Nurture needed for cubs born to be wild
20 December 2025 50p/60c
Final steps Strictly moves towards the last dances Carrie and David Grant on Christmas music
What is The Salvation Army? The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.
From the editor’s desk
Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk
Christmas is often a time for traditions. Some are specific to individuals or families, such as putting up the decorations on a certain day, wearing the specially bought festive pyjamas or even settling down at the end of Christmas Day to watch the Strictly Come Dancing special. Before that TV highlight arrives, though, glitter-ball fans have the excitement of watching the final of the current series. In this week’s War Cry, we speak with contestant Ross King, who will be returning to the show to take part in a group dance. The LA correspondent for ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine looks back on his time on Strictly and also tells us about his memories of Christmas while growing up in The Salvation Army. ‘We had the Christmas fair and carol services, which I loved,’ he remembers. ‘Then there were the Nativity plays. I was the donkey one year, but then I worked my way up to playing Joseph.’ There are many people for whom Nativity plays and carol services are important traditions at Christmas. In this week’s issue, vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant talk with us about their book Joy to the World, which features some of their favourite carols and Christmas songs. In the interview, David suggests that we feel a deep affection for many of these favourite tunes because of the memories they stir within us. ‘At Christmas we remember not just the people who were there, but we remember the feeling that those people gave us,’ he says. ‘It is a time of special recollection.’ Good, close relationships enhance our lives. But, sadly, people can also let us down and hurt us. And those hurts can feel all the more painful at Christmas. But Christians have found that a relationship with Jesus, whose birth they celebrate at this time of year, will never disappoint them and can help heal those hurts in their lives. Jesus can be with us at all times if we turn to him. Following him could be a great new tradition to start this Christmas.
The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ
When you’ve read the War Cry, why not pass it on ➔ ➔ ➔
What is the War Cry? The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.
WAR CRY Issue No 7761
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Managing Editor: Philip Halcrow Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Staff Writer: Ewan Hall Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Mark Knight Graphic Designer: Natalie Adkins
Tel: 0845 634 0101 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founders: Catherine and William Booth International leaders: General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham Territorial leaders: Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn Published weekly by The Salvation Army © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. Printed by CKN Print, Northampton, on sustainably sourced paper
INFO Your local Salvation Army centre
CONTENTS FEATURES
3
All that glitters Looking back at Strictly
4
Wise words Public figures reveal what they put their faith in
6
Christmas crackers Carrie and David Grant on festive favourites
9
‘I’d like the film to challenge prisoners’ Story offers a different future
13 Wild things Documentary on animal conservation
FO
REGULARS
12 Browsing the Bible 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC/GUY LEVY
2 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
6 9 13 15
BBC/GUY LEVY
Strictly
speaking
Ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing final, TV reporter ROSS KING, who was among this year’s original line-up of contestants, retraces his steps Interview by Claire Brine
S
