War Cry 23 December

WAR CRY

23 December 2023 50p/60c

A very berry Christmas The roots of evergreen decorations explained

INSIDE

WAR CRY

BIG QUIZ OF THE YEAR

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.

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 7659

Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Staff Writer: Claire Brine Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight

From the editor’s desk THE big day is almost here. On Monday, children will be waking up early to find out what presents await them under the tree. It will end weeks of eager expectations that have been fuelled by TV adverts, marketing campaigns and Christmas decorations in the shops.

During the past few weeks there has also been a debate on social media about when is the right time for people to put up decorations in their homes. Is November too early? Is this week too late? Whatever opinions may be shared, it certainly seems that Christmas trees are appearing in homes earlier than they were 50 years ago.

The tradition of decorating houses at this time of year goes back much further, though. In this week’s War Cry we speak with English Heritage’s Dr Michael Carter, who tells us about the history of some of the decorations we put up at Christmas.

‘We know that churches in late medieval England were being adorned with greenery – overwhelmingly holly,’ he says. ‘By the 17th century, mentions are made of other types of greenery adorning people’s homes.’

Michael also explains why people were drawn to take these evergreens into their homes.

‘The world is really at its deadest in some senses, in terms of growth, but evergreens are all around us,’ he says. ‘It’s entirely understandable that you would want to adorn your home at a special time of year and use what’s at hand.’

The decorations we put in our homes at Christmas can help to brighten up an otherwise drab time of year. For Christians, they also create the right kind of atmosphere to help them celebrate the birth of Jesus.

‘The reason why Christmas has remained such an enormous deal is because it’s the festival of Christ’s birth,’ Michael tells us. ‘There’s something about Christmas – that story of hope – which has an enduring appeal.’

The hope that the birth of Jesus offers is available to everyone. And that’s good news, however we dress it up.

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CONTENTS

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FEATURES

3

Cat’s whiskers for Christmas Moggie adventures on Channel 4

4

Finding focus A message from the international leader of The Salvation Army

6

The holly and the ivy The story of greenery at Christmas

8

The good, the bad and the ugly The Nativity story uncut

12 The big quiz of the year How many questions can you answer?

REGULARS

11 Now, There’s a Thought!

14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen

LUPUS FILMS

The purrfect Christmas Family feline searches for a sense of belonging TV preview by Emily Bright

F

ESTIVITIES are filled with unexpected perils for one perplexed house cat in new animated film Mog’s Christmas, which will be aired on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve. Inspired by the children’s books written

by Judith Kerr, the story follows the cat’s life with Mr and Mrs Thomas (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy) and their two children Debbie and Nicky.

The feline causes happy chaos wherever she goes.

As the tale begins, Mog is bemused by the mysterious Christmas decorations going up. She is also disappointed to discover that everyone is too busy to make time for her. They complain that she is getting in the way.

Add to that the stamping feet of scatty aunts and the arrival of a noisy jolly uncle, and it’s all a bit unsettling. The final straw is when Mr Thomas brings home a giant Christmas tree. Obscuring his face, the tree appears to be walking and talking of its own accord. Mog flees in terror at this strange new addition to the household.

Meowing self-pityingly, Mog wonders where she belongs. She sees other households celebrating their Christmases together while she sits out in the cold. And when she faces a crisis, will her family notice her absence and help her?

Director Robin Shaw tells the War Cry: ‘In the film, the sense of belonging is not

Mog finds herself in a spot of bother

just about the nuclear family. It is about any sense of belonging. It is about finding that sense of belonging within yourself or with other people, and it is very important not to exclude anyone.’

Sometimes, particularly at Christmas, we can feel like Mog – isolated, confused or sad. We may have experienced a bereavement, be struggling with loneliness, or be wondering where we belong. The great news is that, in such times, we can turn to someone who will always be there for us: God. He loves us like sons and daughters, and in him we can find peace and our true sense of identity.

In the Bible, a writer reassures his

It is important not to exclude anyone

readers: ‘You are no longer called outcasts and wanderers but … members of God’s holy family’ (Ephesians 2:19 The Voice).

These welcome words are still as true as when they were first written.

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been reconciled to God, who offers to be an ever-present help and support to us, in good times and bad. God gives us the ultimate gift of belonging by inviting us into a relationship with him.

