3 December 2011 Page 8salvationarmy.org.uk/warcry

CLASS ACT

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Fighting hunger and

leprosy

asks CLAIRE BRINE

Turn to page 3

BUT WHO CAN BE TAUGHT A LESSON?

War CryEst 1879 No 7042THE

FIGHTING FOR HEARTS AND SOULS20p/25c

Mr Wormwood (Paul Kaye) provokes his daughter Matilda (Cleo Demetriou)

CLASS ACT

OUT OF THE SLUMS IN INDIA

‘SOMETIMES you have to be a little bit naughty.’ Well, that’s according to Matilda Wormwood, star of Matilda the Musical. Based on the children’s book by Roald Dahl, the toe-tapping show – now capti-vating audiences at London’s Cambridge Theatre – tells the story of a little girl with magical powers.

On the day Matilda is born, her father describes her as an ‘ugly little thing’. Her mother feels that having a daughter has made it the ‘worst day’ of her life. As Matilda grows up, she continues to suffer

PROBLEM gambling is increasing and must be tackled by the Government, church groups told Parliament last week.

The groups, including The Salvation Army, pointed out to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that, according

to the British Gambling Prevalence Survey, the number of problem gamblers in the UK has risen from 284,000 in 2007 to between 360,000 and 450,000 in 2010.

During the latest session of the committee’s inquiry into gambling, Gareth Wallace

of The Salvation Army cited examples of problems caused by fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He quoted the words of a gambler who had told The Salvation Army that he had been dealing with a previous problem until FOBTs ‘came along and changed everything’.

The gambler said that ‘the atmosphere changed in our betting shops when FOBTs came along, and they were turned into mini, soulless casinos’.

The church groups – which also included the Evangelical Alliance and the Methodist Church – say that they are concerned by new research which has shown that gaming machines tend to be clustered in poorer areas.

The groups want the Government to introduce a compulsory levy on the gambling industry to fund education and treatment for problem gambling.

MOCK the Week comedian Milton Jones has provided the narration for an inter-active nativity cartoon on the social networking site Facebook.

The Roll On Christmas animation – produced by Bible Society and Christian online magazine Ship of Fools – enables Facebook users to impose their friends’ faces onto nativ-ity characters, which are designed in the shape of toilet rolls. The charac-ters present a three-minute comedy version of the Christmas story, which users can then email to each other.

‘There’s something about comedy that gets through to people,’ Milton Jones told The War Cry at the launch of the project in London. ‘And by changing the angle of the Nativity, we are hop-ing to encourage people to see some new relevance to a timeless story. I’m not interested in retelling the Christmas story in an old way. I want to shed new light on it. Everyone can understand cartoons.’

The comedian explained why he decided to take part in the project: ‘Christmas means the birth of Jesus. The story has the potential to touch everyone. I’m not interested in getting peo-ple simply to admire a nice baby, or shepherds with tea towels on their heads. But if I can influence people in any way to encounter God, then that’s a good thing.’

Ben Whitehall of Bible Society commented: ‘Part of our mission is to make the Bible accessible within contemporary culture. We were keen to bring a project to light around Christmas

which fits naturally into social media.’

For more information visit rollonchristmas.com

NEWS2 The War Cry 3 December 2011

CHURCHES URGE ACTION ON PROBLEM GAMBLING

MANY people who work for businesses on Alderney will be affected by the Government’s decision to reduce the threshold for VAT-free imports to the UK from the Channel Islands – a decision called ‘great news’ by Church Action on Poverty (‘Tax change pleases poverty campaign’, 19 November).

Businesses, set up in good faith to work within the taxation rules of the UK, have brought much-needed work to the islands. They are able

to employ many low-skilled workers, giving them the opportunity to earn a modest living. The tax regulations

have also meant that they are able to offer low-value goods with a saving because no VAT is charged. I am sure that many low-income families benefit from those lower prices.

Channel Island companies are not ripping off the poor. Poor people will lose jobs, while good-value essentials, gifts and

treats will become less affordable for people in the UK.

What assurances do we have from the Government that the extra income will go to needy people? We know for sure that the tax change will harm low-income families on the islands.John Charlton Alderney

MEDIA/COMMENTp6

GARDENINGp7

PUZZLESp12

INNER LIFEp13

FOOD FOR THOUGHTp14

RECIPESp15

THIS ISSUE:

PLUS

Annual subscriptions

to The War Cry can be ordered online at sp-s.com

HOW ridiculous that some parish councils are insisting carol singers need to apply for a permit, according to The Daily Telegraph. Have the trick-or-treaters got a licence when they frighten and annoy people, especially the elderly!Pat Braddock By email

LETTERS

‘Bookies are becoming mini casinos’

Milton doesn’t mock Christmas

FACEBOOK NATIVITY GOES ONLINE

Alderney challenges tax change

Carol singers can’t have silent nights

NO MUG: Milton Jones (centre) launches Roll on Christmas

NATIVITY RETOLDp4

3 December 2011 The War Cry 3

From page 1

We can sit still and do nothing. Or we can take action to make life better

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verbal abuse from her parents. Mr Wormwood calls his daughter a bore, telling her she should learn to shut her ‘pie hole’.