parkles and sequins are at the ready – it’s time for the final of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing (Saturday 20 December). After weeks of impressing the show’s judges with their rumbas, sambas and cha-chas, three twinkle-toed celebrities and their professional partners are about to hit the dancefloor once more, with each couple hoping to waltz their way to victory and the glitter-ball trophy. As well as watching Karen Carney, George Clarke and Amber Davies get their groove on, fans will be cheering for the show’s returning contestants as they head to the ballroom for a final time. The LA correspondent for ITV’s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, Ross King, who was the second celebrity to be eliminated from the competition, can’t wait to get his dancing shoes on again. ‘I loved every minute of being on Strictly,’ he says. ‘Learning ballroom dancing – something I’d never done before – and being taught by Jowita Przystal, one of the best professionals in the world, was a wonderful experience. But I found everything about it challenging!’ Although, for the show’s finalists, the glitter ball is well within touching distance, Ross admits that the thought of emerging victorious never occurred to him. ‘I was never going to win,’ he says. ‘So my whole approach was to see it as a TV show rather than a competition, have some fun and do my best. That was always what my parents taught me: to do your best because that’s all you can do.’ Early on in the series, Ross was filmed travelling home to Scotland, where he talked about his parents and the positive influence they had on him. He grew up attending Partick Temple Salvation Army church, where his dad was a committed bandsman. ‘My dad would always be there,’ he recalls. ‘He’d play in the band, conduct
the choir and sometimes preach sermons. He’d welcome people and tell jokes, showing them that, yes, this was a place of worship, but equally people could smile and laugh here. ‘I think that watching him and the lovely way in which he dealt with people influenced me and how I approached my career. Dad was always so relaxed and respectful – and I picked up a lot from him through a process of osmosis.’ Growing up in The Salvation Army, Ross was used to Christmas being a busy time. ‘We had the Christmas fair and carol services, which I loved,’ he remembers. ‘Then there were the Nativity plays. I was the donkey one year, but then I worked my way up to playing Joseph.’ The festive schedule may have been jam-packed – but Ross could appreciate the reasons why. ‘The big lesson of Christmas was to think about others and not just yourself,’ he says. ‘It was all about giving something back and remembering those less fortunate than you. ‘Today I think the Christmas message of “peace on Earth” feels more relevant than ever. And yet we don’t seem to be heading in that direction at all. ‘But Christmas brings a focus. It’s the time of year when people tend to think about their faith a bit more. I see a Christmas Eve carol service as a wonderful opportunity to reflect. ‘My hope is that the message about peace and showing goodwill to others will sink in a little bit – and be carried forwards into the new year as well.’
Ross King and Jowita Przystal dance the paso doble 20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 3
j
Yours faithfully
Every week, the War Cry carries interviews with people who talk about how the Christian faith has affected their lives. Here are some of the people we have spoken to in the past year whose work puts them in the public eye
Faith is meant to be all-encompassing. It’s about who you are fundamentally and goes to the very core of what you believe. Sam Jackson, Radio 3 controller
BBC/TRICIA YOURKEVICH
My faith helped me stay grounded and focused. I have realised that, aside from football, I’m still a human being, I’m still valuable. God has a plan for my life. Charlotte Lynch, CBeebies ‘Football Fantastics’ actress and football content creator
‘
There are just so many things in my life that I can see God’s hand in. Even if I’m in a situation that I don’t particularly enjoy, he is with me. He’s a God that got stuck in, came down to Earth and died for us. One of the benefits of faith is that there is an element of security, and I am able to take risks. I know that even if I unintentionally and totally mess up, I serve a God who can redeem pretty much anything. Stef Reid, GB Paralympian and participant in BBC2’s ‘Pilgrimage: The Road through the Alps’
BBC/CTVC
The heart of the Christian faith is that we all fail, and we all need help. And Yeshua [Jesus] is always there, with arms stretched open wide on that cross, to receive us and to restore us, and that’s what he did wherever he went. He restored and he healed. Bear Grylls, TV adventurer and author
4 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
j
Jesus grounds me and helps me to not be afraid of being myself. I need somebody to guide me, and I can sometimes say: ‘Jesus, is this the right thing to do?’ or ‘Lord, help me.’ He’s definitely a guiding light.