We can all find acceptance in God, no matter what we may have done or thought. He will never turn us away or tell us he’s too busy to spend time with us. All we need to do is let him into our lives. If we do so this festive season, it will make for a Christmas like no other.

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Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Margaret’s family, that they will become very close once again.

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 am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit.

Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Amen

Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International

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The heart T

HE scene was a familiar one. A street filled with festive lights and decorations, music playing and crowds of people moving along, taking note of all the Christmas details. Right at the end was a house that was in relative darkness, with just a small box containing a Nativity scene set up on the front lawn. Most people did not even bother to check it out. Most simply considered the Christmas display was over before they reached that house. But right there was a visual representation of the quiet heart of Christmas.

Not a flashy display. Not a lot of lights and sounds. Just a quiet focus on the one who is born to be our saviour.

I sometimes wonder whether it is easy for us to miss the quiet heart of Christmas. Even when we are looking at some of the Christmas story we may miss the central message of it all.

In the Bible, each of the Gospel writers presents Christmas in

of Christmas A seasonal message from General Lyndon Buckingham, international leader of The Salvation Army

a different way. Some might say that only Matthew and Luke include the Christmas story. But I want to suggest to you that each of the Gospels brings its own special emphasis.

Mark – possibly the oldest of the Gospels – does not have any birth or infancy stories. Instead, Mark’s ‘Christmas’ is embedded in the opening words, ‘The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God’ (Mark 1:1 New King James Version).

Jesus is shown to be Son of God from the very beginning. That’s the good news.

John also does not contain birth or infancy stories, but shows the centre of Christmas originating in the heart of God. The Word made flesh dwells among us – full of grace and truth (see John 1:14).

Matthew opens with a long list of names in Jesus’ family tree. It’s easy to skip over this and miss its significance.

Included in it are five women who all showed remarkable faith, despite the fact that society may have judged them harshly. Tamar – who tricked her father-in-law so that she could become pregnant; Rahab – a prostitute who helped the Israelite spies; Ruth – a despised foreigner; Bathsheba – an adulteress; and Mary – an unmarried mother.

Each were part of Jesus’ family history. If Jesus will later be shown to identify with sinners, it’s because it’s ‘in his genes’.

Jesus is connected with people who – despite sinfulness and frail humanity – show faith. Matthew then makes the connection with Jesus being Immanuel – ‘God with us’, in our humanness.

We may miss the central message

All of this happens before the traditional Christmas characters – the wise men – even appear. They come to find the one born to be King.

Luke has the angels announcing that Jesus is the Saviour, Christ the Lord (see Luke 2:8–14). This news is not given to the people who you would expect, but rather to shepherds – often considered to be religious outcasts because of the nature of their work. For such as these, living on the margins of society, Jesus comes as Saviour.

Each of the Gospels presents a different view of Christmas.

It’s easy for us to become so engaged with the trappings of the Christmas story, which may include things that we have become accustomed to, that are not even mentioned in any of the Gospels. Instead we can sometimes miss the quiet heart of Christmas as related in Scripture.

This year, perhaps we can focus again on what the Gospels actually tell us about the coming of Jesus. One who comes for those who are sinners and outcasts. One who comes to be King.

One who comes to be Immanuel – God with us. One who comes to be our saviour. One who has existed from all eternity.

With all the other things that happen at this time of the year, may we focus our hearts and minds on the quiet heart of Christmas: the reality of who Jesus is. The Son of God. The eternal Word made flesh. Our King. Immanuel. Our Saviour. Christ the Lord.

With the songwriter, we say ‘O come to us, abide with us,/ Our Lord Immanuel.’

May God bless you at this Christmas-time and throughout the coming year.

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The holly and the ivy English Heritage historian Dr MICHAEL CARTER explains how our favourite festive greenery became popular Interview by Emily Bright

W

HILE hunting for original festive feature ideas, I blurted out to my editor: ‘How about a feature on Christmas greenery?’ But type that topic into Google and you will find a bewildering array of contradictory articles claiming to tell the real history of the traditions.

Thankfully, I got to speak to English Heritage Historian Dr Michael Carter who has a wealth of knowledge on the subject and separates fact from fiction.

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Dr Michael Carter He tells me that a love of festive greenery began with the pre-Christian Romans, whose feast days ‘beat to the rhythm’ of the natural year.

‘The Romans, when there were big festivals, would adorn places with greenery and with flowers,’ Michael explains.