Fed up with how she is treated, Matilda decides to get her own back on her father by being a little bit naughty. She swaps his hair oil with her mother’s platinum blonde hair dye, leaving him with bright green hair. He’s not happy.

On Matilda’s first day at school she impresses her new teacher, Miss Honey, with an intelligence beyond her years. Matilda likes Miss Honey. But she does not feel the same way about the headmistress, a bully named Miss Trunchbull.

Miss Trunchbull hates children and calls them maggots. Sometimes she punishes them for no good reason by locking them up in a tiny cupboard known by the children as the chokey. She is also horrible to her staff – including Miss Honey.

Miss Trunchbull’s cruel behaviour makes Matilda angry. One day her feelings consume her so much that she starts to possess magical powers. She discovers that she can move objects just by focusing her eyes on them. Once again, Matilda considers being a little bit naughty. Should she use her powers to teach Miss Trunchbull a lesson?

After all, Matilda feels fed up. Her life isn’t fair. But she has known for a long time that her situation will not change unless she does something about it. She sings: ‘Nobody else is going to put it right for me. Nobody but me is going to change my story.’

She is right. On stage and off, the words

are true. Bad situations are difficult to deal with, but people facing them have a choice. They can sit still and

do nothing. Or they can take action to make life better.

When facing life’s ups, downs and mundane bits, it is important to have someone to turn to – for courage, for guid-ance, for understanding. Some people do not know where to find such help. But many find their source of strength in Jesus.

Life may not suddenly become easier through know-ing Jesus, but a relationship with him provides us with a fresh outlook. The way he lived – loving the unloveable and forgiving those who hurt him – shows us that we can do the same. If we want to, we can live by Jesus’ example and become more like him. We can change our story.

Jesus said: ‘Everything is possible for the person who has faith’ (Mark 9:23 Good News Bible).

The love and forgiveness of Jesus is available to everyone. But nobody else can cultivate our relationship with him. We have to get to know him for ourselves. When we believe in him, we can replace our hate with love, our sorrow with joy. Our life can be different.

The choice is ours. Follow Jesus, or not. End of story.

Matilda considers being a little bit naughty

Miss Trunchbull (Bertie Carvel) is a scary headmistress

The pupils from Matilda’s school

The War Cry 3 December 20114

It’s the same

picture book, Song of theStars.

‘When Jesus came to earth, mostof the people were very busybustling around Bethlehem,’ Sallytells The War Cry. ‘Obviously, Maryand Joseph knew that the Son ofGod was about to arrive, but every-one else was too preoccupied tonotice his coming.

‘But I thought: What about God’s creation? Did nature and animals realisethat the one who made them wasabout to break into history, toenter the world he hadmade?’

In Song of theStars Sally cele-

brates that idea. She tells thestory of Christmas from the pointof view of how creation might haveresponded to the birth of Jesus.

‘The Psalms tell us that creationdeclares the glory of God. So I began toimagine the animals and stars sensingand rejoicing in the coming of Christ.’

In Song of the Stars, before Jesus isborn, the birds sing, the lions roar andthe flowers lift their heads. All creationcries out: ‘It’s time! It’s time!’

‘God loves his world. He createdeverything that lives in it,’ says Sally.‘Nature is beautiful and it is telling ussomething about God: he is beautiful,strong and wise. And he made every-thing.

‘When my publishers asked me towrite a story for Christmas, I thought it

would be a chal-lenge because thereare already plenty

of festive books on

‘THE world was about tochange for ever. And it

almost went by unnoticed…’ That ishow children’s author Sally Lloyd-Jones feels when she thinks aboutthe birth of Jesus at Christmas, andthat is how she begins her new

Children’s author SALLY LLOYD-JONES has a Christmasmessage

not

writes Claire Brine

�Song of the Stars ispublished by Zonderkidz

5

The animals make their way to the manger in one of Alison Jay’s illustrations

Zonderkidz

the market. I wondered how I could dosomething new and fresh. How would I catch the reader by surprise? SuddenlyI was a child again in Africa, where Igrew up – surrounded by jungles and acreation that had no argument with itsMaker.’