As an actor, you don’t know when your next job is coming, but my relationship with God allows me to walk by faith, to surrender myself to him and to not stress about tomorrow. Shan Ako, Éponine in the West End’s ‘Les Misérables’
Amanda Middleditch, ‘Teddy Bear Lady’ from BBC1’s ‘The Repair Shop’
BBC/RICOCHET
’
Jesus is our whole life, and we know that, wherever we go, there’s a third person who’s got our backs. Julie Tatchell, ‘Teddy Bear Lady’ from BBC1’s ‘The Repair Shop’
BBC/RICOCHET
God always knows what’s going to happen down each path, and that gives me a sense that, no matter how bad things get, I’ll be all right. Harry Clark, 2024 winner of BBC1’s ‘The Traitors’
Faith – and people of faith – affect everything. There really are few parts of government where faith isn’t relevant and doesn’t have a role to play. As a Christian, I think that following Jesus is the most attractive life on offer. I only hope and pray that occasionally others might glimpse a bit of that in all of us who claim to follow him. Lord Rook
OWEN JAMES VINCENT
HOUSE OF LORDS 2025/ROGER HARRIS
20 December 2025 • WAR CRY •5
Rockin’ around the Christmas tree Vocal coaches and radio presenters CARRIE and DAVID GRANT talk about exploring their favourite festive songs for a new book Interview by Emily Bright
O
ne chilly morning in late November, I’m wrestling with my inner Grinch as I gear up for a Christmas-themed interview over Zoom. But as Carrie and David Grant appear online, my grumpiness dissipates in the face of their enthusiasm, energy and laughter. Behind them are a number of framed records, a nod to David’s singing career and the couple’s 35-plus years in the music industry as vocal coaches. They’ve featured on ITV’s Pop Idol and BBC1’s Fame Academy and have worked with the likes of the Spice Girls, Take That, Will Young and Charlotte Church. Now Saturday breakfast presenters on BBC Radio London, David and Carrie are promoting their latest book, Joy to the World, which features a collection of songs and carols spanning different eras and genres. They have been working on the seasonal project since the summer. David laughs: ‘I’ve just been thinking about the lyrics to the song, “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday”. We’ve lived that!’ Getting into the festive spirit early in the year was something that Carrie and David had in common with Bob Wells and Mel Tormé, two of the songwriters featured in the book. Carrie explains: ‘Nat King Cole’s “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” was written by them in the height of summer in LA. And when we were writing about it, we were also sitting in T-shirts and shorts in our kitchen, going: “This is so weird, talking in summer about snowflakes on the trees.”’ David recalls that narrowing down Christmas hits into a shortlist for Joy to the World proved challenging. ‘We couldn’t restrict it to one genre,’ he says. ‘If we had written simply about the world’s favourite Christmas carols, that would be leaving out so many other important songs. If we simply had chosen the world’s favourite Christmas pop songs, again, we would have
6 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
COURTESY OF CARRIE AND DAVID GRANT
Carrie and David Grant
merely scratched the surface.’ As part of the writing process, David and Carrie delved into the historical context of each hit. ‘Some of these songs were controversial in their time,’ says David. ‘For instance, “O Holy Night” wasn’t sung in many of the slave states of the United States for decades, because of the pro-abolition verse that says, “Truly he taught us to love one another… Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.”’ ‘O Holy Night’ also exemplifies the longevity of Christmas music. People revisit their favourites year after year. David shares his theory on why seasonal music enjoys an enduring popularity. ‘One of the reasons can actually be summed up in one of the lines of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”,’ he
says, ‘which is: “Once again as in olden days,/ Happy golden days of yore,/ Faithful friends who are dear to us/ Gather near to us once more.”
It is a time of special recollection
‘A
t Christmas we remember not just the people who were there, but we remember the feeling that those people gave us. It is a time of special recollection.’ Carrie adds: ‘It’s probably the one time in the year when you’re encouraged to be sentimental, in all the best ways.’ Each entry in the book is accompanied by a QR code to a music video of the song – whether that be a pop rendition
or the singing of a carol by the choir and congregation at King’s College, Cambridge. David found that feelings of nostalgia influenced which versions he wanted to feature. ‘Searching through, I discovered how strong that connection between an emotion and a song can be,’ he says. ‘There were recordings that I swore had to be in there. But when we listened to some of them, I realised that they weren’t my favourite versions – they were just my favourite memories.’ Carrie also believes that the power of Christmas music stems from our
Turn to page 8 f 20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 7
From page 7 has been accompanied by a faith that we are not alone in this. It’s almost impossible for me to imagine Carrie and I without Jesus right there in the centre.’
