What is The Salvation Army?
From the editor’s desk
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity providing services in the community, particularly to those who are vulnerable and marginalised. Motivated by our Christian faith, we offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK to all who need them, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. To find your nearest centre visit salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church
THE decision about who lands the starring role in the school Nativity play must drive teachers to distraction at this time of year – particularly when they know they will have to disappoint pupils who are desperate to play a particular part. In this issue of the War Cry, Rosemary Dawson writes about the time when her granddaughter missed out on playing the part of Mary. There is also the question of which is the starring part in the Nativity story. Given that most schools would struggle to find a pupil who could play the baby Jesus, is the star of the show Mary, Joseph, the angel Gabriel or one of the other characters? Rosemary’s granddaughter was given the part of the ‘Main Star’ and was told by her teacher that it was the most important role of all. Certainly the star that is mentioned in Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus played an important part in guiding the wise men to the new family. Through the ages, many people have wondered what that star actually was. It is something that has interested Professor David Wilkinson. In an interview in this issue, David discusses the various astronomical phenomena that could explain how the star mentioned in the Bible appeared. However, David does not rule out the star being a ‘miraculous sign in the sky’, saying that the account of the star and the wise men shows that ‘God reaches out to people beyond our normal expectations’. At Christmas, Christians celebrate how God reached out to people when his own Son came into the world as a vulnerable, tiny baby. Through the gift of Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection, everybody is able to know God for themselves and discover the part they can play in God’s plan for humankind. It is an offer of a role that will not disappoint anyone.
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.
SINCE 1879
140 YEARS
OF THE WAR CRY Issue No 7452
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow Production Editor: Ivan Radford Assistant Editor: Claire Brine Staff Writer: Sarah Olowofoyeku Staff Writer: Emily Bright Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston Graphic Designer: Mark Knight War Cry office: 020 7367 4900 Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army UK Territory with the Republic of Ireland 101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN Tel: 0845 634 0101 Helpline: 020 7367 4888 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill Secretary for Communications: Lieut-Colonel Dean Pallant
Published weekly by The Salvation Army ©The Salvation Army United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland ISSN 0043-0226 The Salvation Army Trust is a registered charity. The charity number in England and Wales is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. Printed by Walstead Roche Ltd, St Austell, on sustainably sourced paper
Your local Salvation Army centre
Contents FEATURES 3
Special delivery Royal Mail stamps tell Nativity story
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A smashing story A seasonal message from Salvation Army’s UK leader
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Astronomical sign What was the star the wise men followed?
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Dinner is served Hundreds enjoy all the trimmings on Christmas Day
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Joyful and triumphant Choirmaster on carols at King’s
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REGULARS 12
Browsing the Bible
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Out of the Mouth of Babes
14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: Andrew King Photography
2 • WAR CRY • Christmas 2019
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