Sally believes that growing up inAfrica contributed to her lifelong love ofnature. It was also during her childhood,she says, that she became a Christian.She believes that children can grapplewith complicated truths – such as themeaning behind the Christmas story.

‘I think children understand a lotmore than we give them credit for,’ shesays. ‘We do not need to dumb downour stories for them. In fact, we dare not.Children respond to mystery and won-der. When I was a child, I loved the factthat I didn’t understand every singleword I read.’

When asked if she tries to include amoral or lesson in her books, Sally says:‘My only aim in writing a book is to tell

a good story. If you have a lessonthat you are trying to

teach, it may be agood lecture, but itwon’t be a goodstory. In Song of

the Stars I wanted totake a familiar story and

capture the majesty of that firstChristmas. I also wanted to explorewhat it meant when the Creator of theworld came to live on earth as a baby.’

Writing her book prompted Sally toconsider the meaning of Christmas andits impact on the world.

‘Humans have made apretty big mess of the

wonderful world God created, butinstead of giving up on us, God, throughJesus, came to earth to live with us. Godbroke into history. The joy of theChristmas story is that God can’t stoploving us. He will move heaven andearth to be near us. Christmas is the sea-son when we give and receive gifts; butthe greatest gift of all is the baby born in

Did the animals realise that God was about to enter the world he had made?

Bethlehem. The birth of Jesus changeseverything.’

One of Sally’s previous books wasthe award-winning The Jesus StorybookBible, which was produced as an audio-book, narrated by Poirot actor Sir DavidSuchet. She hopes that God will use herwriting to help people.

‘My job is to tell the truth and to tellthe best story that I can,’ she says. ‘IfGod can use my stories to bring joy to achild’s heart – even in the smallest way– then that is a great honour.’

Although Sally enjoys a successfulcareer, there are times when she ques-tions her ability. During those instancesshe takes encouragement from her faith.

‘Occasionally I ask myself: “Am I agood writer?” That’s a mistake. It’s thewrong question, because it puts thefocus on me. The only question I shouldbe asking myself is: “Am I telling agood story?”’

Sally’s next book Just Because You’reMine is about a family of red squirrelsand explores the nature of love. She saysthat the story ‘comes from the well-springs’ of what she believes.

‘God is the centre of my life. Joy,redemption and hope are at the heart ofeverything for me. Whatever I writealways comes from my heart and myhope is that it reaches the hearts of others.’

old story!3 December 2011 The War Cry

The War Cry 3 December 20116 MEDIA

Comment

LOVE it or loathe it, the Christmas shopping season is in full swing. While in recent years online shopping has taken an increasing share of the seasonal cash, millions of people prefer to browse high street shops rather than the internet.

Despite the credit squeeze, shopping malls and precincts are likely to be chock-full of bargain-hunters looking to get the right gift for the right person in time for the big day.

Those who hate being trapped in a bustling crowd shuffling its way along a street or having to inch laboriously towards the checkout either have to bite the bullet or find a smarter way to shop.

The difficulty of access that Christmas shopping often throws up is a pertinent reminder of some of the obstacles that millions of people face every time they go to the shops. Likely to get lost in the gift-grabbing mêlée is the fact that today (3 December) is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Proclaimed by the UN in 1992, the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities. It also highlights the advantages that are gained from integrating people with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

It is tempting to think that such a day has no place in the UK calendar. Over the years, disability discrimination legislation has addressed access issues – to public transport, public buildings and to jobs.

But the bigger battle is an area that legislation cannot change – attitude. Installing a ramp is easier than elevating the status of those with learning difficulties in some ‘normal’ people’s thinking.

On all levels this is wrong. The guy who tidies supermarket trolleys is more than he appears. He may also be a gifted musician who would put our attempts at ivory-tickling to shame. Now who’s disabled?

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Access all areas

NATIVITY – a high-tech work of art created by award-winning director Martha Fiennes – has been installed in London’s Covent Garden, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Visitors to the installation on the piazza can watch the characters from the nativity story move in front of their eyes. The paper explained that human figures ‘are placed in the multilayered canvas of a computer-generated stable and backdrop’.

Fiennes described her work as ‘an image that is alive, that brings together ideas, creativity and technology’.

She also told the paper that she was inspired by the nativity creations of artists from the Renaissance period.

Art puts stable on the piazza

KENNETH BRANAGH listened to recordings of Laurence

Olivier reading the Bible as he prepared to portray the actor in the film My Week with Marilyn, said The Daily Telegraph.

The paper reported that Branagh listened to the Bible recordings in order to emulate Olivier’s way of speaking.

‘His dramatic reading of the Bible was quite the most wonderful

vocal performance,’ he said.

Bell rings off for repairsA CATHEDRAL’S bell has been silenced for the first time in 177 years in order for its springs to be repaired, reported the Daily Mirror.