I found Jesus right on the margins
C
arrie’s faith has remained a constant in her life since she was 20, but she believes it has also evolved over time as she has navigated her autism and the challenges of raising a family of four with complex additional needs. ‘Initially I was gung-ho, with everything thrown at God,’ she recalls. ‘I think I became scrupulous about obedience – which fits with an autistic profile – and believed: I’ve got to do more, I’ve got to
COURTESY OF CARRIE AND DAVID GRANT
psychological make-up. ‘I think it’s to do with the memory part of our brain,’ she says, ‘which triggers our feelings. I guess people that grew up in difficult circumstances will hear a Christmas song and it might make them feel a sense of threat, lonely or abandoned. ‘I have a bit of that because my childhood wasn’t easy. But after 40 years with David, I have so many happy memories, so those songs now make me feel safe. I also think that once you know Jesus, his presence is there in all those songs.’ Faith has played a central role in the lives of the couple. Carrie explains that, while they both ‘think about Jesus all year round’, Christmas is, for them, ‘all about’ him. David adds: ‘Our whole relationship
Carrie and David promoting ‘Joy to the World’
8 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
get better. ‘But, years later, I went to a theological college and learnt a new way of thinking about God. That has been the saving grace of my life.’ Carrie discovered that God was at work in the unlikeliest of places. ‘I understood marginalisation through our family. I’m raising Jamaican, autistic, queer, adopted and birth children with mental health issues in various ways. But I found Jesus right in the centre of that world, which is right on the margins – the most joyous, wonderful place to be. I’m deeply in love with Jesus, and Jesus is love.’ One outworking of Carrie and David’s shared Christian faith is the way in which they show hospitality to their community throughout the year, whether it’s by gathering fellow autistic families together or hosting a church in their house. On Boxing Day, they invite about 120 people to sing carols round the piano. ‘In that moment when everyone’s in the room, singing, there is such a feeling of unity,’ says Carrie. ‘There are loads of people that aren’t Christians, but they all talk about having that sense of belonging. ‘What is beautiful to me is that it illustrates the spirit of Christmas – a collective spirit of love, unity and hope that is expressed when people get together.’ As our interview draws to a close, David conveys his hope that their book is accessible to everyone. ‘The Christmas story has the hope and expectation of a baby, the disappointment of not being able to find a place for him to be born, the joy of the shepherds and wise men who worship him, and the fear of a young family having to flee and become refugees. It’s got everything. ‘I’m saying all this because, for many people, Christmas is a time of joy. But for other people, it’s not. For some people, their recollections bring them a kind of sadness and a loneliness. There are Christmas songs that reflect that and we’ve included them as well. ‘I hope that anybody who reads this book will find themselves and their Christmas in these songs.’
l Joy to the World is published by SPCK
INSIDE STORY Actor and screen editor JARED MORE explains why a film by Riding Lights Theatre Company is heading behind bars – and how change is possible for prisoners who fall into a cycle of reoffending Interview by Claire Brine
O
n Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, hundreds of prisoners across the UK will have the opportunity to tune into Revolving Doors, a short film about life behind bars produced by Riding Lights Theatre Company. Broadcast on Wayout TV – an in-cell channel which offers educational series and programmes about faith – the story explores how easy it is to fall into the cycle of reoffending and how a prisoner might try to break it. ‘Revolving Doors is a 20-minute film based on prisoners’ true stories,’ says Jared More, a Riding Lights actor who appears in the film and also edited it. ‘It was written by an actor and writer called Andrew McCracken, who’d performed in a lot of prisons through his work with Riding Lights and had conversations with the prisoners he met. He looks at how easy it is for people in the criminal justice system to get caught up in the reoffending cycle because they may not have found the support they need in order to change. He discovered that
Jared More
Turn to page 10 f 20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 9
From page 9 lots of prisoners feel as though they are stuck in a revolving door of crime.’ The film – which was first written as a play – focuses on a fictional offender called Matt (played by Andrew), who has recently been released from prison, having served a sentence for committing a drug crime. After spending a night out celebrating his freedom, Matt is confronted by a criminal acquaintance called Timmo, who turns up on his doorstep and invites him to do one last job. He tells Matt that the ‘work opportunity’ will give him the chance to provide for his family. ‘Matt doesn’t want to tell his partner, Jade, what has been asked of him,’ says Jared. ‘So he acts a bit shady. But then the truth comes out, and Jade tells Matt not to do the job. She says it’s bad for their kids and she doesn’t want him to end up back inside. Matt tells her that he’s got to do it because he can’t get any other work.’ When Matt heads off to complete the drug deal, everything goes wrong.