‘That carries on into Christianity, and it gets the early Church Fathers rather worked up about whether this is appropriate.

‘But Gregory the Great – who sends St Augustine to convert the AngloSaxons – comes firmly down on the side of “Get over yourself, this is something that will help lead people to the truth.”

Certainly we know that churches in late medieval England were being adorned with greenery, overwhelmingly holly.’

Yet even the humble holly came into the crossfire of religious sectarianism in the 16th century during the reign of Henry VIII’s son Edward, who was fiercely Protestant and suspicious of ornate church decor.

‘During the more extreme Reformation of Edward VI, those

fee payments for greenery disappear from parish accounts,’ says Michael. ‘But they reappear immediately during the Catholic restoration of Mary, and then under a more moderate Reformation of Elizabeth I. Indeed, she personally pays for the provision of greenery at Christmas-tide for two parish churches near Whitehall.

Elizabeth did have an affection for the picturesque.

‘Towards the end of her reign, greenery becomes even more popular, and it certainly has an enduring appeal for the adornment of homes.’

People were also diversifying into more unusual forms of decoration.

Michael says: ‘There’s a medieval carol that survives from Queen’s College, Oxford, “The Boar’s Head”. It talks about the boar’s head being adorned with bay and rosemary. That carol was certainly in existence by the 15th century.

‘By the 17th century, mentions are made of other types of greenery adorning people’s homes. As well as holly and ivy, you get yew, rosemary and bay, which have got lovely smells associated with them.’

This penchant for the evergreen persisted through the turbulent history of Britain.

‘The adornment of churches with greenery is widely readopted after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660,’ continues Michael.

‘By 1712, The Spectator is commenting on how the aisle of a church was like a “shady

The humble holly came into the crossfire

© ENGLISH HERITAGE TRUST

walk” because so much greenery had been put in the church. By the middle of the 17th century, you finally get mention of mistletoe. However, the tradition of kissing under the foliage comes from the mid-18th century.’

I

wonder what the history is of that most popular piece of greenery – the Christmas tree. Michael explains that it arrived later.

‘It’s only in the 1840s that Christmas trees are made fashionable by Prince Albert. He does seem to have a role in setting one up at Windsor Castle.

‘In the 1850s, Charles Dickens refers to Christmas trees as a “pretty German toy”. Initially, they become a mainstay of an English middle and upper-class Christmas, because they’re expensive.

It’s only really in the 1950s that they start to become universal.’

After a whistlestop historical overview, I’m curious about what lies behind the enduring popularity of festive evergreens.

‘I think it speaks to a much deeper and human need at Christmas,’ Michael replies. ‘The world is really at its deadest in some senses, in terms of growth, but evergreens are all around us.

‘If you bring them into your home for a bit of adornment and put candles among them, you have light as well. It’s entirely understandable that you would want to adorn your home at a special time of year

Evergreens have been used for decoration for many centuries

and use what’s at hand.’

He shares his take on why Christmas, with all its traditions, has become such a fixture in our calendar.

‘There are psychological reasons why we need a celebration in the middle of winter. But the reason why Christmas has remained such an enormous deal is because it’s the festival of Christ’s birth.

‘It has been reinvented many times, it has been knocked about and derided by religious reformers and secularists.

But while the census shows that most

people now do not identify as having a Christian belief, Christianity still has a huge impact on the culture of this country.

One of the reasons it does is, I think, the importance of ceremonies like at Christmas and the deep messages that they contain.

‘There’s something about Christmas – that story of hope – which has an enduring appeal. The ceremonies that accompany it are joyous times of the year. The singing of Christmas carols and the greenery in churches are manifestations of that joy.’

Evergreens are all around us

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Nativity story contains upsetting scenes Author CARL LAFERTON sheds light on the dark side of the first Christmas Interview by Claire Brine

‘M

OST of us think that what happened at the first Christmas was what took place in our Nativity plays at school,’ says Carl Laferton, the editorial director of publishers the Good Book Company.

‘But the real Christmas story is much less cute. It doesn’t feature children wearing tea towels or tinsel on their heads, which is what happened in our school hall when we were six years old.

‘The events of Jesus’ birth are much more gritty and gripping than that. This is a story that answers our deepest questions, addresses our deepest needs

Carl Laferton

and helps us make sense of life.’