According to the paper, Lincoln Cathedral’s 17 smaller bells will continue to chime, but Great Tom – which sounds the hour – will take six weeks to fix.

BRIAN D’ARCY reflects on the angel Gabriel’s news to Mary that she is expecting a child in Radio 2’s Sunday Half Hour tomorrow (Sunday 4 December 8.30 pm).

To continue his Advent series, the presenter talks about the world’s hope for peace and harmony. Hymns include ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’.

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Radio announcement

will enable the tree to be transferred to the garden after serving its purpose indoors. You can then reuse it in future years, indoors or out.

While the tree is indoors over Christmas, there are several things that can be done to keep it healthy. Position the tree away from heat sources, such as fires or radiators. Cooler tempera-tures and regular watering of the rootball will reduce the rate at which the needles fall.

If you buy a tree without roots, find out whether your council offers a recycling

service after Christmas to dispose of it.

When you first get a tree with little or no roots, take it home and stand it in a bucket of tepid water. This will temporarily reduce rapid needle drop. In natural surroundings, a 6ft tree can take up to two pints of water daily.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 73 December 2011 The War Cry

Spruce up your Christmas

Stand the tree in water to reduce needle drop

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and don’t forget…

Once asparagus foliage has turned yellow, cut the spent foliage down at ground level.

Asparagus

AFTER one of the warmest autumns on record, it is time to turn our attention to the Christmas festivities. If you intend having a real Christmas tree in your home, one of the best choices is the Norway spruce. If possible, buy the tree in a pot. It may cost slightly more, but if you have quite a large garden, doing so can be a cost-effective option. The pot

LAST month, I had the best present of all when my daughter was born. This lovely baby girl has made me reassess the garden from a different perspective. Do I have any poisonous plants or any sharp, thorny shrubs or roses in areas that are near to paths? Is there any other hazard? Everything needs extra consideration now. At the same time, there is no need to start ripping the garden to shreds. There is time to make changes next year, if they are needed, before my daughter starts crawling.

Child-proof your garden

by LEE SENIOR

Library picture posed by model

Beware harmful plants

Continue to harvest parsnips and sprouts after the first frosts. Leeks, swedes, winter savoy cabbages and cauliflowers are also still in season.

Harvest

In the greenhouse, remove any lasting traces of summer crops, clean your glass and check pots and staging for overwintering pests. A clean greenhouse in winter can break the lifecycle of pests.

Greenhouse

Winter-prune any neglected apple and pear trees to shape them, opening up the centre, removing the dead or diseased parts and crossing branches. Avoid pruning plum trees – pruning will allow the deadly silver leaf disease to strike.

Pruning

psfissacast

Check the condition of stored apples and potatoes for any signs of rot.

Apples and spuds

Check the condition of tree stakes and tree guards. Inspect garden fences, walls and outbuildings for any structural damage and repair accordingly.

Trees

The War Cry 3 December 20118

PAT ATKINSON talks to Rosemary Dawsonabout her work with some of the world’s poorest children

Canon fires on allcylinders for India’s

street childrenTO many people in and around the Diocese of

Norwich, the Rev Canon PatAtkinson MBE is a highlyrespected Anglican ministerand recently retired hospitalchaplain. But to the hun-dreds of street children inIndia who have receivedfood and education throughher ministry, she is simply‘Patamma’ – ‘Pat Mother’.

Pat says she has had‘a fascinationfor India since childhood’. Sheexplains how it developed.

‘My family weren’t churchgoers, butI had a big crush on the Anglican vicarwho took us for Scripture lessons atschool. So when I was nine years old Istarted going to church. The first coupleof weeks I went because of the vicar.But people befriended me and made mefeel at home, so I stayed and graduallygot involved in the activities.

‘I was about ten when a missionaryfrom India spoke at the church. It just hitme between the eyes: from that momentonwards, I knew what I was going to dowith my life. I decided to train as a nurseso that I could do missionary work.’

But then disaster struck. Pat becamevery ill with Still’s disease – a childhoodtype of rheumatoid arthritis – and was inhospital for four months. At one pointher parents feared she would never walkagain.

‘No one wanted to accept me fortraining with my medical history. Ithought that was the end of a nursingcareer. Eventually, I got into the BritishArmy to train as a State Enrolled Nurse.But six weeks before qualifying my illness flared up again, and I was med-ically discharged with a caliper on myleg. I had already applied to go to Indiawith the Church Missionary Society, butthat plan stopped too.

‘The only other thing I could do wasplay the trumpet, so I got a job with adance band in a holiday camp atGorleston in Norfolk, because they alsowanted someone with medical experi-ence. I was very cross with God, andanti-church for quite a while. The onlygood thing that happened to me was getting married.’