RIDING LIGHTS
Alone in his cell, Matt (Andrew McCracken) considers his crime
10 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
The police arrive. Matt is arrested. He is sent back to prison to serve a sevenyear sentence. Family relationships are pushed to breaking point. ‘When Jade goes to visit Matt, she points out to him that he’s not the only one in prison,’ Jared says. ‘The only difference is, she’s not an offender. And that’s the moment when Matt begins to see that Jade and his family are trapped too, as a result of his actions.
They talk about anger and forgiveness
‘S
ome time later, Matt ends up in the chapel, chatting with a fellow prisoner called Trev. In that scene they talk about anger and forgiveness – and whether it’s important or not to forgive yourself if you want to move forward in life.’ Trev, who has come to faith while in prison, tells Matt that God can forgive
him for the things he has done wrong, but he adds: ‘You’ve got to change.’ He says that Matt needs to stop hurting other people, forgive himself for the past and accept what has happened. While Trev believes ‘there’s freedom in forgiving yourself’, Matt isn’t convinced. But he starts to think about it. ‘Towards the end of the film, time has passed and Jade returns to the prison to visit Matt once again,’ says Jared. ‘Things aren’t suddenly fixed for him, but he is clearly in a much better place. Jade can see a bit of a change in him. And while that’s not exactly a “happy ending”, it’s a positive direction. Matt’s still got a long road ahead. And it’s going to be hard work.’ Though the film doesn’t reveal what happens to Matt at the end of his prison sentence, Jared feels hopeful about the character’s future. He believes that, with a new mindset, people like Matt can change. ‘We see Matt finally thinking about his attitudes and how he sees himself,’ Jared
RIDING LIGHTS
Matt receives encouragement from Trev (Kelvin Goodspeed) in the prison chapel
explains. ‘He knows he’s got a long time behind bars, so he starts using his time to prepare himself for his release and thinking about how he can support his family on the outside. ‘Towards the end of the film, we see him taking on more of the responsibility for his situation. We don’t get to see what happens next in his life – but it’s hopeful, I think, in getting the message out there that change is possible.’
I’d like the film to challenge prisoners
S
ince it was founded in York in 1977, Riding Lights has worked across the UK in all categories of prisons, staging performances to offenders that encourage them to explore the Christian faith and that highlight its relevance in a modern world. By producing the film Revolving Doors, the theatre company wants to show prisoners
that, regardless of their past actions, their future can be full of hope. ‘I’d like the film to challenge prisoners, to encourage them and to give them a little bit of faith in themselves,’ says Jared. ‘Back when we used to perform Revolving Doors as a play, often we would hear offenders saying: “That was like watching my life.” It seemed important to them that they were being seen, whereas often offenders may feel as though they don’t get much investment. ‘I always think prison should be a place for helping people to change, rather than just locking them up. And the work of Riding Lights, and this film in particular, is about showing prisoners that they have the option to make different choices.’ When the film is broadcast on Christmas Day, many offenders may also be pausing for a moment to reflect on the reason behind the festivities – Jesus’ birth. Jared feels that the story of the Nativity carries a powerful message for prisoners. ‘I find the role of the shepherds to be important in the Christmas story,’ he says,
‘because back in Bible times these were the people outcast from society and not really welcomed “in”. But they are the first ones to hear from the angel that Jesus is born. ‘It’s like God is saying: “This is good news for everyone – but I’m going to share it with this group of people first.” The message for them is: Come along and be part of this. You belong and you’re welcome. Come and be changed. Come and find something new.’ That ‘something new’, says Jared, is still available today. And it applies to prisoners who want to start believing that their future could be different. ‘I would love to see prisoners feeling so encouraged by this film that they commit themselves to change,’ he says. ‘Maybe that change starts with a prisoner seeing themselves a bit differently. Or perhaps it’s when an offender looks at their actions for the first time and considers how they have affected others. ‘Ultimately, this is a film about hope – concrete hope, tied to action.’