Some years ago, when Carl attended his goddaughter’s Nativity play, he realised that the scenes unfolding on stage didn’t reflect fully the Christmas story as recorded in the Bible.

‘I saw that huge bits of the story had been cut, because – quite rightly – we need to be careful with some of the details when we are telling it to children,’ he says.

‘But I also realised from working at a church in Hull at the time that many adults were confused as to what happened at the first Christmas.

‘I think that when we cut bits of the

Nativity and insert bits that didn’t happen, we end up with this cutesy, child-friendly story, which many people assume, then, is just for kids – a bit like Father Christmas.

Later, when children outgrow Father Christmas and become adults, many of them leave the Nativity story behind too.

They think Jesus, angels, shepherds and wise men are just “something for kids”, but the events of the first Christmas are historical. We’ve become a lot less excited about this story than we should be.’

In his book Christmas Uncut, first published in 2012 but updated and re-released this year, Carl sets out for readers ‘what really happened’ before, during and after Jesus’ birth. It’s a story of scandal, controversy, massacre and miracles.

Carl tells me: ‘It starts with an unmarried girl who, when she falls pregnant, faces rejection from her society at best – and stoning to death at worst. And it ends with King Herod killing a whole town’s baby boys because he’s trying to wipe out the new King, Jesus, who’s a threat to his power.

‘I wanted my book to include everything that happened, because the world isn’t about sweet stories. Life is broken, marred and messy. And the Bible says that this is the world in which God came to live, through his Son, Jesus.

‘There’s something far more compelling about a Christmas story which includes the complexities of difficult families and people being awful. We can begin to understand that God chose to come into this mess and how he gives us hope through it.’

Huge bits of the story had been cut

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With no family-friendly filters to make it more palatable, Carl outlines the events of the first Christmas.

‘In a nutshell, the Christmas story is about God becoming a man so that we can know him and, ultimately, live with him eternally,’ he says. ‘But the details are

that one day, in a nowhere town, an angel visited a girl called Mary and told her that she was going to become pregnant with God’s Son. Understandably, this was troubling for her, but she accepted that this was God’s plan.

‘When she told her fiancé, Joseph, that

she was pregnant, he planned to break up with her. But then an angel appeared to him in a dream and explained what was going on, so the couple pressed on.

‘Just before Mary was due to give

Turn to page 10 f

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From page 9 birth, she and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, because their country was under Roman rule and everyone was ordered to go to their home town to be registered. When Jesus was born, he was placed in an animals’ feeding trough because there was nowhere else to put him.

‘After the birth, God chose to announce the arrival of his Son to some shepherds, who were considered the lowest of the low. An angel told them that Jesus had come to rescue people from the mess of this world and the mess of their lives. The shepherds ran to see him.

‘Some time later, some wise men – who had seen a new star – worked out that a prophesied new King had been born and travelled to find him. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked the current King, Herod, about Jesus’ birth, then went on to Bethlehem, where they worshipped the baby and gave him gifts.

‘Challenged by the idea of a new King, Herod ordered his soldiers to wipe out every baby boy in Bethlehem. But before they could get to the town, an angel visited Joseph and warned him to escape.

So Mary, Joseph and Jesus travelled to Egypt. Herod’s plans were thwarted. And the Christmas story ends with the world waiting to see what kind of king and rescuer Jesus will be.’

It’s dramatic stuff. So what does Carl think are the key objections people have to believing such events?

‘Firstly, there are intellectual objections,’ he says. ‘In order to think this story is true, you’ve got to think that miracles are possible. You’ve got to believe that a baby can be born who doesn’t have a human father. Of course, that’s hard to believe – but that’s the point. If God is breaking into this world, we should expect him to do it in a way that only God can, in a way that we can’t fully explain. So I think a virgin birth is fitting, because God is able to do things that we can’t.

‘I also think that people are quick to buy into something like Father Christmas but not perhaps the Nativity story because Father Christmas makes no claims on our lives. He’s never going to tell us that we need to be forgiven, whereas Jesus tells us that we’ve contributed to the mess of the world, that we need to change and that we need forgiveness.

That’s a more challenging message than Father Christmas gives us, but a much more satisfying one. All of us, I think, know deep down that we have got things wrong and need help in our lives.’