One day, Pat read a library leafletabout deaconesses, anorder of ministry in theChurch of England.Deaconesses workwith the poor and sick.Pat says: ‘I startedtraining in 1977, andwa s eve n t u a l l yordained a deaconessand priest.

‘For seven years, Iworked full-time as anunpaid hospital chap-lain at the Norfolk and

Norwich Hospital until my family need-ed more income, which meant I had toget a paid job. I already had a teachingqualification, so I started training careworkers at Norwich YMCA. In 1990,the general secretary asked if anyonewould like to go to India to visit ourboys’ home – and, of course, I jumped

at the chance.’That visit, which she had dreamt of

for so many years, had an unexpectedoutcome.

‘I hated it – the overwhelming poverty,the smells – and couldn’t wait to getaway. But then I saw the look of utterhopelessness in the eyes of a young beg-gar boy living on a rubbish tip. I knew Ihad to do something for children such ashim. I had a strong feeling that it waswhere I was supposed to be.

‘The YMCA was about to close itsboys’ home, so I decided to take it overmyself, initially with another colleague.

‘Over a nine-year period, I went out to India in

eight-week blocks. I had to leave myYMCA job, and did all kinds of thingsto raise money – cleaning toilets, work-ing in care homes, washing glasses, anything I could get. As news about mywork with street children got round, thelocal hospital contacted meagain about being a part-time paid chaplain.

I saw the look ofutter hopelessnessin the eyes of ayoung beggar boy. I knew I had to dosomething for him

We negotiated special leave for when Ineeded to go to India.

‘At first, I spent hundreds of hours onthe streets, just getting to know what lifewas really like for homeless people. Idecided to concentrate on children’swork, because education is important: itgets them out of poverty and into jobs.

‘Three generations have passedthrough our homes now. Fifty childrenhave gained degrees – one has aMaster’s degree and another is about tofinish theirs. One has become a pastor.Others work as carpenters, electricians,mechanics, bank staff, textile designers,and machinists. A significant number of them also help as volunteers at ourcentres.’

The plight of India’s ‘untouchables’ –the lowest class of society – is very closeto Pat’s heart.

‘The women, many of whom have

leprosy, scavenge on rubbish tips to sur-vive. When their families can’t afford tokeep them, they are turned out onto thestreet.

‘We did a year-long sur-vey of people living

on rubbish tips. The government esti-mate is 1,500. We found at least thatnumber in the first two and a half hours.The tips are periodically destroyed, and bodies are sometimes found in therubbish.

‘We set up a feeding station near thetip, so that these people would get atleast one good meal a day. The firstgroup that came were so sick, we could

not possibly let them goback. Before we knew it,we had a home with 19residents. Over the doorof each centre we put the

3 December 2011 The War Cry 9

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Children at theMavelikarachildren’shome and(left) ‘PatMother’

I spent hundreds of hoursgetting to know what life wasreally like for homeless people

The War Cry 3 December 201110

From page 9

Our feedingcentre helpspeople wholive in slums

Pat with two first-timevisitors to the seaside

words that Jesus spoke from the cross when he committed Mary tothe care of one of his disciples: “Behold your mother.” I just can’tget those words out of my mind when I look at the women. That’smy motivation for this work.

‘Eight years ago, I set up the Vidiyal Trust in India and the UK.Its name means “new beginnings”. The charity buys land andbuilds on it without fear of corruption, which is our worst enemy.Our centres are run by local people I have known and worked withfor many years, and our trustees are all from Christian churches.We don’t spend money on publicity or waste our resources, 95 percent of which is raised by Norfolk churches. Every penny goestowards God’s work. I pay my own fare when I go out twice ayear.’

The trust bought an acre of land at Mavelikara, which now houses a home for 22 boys, another for 19 girls and a school. About126 children from the rural slums go there every day for breakfastand tuition, and again after school for an evening meal and anothertwo hours’ tuition. The criterion for attendance is that the family’s

income is less than £50 a year.‘Three miles away another feeding

centre helps 52 people who live in theslums and who have no water, sanitationor electricity.

‘We rent a shack and one room inMadurai, which enables us to run atuition and care centre for another 76children. They arrive at 6 am for break-fast, and again after school when theyreceive an evening meal in the form ofnutritional supplements. When the children have gone, it’s the turn of theelderly. We have about 15 women whocome at 10 am, stay for lunch and gohome in the afternoon. They receivemedical care and access to a doctor.

‘We also have a training and develop-ment link with an Indian cancer centrein Kerala. We supply, equip and fundtwo ambulances for outreach clinics(held in church premises) for 300 peoplewho can’t afford bus fares to hospital,and give pain relief for 60 terminally illpatients in their homes.