20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 11
Prayerlink The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances, for publication. Send your Prayerlink requests to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk or to War Cry, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Mark your correspondence ‘Confidential’.
j
Becoming a Christian
There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God
Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I have done things in my life that are wrong and I’m sorry. Thank you that I can ask you for forgiveness because of the sacrifice you made when you died on the cross. Please forgive me and help me to live a better life in the future as I learn how to love you and follow your way of living. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
If you’ve prayed this prayer, scan the QR code or contact us using the coupon on this page
Browsing the Bible Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book of the Scriptures John The last to be written, the Gospel of John focuses on who Jesus is. Chapter 1 opens with the philosophical concept of Jesus as the ‘Word’. John, who was a disciple of Jesus, states that Jesus is eternal and divine, to the extent that ‘without him nothing was made that has been made’ (1:3 New International Version). Jesus, though, is more than a spiritual entity: he is also human. John writes: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’ (1:14). The rest of the Gospel expands on the idea that the flesh-and-blood Jesus is the divine Son of God. It does so by emphasising the signs, statements and sacrifice of Jesus. When John writes about Jesus performing a miracle, he uses the Greek word ‘semeion’ – ‘a sign’. John records eight ‘signs’. Six of them appear only in this Gospel: Jesus’ changing water into wine (2:1–11), the healings of an official’s son (4:46–54), a lame man (5:1–9) and a blind man (9:1–7), the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:38–44) and, after Jesus’ own resurrection, a large catch of fish (21:1–6). Jesus often links the performance of a sign with the challenge to believe in him (eg 9:35). Some signs are linked with profound personal statements, where Jesus reveals his divine identity. Before Jesus raises Lazarus, he says: ‘I am the resurrection and the life’ (11:25). Jesus also states that he is the ‘bread of life’ (6:35), the ‘light of the world’ (8:12), the ‘gate for the sheep’ (10:7), the ‘good shepherd’ (10:11), the ‘way and the truth and the life’ (14:6) and the ‘true vine’ (15:1). As well as performing signs, Jesus introduces the concept of being ‘born again’ (3:1–17). The Gospel details the events that led to Jesus’ death, John commenting that ‘even after Jesus had performed so many signs’ many people ‘still would not believe in him’ (12:37). Jesus is subsequently betrayed, arrested, tried, rejected, flogged and crucified. John had earlier recorded the spiritual significance of Jesus’ crucifixion – and its link to the Passover – when he reported John the Baptist seeing Jesus and saying: ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (1:29).
"
Want to know more? a
To receive basic reading about Christianity and information about The Salvation Army, complete this coupon and send it to War Cry 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ
Name
Address
Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
APPLE TV
BEAR IN MIND
Abandoned cub Sagalee
A rare cub features in a new wildlife series about saving species
QUICK QUIZ 1 2 3 4 5 6
Who played businessman George Bailey in the 1946 film It’s a Wonderful Life? From which country does the traditional sweet bread panettone originate? Who wrote the song ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’? On which saint is the character of Santa Claus based? Who wrote the novella A Christmas Carol? ‘Nadolig Llawen’ is a Christmas greeting in which language?