Despite the fact that Carl has read the Christmas story countless times, he continues to find the events surrounding Jesus’ birth inspiring. Every year, he

Herod’s plans were thwarted

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reflects on the Gospel accounts in search of new insights and deeper understanding – and he encourages others to do the same.

‘The Gospels of Matthew and Luke talk about the human interactions that happened around Jesus’ birth,’ he explains. ‘But John’s Gospel looks at it from a more cosmic level. In John 1:9, it says: “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” And that’s a great summary of what Christmas offers us.

‘In our world – which is often full of darkness – a true light has come. Light is something which guides us, stops us feeling scared and shows us the way forward. The message of the first Christmas is that Jesus offers to be this light for anyone who asks him. That’s why it’s not just a story for kids, but it’s for adults too.’

l Christmas Uncut is published by the Good Book Company

Now, ther

a thou NOW, THERE’S A THOUGHT!

by Jane Ayamba

When the everyday becomes extraordinary CHRISTMAS, for many people, is the most wonderful time of the year. The promise of lights, festive decor, indulgent food and the overwhelming sense of excitement can colour the dreariest of winter months. Christians celebrate because all the joys experienced at Christmas are rooted in God’s fulfilment of his promise to send a Messiah – a saviour who would reveal God’s nature to humankind.

God had said that this Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. To make this promise come true, God designed it so that the expectant parents, Mary and Joseph, would have to travel to Bethlehem from their home in Nazareth for a census that was being held.

After the baby had been born and they had laid him in a manger, they would be visited by shepherds, who excitedly shared the news that they had received from an angel: ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David, there has been born for you a saviour, who is Christ the Lord (the Messiah)’ (Luke 2:10 and 11 Amplified Bible).

It’s comforting to know that God kept his word and used everyday people and things to bring about his promise – Mary, Joseph, shepherds, a census, among others. Many of those involved may not have realised that what they did would bring hope to everyday people like us thousands of years later.

The birth of Jesus happened on a real day, in a real city, with real witnesses. This is what Christians celebrate on 25 December. Christmas brings me comfort and joy because it reminds me that God was willing to get his hands dirty and become man in the lowliest of circumstances, so that he would understand my suffering.

The best part is that he did this for us all. Which means that, as we reflect on the Christmas story, we can be filled with joy in this season and beyond.

Christmas brings me comfort and joy

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QUICK QUIZ 1

From which country does the traditional sweet bread panettone originate?

2

What is St Stephen’s Day also commonly known as?

3 4 5 6

Who wrote the Victorian novella A Christmas Carol?

What does the Spanish phrase ‘Feliz Navidad’ mean?

Who played the title role in the 1951 film Scrooge?

What is the plant Hedera helix commonly known as?

ANSWERS 1. Italy. 2. Boxing Day. 3. Charles Dickens.

4. Happy Christmas. 5. Alastair Sim. 6. Common ivy.

Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 23 December 2023 • WAR CRY • 11

As 2023 draws towards a close, we take a look back with these quiz questions on topics covered in the War Cry over the year.

Why not have a go and see how many you can answer correctly by yourself? Or try it out with friends and family!

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6

At the start of the year, we reported on the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch.

Which British bird, known for its bright red breast, has the scientific name Erithacus rubecula?

4

When it returned to TV screens in January, we wrote about the BBC1 detective drama Father Brown.

Who plays the title role?

5

A year-long festival marked the 300th anniversary of the death of the architect who designed St Paul’s Cathedral.

What was his name?

7

We interviewed the curator of a digital art exhibition, Fruits of the Spirit, staged online by the National Gallery. In which UK city is the physical National Gallery located?

3

When it kicked off in February, we reported on the Six Nations rugby tournament.

Who went on to become champions?

Our Wisdom in the Words series, which explores lyrics, took a look at the song ‘Clean’ from 1989, an album re-released this year by which artist?

To celebrate International Lego Day, we interviewed the Rev Stephen Cook, who used the toy to teach the gospel.

Lego derives its name from the Danish words ‘leg godt’.

What does the phrase mean in English?

WAR

BIG Q

OF THE

8 We wrote about fictional British secret agent James Bond’s birthday when he turned 70 in April.

Who wrote the original Bond novels?

9

We published a special issue to mark the coronation of King Charles III. On what date did the coronation take place?

NHS

11 10

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Ahead of the Song Con Eurovision we spoke test in May, to Irish s in Dana abo ut winnin ger g the competiti Who wen on in 1970. t on to year’s ev win this ent?