‘Our newest project is aleprosy clinic, where

blood tests determine who needs treat-ment. This service also shows up a greatvariety of other illnesses.’

The Vidiyal Trust also has projects inSri Lanka.

‘After the 2004 tsunami, I met a priestwho had lost half of his congregation.The school was destroyed, so we nowsponsor 45 children to help make up fora year’s lost education. We also havetwo tuition centres for another 46 – one

There were times when I thought that I would die

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113 December 2011 The War Cry

Above: childrenenjoy breakfast

Left: leprosyclose-up

PAT ATKIN

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in a shack on the beach, the other in acity. We pay the priest a smallallowance; he now works in a refugeecamp without a salary.

‘Our work in India is a model of whatshould be going on in the UK, where“community” has become a bad word.We’ve got to go out here too and giveGod’s love unconditionally.’

Pat – who in 2006 was appointedMBE for her work with street children –has suffered dysentery and malaria, andhas endured appalling living conditionsduring her ministry.

‘There were several occasions when Ithought I was going to die,’ she admits.‘But it has been a privilege to reach outto people in God’s name. I get suchamazing love back from the childrenand my old ladies, and that makes it allworthwhile.’

�For more information visitvidiyaltrust.org.uk

PAT ATKINSON

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. Colour (5)4. American folk

music (5)8. Previously (3)9. Vegetation (5)10. Picture (5)11. Type (3)12. Wan (5)13. Worldly (7)16. St ______,

winter resort (6)

19. Arid (6)23. Welsh

castle (7)26. Ancient

Peruvians (5)28. Tall vase (3)29. Reluctant (5)30. Indicate (5)31. Express

derision (3)32. Late (5)33. Courage (5)

QUICK CROSSWORDACROSS: 1 Lilac. 4 Blues. 8 Ago. 9 Scrub.

10 Photo. 11 Ilk. 12 Ashen. 13 Earthly. 16 Moritz. 19 Torrid. 23 Harlech. 26 Incas. 28 Urn. 29 Loath. 30 Imply. 31 Boo. 32 Tardy. 33 Nerve.

DOWN: 2 Larch. 3 Cabinet. 4 Booked. 5 Upper. 6 Sloth. 7 Sooty. 9 Spasm. 14 Tar. 15 Lei. 17 Ova. 18 Ill. 20 Opinion. 21 Dishy. 22 Chubby. 23 Holst. 24 React. 25 Ether. 27 Caper.

HONEYCOMB

1 Orange. 2 Prince. 3 Osprey. 4 Queasy. 5 Fondue.6 Edible.

QUICK QUIZ

1 Peter Sallis. 2 Frets. 3 Roger Hargreaves. 4 Golden. 5 The Boomtown Rats. 6 May be tumbledried.

Look up, down,forwards, backwardsand diagonally on thegrid to find thesecharacters from RoaldDahl stories

AUGUSTUS GLOOPAUNT SPIKERAUNT SPONGEBADGERBFGCHARLIE BUCKETGRANDPA JOEJAMES TROTTER JENNIFER HONEY

MATILDAMIKE TEAVEEMISS TRUNCHBULLMOLEMR FOXMR WORMWOOD

RABBITSOPHIETHE QUEENVERUCA SALTVIOLET BEAUREGARDEWEASELWILLY WONKA

The War Cry 3 December 2011 PUZZLEBREAK

QUICK QUIZ1. Who plays Norman Clegg in the TV series Last of the

Summer Wine?

2. What is the name given to the metal ridges runningacross the neck of a guitar?

3. Who wrote the Mr Men and Little Miss books?

4. According to the nursery rhyme, what colour was thepear on the little nut tree?

5. What was the name of Bob Geldof’s band?

6. What does a square with a circle inside mean on aclothing label?

DOWN

2. Conifer (5)3. Group of senior

politicians (7)4. Reserved (6)5. Higher (5)6. Hanging mammal (5)7. Harry Corbett’s puppet (5)9. Tic (5)14. Sailor (3)15. Garland (3)17. Eggs (3)18. Poorly (3)20. Viewpoint (7)21. Alluring (slang) (5)22. Plump (6)23. Gustav, composer of

The Planets (5)24. Respond (5)25. Anaesthetic (5)27. Gambol (5)