ANSWERS
Born to Be Wild Apple TV TV feature by Emily Bright
‘T
he birth of a baby animal is always special,’ says narrator Hugh Bonneville at the beginning of a new wildlife documentary series. ‘But for those on the brink of extinction, every new life brings hope.’ And in Born to Be Wild, a camera crew follow the special baby animals of six endangered species – the moon bear, cheetah, elephant, ring-tailed lemur, African penguin and Iberian lynx. In the first episode, vet Dr Panjit Basumatary is in the jungles of northeast India, racing to save moon bear cub Sagalee, who was found abandoned. His mother was probably killed by illegal hunters. And, with only 6,000 moon bears left in India, the survival of every cub matters. Panjit drives Sagalee to a rescue centre. The three-month-old is terrified but is coaxed out of his cage by his first taste of honey. Initially he is weak, pines for his mother and struggles to trust his human foster-parents. But over six months – with round-the-clock care, feeding and training – Panjit and the cub form a bond. Before the bear is released back into the wild, he is gradually reintroduced to the forest to learn life skills such as self-defence, finding food, swimming and climbing trees. Panjit’s doting care earns Sagalee’s trust and helps him to thrive. Viewers may relate to times when – because of past hurt – trusting people has felt hard. It can be difficult to rely on others, particularly if we fear that they may let us down or reject us. But there is someone who will never let us down – and that is God. A wise man once wrote: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take’ (Proverbs 3:5 and 6 New Living Translation). The writer knew that God could be trusted to help him throughout life’s challenges. It’s true for us too. If we put our trust in God, he will guide us into a brighter future. And with his support strengthening us, we can begin to thrive. Panjit nurses moon bear cubs 20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 13
1. James Stewart. 2. Italy. 3. Meredith Willson. 4. Saint Nicolas. 5. Charles Dickens. 6. Welsh.
PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Stoneworker (5) 5. Small piece of ground (5) 8. Lounger (5) 9. Surpass (5) 10. The same (5) 11. Punitive (5) 12. Footwear (4) 15. Be present at (6) 17. Raw (5) 18. Preserve dead body (6) 20. Breeze (4) 25. Cereal (5) 26. Pulsate (5) 27. Cancel (5) 28. Praise (5) 29. Restaurant (5) 30. Underworld (5)
Fill the grid so that every column, every row and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9
1
3 5
8 5
2 3
6
8 7 3 9
2 8
3 1
3 2 7 8
DOWN 1. Morning prayer (6) 2. Artist’s 7. Bisected (6) workplace (6) 13. Garment 3. Chilly (5) border (3) 4. Lean (5) 14. Limb (3) 5. Church 15. Fuss (3) dignitary (7) 16. Religious sister (3) 6. Wig (6) 17. Mountaineer (7)
2
7
5 1
3 6 5
2
5 9
8
W RDSEARCH
18. Delighted (6) 19. Without vegetation (6) 21. Pressed (6) 22. Bores (6) 23. Essential (5) 24. Demise (5)
Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the grid to find these Christmas TV specials and films
M O HONEYC B
A K E F I WD I ME H T L L A C E Q Z G R L Y C C S R E D N E T S A E F B D WF MY F YMH A Z U C X R I Q I C I T E K OQ T GMO I S R V TWU L Y I S A E H G G I D ZM F Z SWY C L R E MM E F B H L N Q D E Q L WC H U Z X L A S C B U I J E Q R A L J L J F H N G N I C N A D EMO C Y L T C I R T S C D A O TWO D OO R S D OWN E Z H Q A R J U E Z X K Z Y WM Q N Z D V Z WL P Y V G H B Q T Z P Z D L E N Y N Y A F B A C H R I S T MA S S T O R Y D N O Z K D U V I F Q Y H E K QWC Y Q D S Y A D I L O H E H T X AMA V V S E G Z O T E Y Z Q Z RM J R P SM T A G N B A E H Q S G L L S H QQ T Z N Q L O N L O L F P OQ UWB Q N I P Z F F S EMA G F O E S U O H L Y H T B
Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number