The UK celebrated the 75th anniversary of the NHS in July, and we spoke with nurse Vicky Gate about life in a paediatric A&E. What do the initials NHS stand for?

our Team Talk 12 Incolumn, Claire Brine

touched on the film Barbie. Who plays the title role in the film?

14 Royal Mail gave the public one last chance to use old postage stamps by 1 August, or else swap them for new ones. What was the world’s first postage stamp called?

13 The British Chess

Championships took place in July. Which chess piece can move any number of squares horizontally, diagonally or vertically?

R CRY

QUIZ

15

To mark the UN’s World Humanitarian Day, we interviewed Damaris Frick, director of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services. What were the names of the married couple who started The Salvation Army?

16 EastEnders star Colin Salmon told us in September that playing the cornet in a Salvation Army band paved the way for his career on screen. What is the name of Colin’s character in the soap?

E YEAR

18

We feature a variety of recipes in our War Cry Kitchen pages throughout the year. In the UK, one tablespoon is equal to how many teaspoons?

In our special edition which focused on Recycle Week in October, we reported on the growing market for buying and selling preloved items. Which online selling site was originally known as AuctionWeb when it was launched in 1995?

19

We interviewed Marcia Dixon, editor of Keep the Faith magazine, about Black History Month. Who was the first black woman to be elected to the UK’s parliament?

we marked 20 IntheNovember, 400th anniversary

of playwright William Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Which of Shakespeare’s plays includes the line: ‘All the world’s a stage’?

ANSWERS 1. Mark Williams. 2. The robin. 3. ‘Play well’. 4. Ireland. 5. London.

6. Sir Christopher Wren. 7. Taylor Swift. 8. Ian Fleming. 9. 6 May. 10. Loreen. 11. National Health Service. 12. Margot Robbie. 13. The queen.

14. The Penny Black. 15. William and Catherine Booth. 16. George Knight.

17. Three. 18. eBay. 19. Diane Abbott. 20. As You Like It.

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PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Deduce (5) 4. Examine accounts (5) 8. Tot up (3) 9. Acquire knowledge (5) 10. Concise (5) 11. Master (3) 12. Artery (5) 13. Utmost (7) 16. Difficult (6) 19. Appear (6) 23. First course (7) 26. Seat (5) 28. Writing fluid (3) 29. Entice (5) 30. Problem (5) 31. Male offspring (3) 32. Rendezvous (5) 33. Style of dress (3-2) DOWN 2. Natural aptitude (5) 3. Plunder (7) 4. Worshipped (6) 5. First appearance (5) 6. Hackneyed (5)

SUDOKU

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

7

2 4

1

5 8 7

6 9 5 9 5 7 6 1 7. Firearm (5) 9. Smallest (5) 14. Cereal plant (3) 15. Drinking vessel (3) 17. Decay (3) 18. Motor vehicle (3)

20. Taunting (7) 21. Weird (5) 22. Clergyman (6) 23. Glossy fabric (5) 24. Confess (5) 25. Untidy (5) 27. Useful quality (5)

M O B HONEYC Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number

9 2 7 6 4 2 2 5 4 8 1 3

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8 7 9 6 2 3 1 5 4 5 2 6 1 4 7 8 9 3 Look up, down, forwards, 1 3 backwards 4 5 8and9diagonally 2 7 on 6 the grid to find these Christmas TV specials and films 7 1 3 8 6 5 4 2 9 E Z E L ADR 6 E4M M 8 E 7Q T9 P 2J E3C A1 J 5 F S F QROQY X Z L PK T P Z XQ J 5 F 3Z G1G 4V K7I E6 W8 I G I YQC2 S Y9V R WR L D N T 9 B J5W M 7 X 2Z X3Q 8P Z6Y Q4 N 1 D Q L N A O V H OME A L O N E B HW 8 T7 I ZUYQR3 T N6Q Z2 I 4O H5 I 1 A O9S M MN F E HW4 A G8Z B Z S Z S T T Y X 1 9 7 6 5 3 Z2 E K R Q I HWP OQ R J T E I QO H C H U E J Z OWZ D I Z E G S V MB Z F T DDZ B Z EQANNCY S I I S B J L L N G QWY P Q D O G Q G T Q N B C L YOHB Z EQE BN YOE Y SWJ Q A ZWS Q R K R ZWQ U E U A Z O N L CP A Z E T SUQGK V S B T J RHV BKSHKNA L BY T EKNA L B ZG DZ T HE P I ANOGYOQYNS KH G N I C N A D EMO C Y L T C I R T S AGX U I Z J U E Z GY V ZW I MSQ

