith and Kristyn Getty.
In all the busyness in the countdown to Christmas take time to ‘Pause for Thought’. Listen to this short recording from 10Radio based in Wiveliscombe, Somerset. “How did Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem?”
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There’s camp, instant, freeze-dried, pod, filter, percolated, cafetiere, stove (cooked) and espresso. There is Espresso, single or double, Latte, Mocha and Cappuccino.Oh! If only it were that simple because there is also Affogato, Americano, Black eye, Carajillo, Corretto, Con hielo, Cortado, Cubano, Doppio, Espresso con Panna, Flat white, Iced coffee, Latte Long Black, Caffè Macchiato, Red eye and Ristretto – not to mention the national and regional variations.
There is Fairtrade, Organic as well as Fairtrade and Organic.
Then there are the beans, the blends and the strengths.
Let’s not get too technical. Some people take this coffee stuff too far.
Well! If it is all beginning to sound too much I understand. It is enough to stop you drinking coffee or take the easy option and go for something instant.
After all, this is what many say about ‘Jesus’. It’s all too confusing! There’s Anglican (Church of England), Presbyterian (Church of Scotland), Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, the Salvation Army, Congregational, Church of the Nazarene, Pentecostal, Charismatic, House Church, Brethren – to mention but a few varieties. You just wouldn’t know who or what to believe.
There are liberal, high church, low church, evangelical, reformed, fundamental, hand clapping – all kinds of blends and strengths. It is enough to put anyone off religion. I mean what about the Hindus and the Moslems?
So some people go for the instant variety known as ‘Songs of Praise’. It takes so little effort, you just sit down and press the remote. But then you miss out on the real thing and I am not talking about Christianity. Rather what God wants for you more than anything else is a personal relationship with himself through Jesus Christ.
Begin by reading one of the Gospels (in the Bible) - for example Luke’s Gospel and ask God to make himself known to you. It helps to read a modern translation. He promises that if you seek him you will find him. Or look out for an Alpha Course or Christianity Exlpored Course and go along.
The Bible says, Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)
Oh! For a cup of the real thing!