1. Feeling of sickness 2. Cherry red colour 3. Power to be active 4. Keep possession of 5. Football club from Craven Cottage 6. Artistic dance
ANSWERS 1 7 8 5 9 6 2 4 3
9 5 4 1 2 3 7 8 6
3 2 6 8 7 4 9 1 5
8 3 9 7 4 2 5 6 1
5 4 2 6 1 8 3 9 7
7 6 1 3 5 9 8 2 4
2 1 5 4 8 7 6 3 9
6 8 7 9 3 1 4 5 2
4 9 3 2 6 5 1 7 8
HONEYCOMB 1. Nausea. 2. Cerise. 3. Energy. 4. Retain. 5. Fulham. 6. Ballet. QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Mason. 5. Patch. 8. Idler. 9. Trump. 10. Equal. 11. Penal. 12. Shoe. 15. Attend. 17. Crude. 18. Embalm. 20. Wind. 25. Maize. 26. Throb. 27. Annul. 28. Exalt. 29. Diner. 30. Hades. DOWN: 1. Matins. 2. Studio. 3. Nippy. 4. Slant. 5. Prelate. 6. Toupee. 7. Halved. 13. Hem. 14. Arm. 15. Ado. 16. Nun. 17. Climber. 18. Elated. 19. Barren. 21. Ironed. 22. Drills. 23. Vital. 24. Death.
14 • WAR CRY • 20 December 2025
SUDOKU
A CHRISTMAS STORY AMANDALAND CALL THE MIDWIFE DIY SOS EASTENDERS ELF HOME ALONE
HOUSE OF GAMES IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE NATIVITY! SONGS OF PRAISE STRICTLY COME DANCING THE HOLIDAY TWO DOORS DOWN
SERVES 4
Gingerbread house INGREDIENTS
METHOD
1kg plain flour
Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.
500g butter
Place the flour, butter and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl and rub together to create breadcrumbs, then add the sugar, ginger and cinnamon and mix well.
3tsp bicarbonate of soda 250g light brown sugar 3tsp ground ginger 1tsp ground cinnamon 4 eggs 200g golden syrup © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES, VICKI BLATCHLEY
Royal icing, caramel or chocolate, to assemble
To create templates, plan out the shape of the gingerbread house and draw all the pieces on paper, then cut them out. Place the templates on the dough. Cut round the templates until the wall, roof, window and door pieces are made and all the dough has been used. Reroll the dough if needed. Place the dough shapes on baking trays and bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Use the royal icing, caramel or chocolate to stick the pieces together and assemble into a house, then decorate as desired.
MAKES 12
Festive spiced muffins INGREDIENTS
METHOD
For the muffins
Preheat the oven to 190C/Gas Mark 5 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases.
100g dried mixed fruit 100g dried cranberries 50g mixed peel 4tsp ground mixed spice 400g self-raising flour 250g caster sugar 1tsp ground cinnamon © NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES, WILLIAM SHAW
Lightly beat the eggs and golden syrup together in a separate bowl, then add to the dry mixture and stir to form a dough. Roll out the dough to 4mm thickness on a sheet of greaseproof paper.
2 eggs 250ml soya milk 150ml vegetable oil For the frosting 150g butter, at room temperature 300g icing sugar, sifted
Put the dried mixed fruit, dried cranberries, mixed peel and mixed spice in a bowl and add the flour, caster sugar and cinnamon. Combine. Whisk the eggs, soya milk and oil in another bowl until frothy, then tip into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula to mix together. Divide the mixture evenly between the paper cases, then bake for 20-25 minutes, until the muffins have risen and are golden. Remove from the oven and leave on a wire rack to cool. To make the frosting, beat the butter in a bowl until soft. Gradually beat in the icing sugar. Once the muffins are cool, spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain or star nozzle. Pipe the frosting on the muffins and sprinkle the cinnamon over the top, to serve.
1tsp ground cinnamon
Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the National Trust website nationaltrust.org.uk
20 December 2025 • WAR CRY • 15
From ‘Joy to the World’ by Isaac Watts