1. Scattered rubbish 2. Footprints 3. Played at Wimbledon 4. Physically powerful 5. Large vegetable 6. Break free

ANSWERS 8 5 1 7 6 2 9 3 4

7 2 3 1 4 9 5 6 8

9 6 4 3 8 5 7 2 1 1

6

6 1 5 8 7 3 2 4 9

2 4 8 6 9 1 3 5 7 5 7

3 7 9 5 2 4 8 1 6

1 8 2 4 3 7 6 9 5

5 9 7 2 1 6 4 8 3 3

4 3 6 9 5 8 1 7 2

HONEYCOMB 1. Debris. 2. Tracks. 3. Tennis.

4. Strong. 5. Marrow. 6. Escape.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Infer. 4. Audit. 8. Add. 9. Learn. 10. Brief.

11. Sir. 12. Aorta. 13. Extreme. 16. Tricky. 19. Emerge.

23. Starter. 26. Chair. 28. Ink. 29. Tempt. 30. Issue.

31. Son. 32. Tryst. 33. Get-up.

DOWN: 2. Flair. 3. Ransack. 4. Adored. 5. Debut.

6. Trite. 7. Rifle. 9. Least. 14. Rye. 15. Mug. 17. Rot. 18. Car. 20. Mocking. 21. Eerie. 22. Priest. 23. Satin.

24. Admit. 25. Tatty. 27. Asset.

14 • WAR CRY • 23 December 2023

5 7

1

BEYOND PARADISE BLANKETY BLANK CALL THE MIDWIFE DOCTOR WHO EASTENDERS ELF EMMERDALE GHOSTS

HOME ALONE IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE MRS BROWN'S BOYS NATIVITY! NOT GOING OUT STRICTLY COME DANCING THE PIANO THE REPAIR SHOP

SERVES 2

Christmas leftovers burger with fried egg INGREDIENTS

METHOD

Butter

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

2 brioche burger buns, sliced 2 slices cooked turkey 2 slices cheddar cheese 2tbsp cranberry sauce

Meanwhile, mix together the cranberry and chilli sauces in a small dish and set aside.

In a small frying pan, melt some butter and fry the eggs until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny.

1tbsp chilli sauce

Remove the burger buns and cheesy turkey slices from the oven.

2 large British Lion eggs

To assemble the burgers, place 2 lettuce leaves on the bottom half of each bun, then add a cheesy turkey slice, a fried egg and 1tbsp spicy cranberry sauce on top. Cover with the top halves of the buns, to serve.

4 lettuce leaves

SERVES 8

Spread some butter on the burger buns, then transfer to a roasting tray lined with baking parchment. Top the turkey slices with the cheese slices, place next to the buns and warm in the oven for 5 minutes.

Leftovers quiche INGREDIENTS

METHOD

2tbsp olive oil

Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4.

1 onion, finely chopped

Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat, then cook the onion for 5 minutes.

Add in the Brussels sprouts and cook for a further 5-7 minutes, until they and the onion are soft.

Lightly season with salt and pepper.

200g Brussels sprouts, finely sliced Salt and pepper 23cm par-baked savoury pastry case 8 cooked cocktail sausages, roughly chopped 3 large British Lion eggs 250ml milk

Place the pastry case on a baking tray, then scatter over the onion and sprouts mixture and the cocktail sausages.

In a large jug, beat together the eggs, milk, cream and 30g Parmesan. Pour the mixture in the pastry case and scatter the remaining Parmesan over the top. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, until set.

Heat the remaining oil in a small frying pan over a medium-high heat and add the sage leaves. Fry for 2 minutes, until crisp. Set aside. Leave the quiche to cool for at least 1 hour. Garnish with the crispy sage leaves, to serve.

100ml double cream 50g Parmesan cheese, grated Small handful sage leaves

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the British Egg Information Service website egginfo.co.uk

23 December 2023 • WAR CRY • 15

BORN THAT MAN NO MORE MAY DIE From ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’

by Charles Wesley

WAR CRY