1. Colour of the rainbow

2. Son of a monarch

3. Large bird of prey

4. Nauseous

5. Dish where pieces offood are dipped intohot sauce

6. Fit to be eaten

Each solution starts onthe coloured cell andreads clockwise roundthe number

WORDSEARCH

by Chris Horne

S T D W I L L Y W O N K A L A Y LE I O A G B L G V V C O E E D E EJ I O M A A U B E O H L E P D N SN A W I R D B H R B A B O L T O AE G M K H G H R U F R O A P P H EE R R E K E C R C U L E E H E R WU A O T S R N A A G I O I I G E XQ N W E P T U J S B E E G N N F EE D R A G E R U A E B T E L O I VH P M V T A T O L U U I R M P N RT A T E D S S N T M C H T G S N NR J L E U E S M U T K L F U T E ME O I G F O I G K B E B E V N J RM E U A A M M K P L T R W O U M FK A U N T S P I K E R S G D A T OS H E M U B E N M A T I L D A E X

category sinners. He allowed a prostitute to wash his feet with her hair. He allowed lepers – outcast and untouchable – to touch him. He listened to people who were demon-possessed. He did more than heal – he cared. Unconditional love. Forgiving love. Love capable of breaking into all kinds of prisons and setting captives free.

Is it time for us to break free?

IN 2009 The Salvation Army helped nearly 390,000 prisoners worldwide. It also assisted almost 200,000 prisoners on discharge and about 250,000 people who had to attend a police court. That year – as published in the Salvation Army Year Book – some 840,000 people had reason to be grateful to The Salvation Army for its caring for prisoners.

Every person these figures represent is an individual, someone whose soul is precious to God. They might be a fifth-time offender facing a long sentence or a young person, fallen in with the wrong kind of friends, arrested for stealing a car. They might be a prisoner whose wife has just filed for divorce or someone leaving prison with no one to turn to and nowhere to go. All these people have turned to The Salvation Army for help.

Stone walls, as the 17th-century poet Richard Lovelace said, ‘do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage’. There are many other kinds of prisons – addictions, fears, mental illness and loneliness, to name a few. Sometimes people are trapped in these prisons, desperate for escape but not knowing where to turn.

It is all the worse because very often such people are invisible to others. But when someone offers the hand of friendship, a listening ear, fellowship and understanding, release is possible.

Jesus talked and ate with people society looked down on as special-

INNER LIFE 133 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

Prison break

The hand of friendship can be the means of release

‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners’ (Luke 4:18)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT14 The War Cry 3 December 2011

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The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BNTel: 0845 634 0101

Founder: William Booth General: Linda BondTerritorial Commander: Commissioner John MatearEditor-in-Chief and Publishing Secretary: Major Leanne Ruthven

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Editor: Nigel Bovey, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Stephen Pearson Editorial Assistant: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Renée Davis Chief Designer: Gill Cox DTP Operator: Denise D’Souza Secretary: Joanne Allcock War Cry office: 020 7367 4900Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

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Does

THE woman we met in the car park was confused. She wasn’t sure which coins she required for the ticket machine. As we tried to help her, she explained that she had just become a grandmother and was overwhelmed with the good news, hence her confusion. We congratulated her and wished her much joy as she went to meet the new baby.

Not long afterwards, I met another confused woman in a shop. She was having difficulty in buying her items. She explained: ‘I’m not myself at the moment, as my mother has just died and I can’t think straight.’

Two women. Two life-changing experiences.

The first woman’s confusion was prompted by feelings of joy and hope. The second woman’s confusion was a result of loss and pain.

I left the shop thinking of these women and how their lives were changed in an instant. It made me consider how we respond to times of change. Many of us find change uncomfortable. Even a change that is for the good – such as the birth of a new baby – can create stress.

We cannot escape change. But how do we cope with it?

When I have struggled in my own

life to adapt to new situations, three things have always helped me: my family, my friends and my faith.

In times of difficulty, I take comfort from the love and support of my family. I turn to friends for a listening ear and an understanding heart. And I have faith that God is with me at all times.

The Bible has always brought me strength as I’ve gone through ups and downs. I believe it always will. God said: ‘I am the Lord, and I do not change’ (Malachi 3:6 Good

News Bible).Even when change

surrounds me, I trust God to remain consistent in his love and presence.

by BARBARA LYNE

change

spare?drive us

She was overwhelmed with the good news

Library p

icture posed

by m

odel

Ingredients:

For the meringue4 large free-range egg whites, at

room temperatureLarge pinch of cream of tartar225g caster sugar1tsp cornflourFor the chocolate and chestnut

cream200ml whipping cream100g Divine dark chocolate1 x 250g can Crème de Marrons

(sweetened chestnut purée)Divine cocoa powder, for dustingMarrons glacés, grated chocolate

or chocolate curls to decorate

Method:Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas

Mark 2. Lightly oil a 20cm x 30cmSwiss roll tin and line withbaking paper.

Put the egg whites into a largebowl and whisk until frothy.Add the cream of tartar andcontinue whisking until themixture forms stiff peaks.

3 December 2011 The War Cry 15

SWEET TREATS

SUDOKU SOLUTION

Divine MontBlanc roulade

Jewelled fruit and nut treats

WHAT’S COOKING?

Recipes reprinted, with kind permission, from the Divine Chocolate website divinechocolate.com

by Linda Collister

by Sue AshworthIngredients:

200g butter250g caster sugar100g walnuts, chopped100g blanched almonds, chopped50g sultanas50g glacé cherries, chopped2tbsp single cream100g Divine white chocolate100g Divine plain chocolate

Method:Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4.

Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.Melt the butter over a low heat, then add the

sugar and stir until it has dissolved. Boil themixture for exactly 1 minute, then removefrom the heat. Stir in the walnuts, almonds,sultanas, cherries and single cream.

With a teaspoon, drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, allowing plenty of room for the mixture to spread. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Leave the biscuits to cool for a few minutes,then transfer them to wire racks to coolcompletely.

Melt the two types of chocolate in separatebowls, placed over pans of gentlysimmering water. (Take care that thechocolate does not get too hot.) Spoon thewhite chocolate and the plain chocolateinto separate piping bags. Drizzle thechocolate over the surface of the biscuitsand leave to set.

Tip: If you don’t have piping bags to decoratethe biscuits, use a teaspoon to drizzle thechocolate over them instead.

Makes 45

Mix together the sugar andcornflour and whisk into theegg whites, 1tbsp at a time.The mixture should be stiffand glossy. Transfer themixture to the prepared tinand spread evenly. Put 1tsp ofcocoa powder into a fine sieveor tea-strainer and lightly dustthe top of the meringue.

Bake for 50 minutes until themeringue is puffed and crispto touch. (The centre of themeringue will still be slightlysoft). Turn out the meringueonto a cooling rack coveredwith a sheet of baking paper.Leave to cool for 5 minutes,then carefully peel off the

lining paper. Leave untilcompletely cold.

For the chestnut cream, breakup the chocolate and placein a bowl with 100ml of thecream. Set the bowl over apan of hot but not boilingwater and allow to meltgently. Stir until smooth.Remove the pan from theheat and leave the chocolateto cool at room temperature.

Whip the remaining cream in abowl until thick and bring toroom temperature. Fold in themelted chocolate mix, thenfold in the Crème de Marronsuntil evenly blended.

Spread the creamy mixture

evenly over the meringue.Roll up the roulade from thelong end, using one hand toguide the meringue intoshape and the other to usethe paper to support themeringue. Pull it into shapeas it rolls up. D on’t worry if it cracks. Once it hasbecome a ‘roulade’, use thepaper around it to hold it inshape, wrapping it firmly.Chill for an hour or so beforeserving.

To serve, roll the roulade onto aserving platter, discarding thepaper. Decorate with marronsglacés and grated chocolateor chocolate curls.

Photography byIan Garlic

2011-style nativity may have been given a makeover, but the centre of their attention remains a baby. The poster says: ‘However you dress it up, Christmas starts with Christ.’

Francis says: ‘There are so many people who have no links at all with Christianity

and barely know who Jesus Christ is. This poster is designed for people who don’t know Jesus. Obviously we’re not going to tell the whole Christmas story in one poster. What we’re trying to do is to inspire them enough to say: “OK, I’ll go and find out a bit more. I might go to a carol service.” It’s meant to be a catalyst.’

Over the years, many people who have decided to find out more about Christmas

have discovered that the baby has changed the way everything looks.

Reading about the words and actions of Jesus throughout his life, they have learnt about God’s love for the

world. They have decided to try to follow Jesus’ direction. They have accepted his assurance that they can be forgiven for the

times they fail.However we dress it up,

underneath the layers lies the truth about Christmas.

YOUR LOCAL SALVATION ARMY CENTRE

writes PHILIP HALCROW

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

STYLE-conscious ads are taking a key look at the season. Radio commercials are previewing the clothes of a famous couple, and a poster featuring fashion and treasures of modern culture is refashioning the traditional nativity scene.

The poster is due to go up at UK sites from Monday 12 December. Francis Goodwin, a founder member of ChurchAds.Net, the group behind the adverts, says: ‘In the poster we’re trying to represent the Nativity in a modern context. We’re asking: If the Nativity happened in 2011, how might it look?’

So in the new nativity shoot, Mary and Joseph are wearing clothes from designers and the high street. The wise men have been turned into three successful entrepreneurs carrying, among other gifts, a replica Damien Hirst skull. The shepherds have been transformed into a cycle courier and a plasterer.

The characters in the

NEW-LOOK NATIVITY

IT’S A

It’s meant to be a catalyst