War Cry 3 December

WAR CRY

The gift of Christmas

Celebrating the birth that changed the world

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 7605

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

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory

101 Newington Causeway London SE1 6BN

Tel: 0845 634 0101

Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org

Founder: William Booth General: Brian Peddle

Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill

Editor-in-Chief: Major Mal Davies

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

From the editor’s desk

THIS will be the first Christmas for three years that will not have the shadow of Covid-19 hanging over it. Although the virus is still present in society, people should be free to mix with friends and families over the festive season – if they can afford to.

In survey findings published last month, The Salvation Army revealed that almost seven in ten people are worried about having enough money for a Christmas dinner this year. The survey, which was carried out for the church and charity by Savanta ComRes, also found that nearly one in six people expects to use a food bank for some of their festive food, while one in seven is struggling to afford a Christmas present for their children.

It’s a bleak picture, and The Salvation Army is working hard to support people during the current cost of living crisis by supplying emergency food parcels and providing gifts to children who would otherwise have nothing to open on Christmas Day.

As well as giving such practical help in these desperate times, The Salvation Army wants to remind people of the hope they can have because of the birth of Jesus that is celebrated at this time of year.

The tiny, vulnerable baby – who is remembered as lying in an animal’s feeding trough because his parents had nowhere else to put him – was God coming into the world. And God lived among ordinary people in order to tell them how much he loved and cared for them.

For many people, life at the moment can seem incredibly bleak. But God still loves and cares for us all today and wants us to know the hope and light that only he can bring into our lives.

The true gift of Christmas is the loving relationship we can experience with God, who will help and guide us through even the toughest of times – and it’s a gift that is offered to each one of us.

F i rst d ays c over e d

Stamps tell the beginnings of the story of Jesus

Feature by Philip Halcrow

NEW stamps are tracking key moments in the Christmas story. Since their first appearance in 1966, Royal Mail’s Christmas stamps have featured various subjects, including seasonal traditions, Wallace and Gromit, and Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. This year’s collection is sticking to the story behind the celebration.

The designs by artist Katie Ponder depict scenes such as the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, the newborn Jesus lying in a manger and the wise men carrying gifts.

David Gold of Royal Mail says that the ‘charming style’ of the art decoinfluenced designs ‘sets the perfect tone for the festive season’.

For philatelists who want more information on the issue at hand, Royal Mail has it covered, thanks to the Rev Lucy Winkett. As well as checking on the theology of the stamps, the rector of St James’s Church in London’s Piccadilly has written a reflection for the presentation pack, setting the scene for the time of year.

‘I think people, irrespective of their

religious belief, often use Christmas to mark time,’ she tells the War Cry. ‘They’ll say that it is their first Christmas without a loved one who has died or their first with a new baby.

‘I wanted to think about what Christmas says about God, who is in eternity, and our own lives that are lived in time. So I point out that Jesus of Nazareth was born in time in Bethlehem around 4BC – the dating of our western calendar is a bit out – as a human being, a very bodily experience, but that his birth has a whole other dimension: at Jesus’ birth, God in eternity is poured out into the world.’

In the presentation pack, Lucy writes of how the eternal perspective of Christmas ‘is vividly illustrated’ in the stamps ‘in details such as the gold of the angel wings and the intensity of the gaze between Gabriel and Mary’ and of how, at Christmas, ‘eternity somehow breaks through and changes things’.

When the War Cry asks how eternity changes things for her, Lucy says: ‘I live in the middle of a city, the news is always

terrible and it sometimes feels like I tell the time by looking at the second hand on a clock. It ticks round, and it’s not inaccurate, but I’m never going to know the time by looking at it. For me, Christian faith is looking at the hour hand. It’s no less contemporary, no less accurate, but it has got a different rhythm. The birth of Christ in eternity breaking into the world helps me have a different perspective on living and dying.

‘It doesn’t mean today’s events don’t matter – they matter very much. At my church we serve meals and sit and eat with people who are homeless, so the day-to-day struggle is important. At the same time, we sit and eat in a building that is there to help us pray to the God of eternity.’

Such a perspective, she says, is about hope. It’s about imagining the world as God intended it to be and acting accordingly. ‘It’s practical and at the same time deeply hopeful and focused on eternity.’

And perhaps the images on people’s cards and packages will be, she says, ‘a tiny reminder of the reality in among all the worries and anxieties’.

Royal Mail’s stamps for this Christmas

People often use Christmas to mark time

How far is

IWONDER, are you planning on taking a journey this Christmas? Whether you are staying at home or joining the great seasonal getaway to celebrate with family and friends – perhaps for the first time since the restrictions of the pandemic – there is an invitation for us all to embark on a journey at this time of year.

‘How Far is it to Bethlehem?’ is a poem written by Frances Chesterton, wife of the author of the Father Brown detective books, GK Chesterton. She wrote it for her Christmas cards in 1917, and it became a carol. I must confess that, over the years, my imagination has often been captured by its first line, which asks that interesting question: How far is it to Bethlehem?

In my experience, long journeys, especially with children in tow, are always accompanied by the inevitable questions of ‘Are we there yet?’ and ‘How much longer is it going to take?’

I suspect that Mary may have asked the same question of Joseph more than once as they made their way from Nazareth

to Bethlehem to comply with the census. It was a trip of approximately 90 miles, and in normal circumstances would have taken a good four days. However, for a pregnant woman it would have taken far longer. Most likely it would have been on foot too, for there is no mention of a donkey in the Bible!

Eventually, tired and exhausted, they arrive at their destination just in time for the Christ-child to enter the world. How poignant that Jesus, God with us, the one who gives and sustains life in all its fullness and who later was to state ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35 New International Version), was born in Bethlehem – a town whose name in Hebrew means ‘house of bread’!

Then the shepherds enter this dramatic story of journeys. They were living out in the fields, watching their flocks at night, when seemingly from nowhere an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around. The shepherds could be forgiven for being terrified –

who wouldn’t be? But, having calmed them down, the angel gives them some amazing news that not only was about to change their lives for ever but also would have the power to transform my life and yours and all humankind for eternity: ‘A saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Luke 2:11)

Having been told where to find the Christ-child, they didn’t hang about, but hurriedly went on their way and found Mary and Joseph with their newly born son lying in a manger. Such was the impact of their trek to Bethlehem that they couldn’t hold back on sharing this good news with everyone. They were in awe and bursting with joy, praising God with every ounce of their being for what had been revealed to them.

How far is it to Bethlehem? I discover the answer to the question is found, along with so much more, in this simply worded poem that has far more spiritual depths than I had ever noticed before. For

They were in awe and bursting with joy

A seasonal message from Commissioner Gillian Cotterill, one of the leaders of The Salvation Army in the UK and Republic of Ireland

it to Bethlehem?

How far is it to Bethlehem? Not very far. Shall we find the stable room Lit by a star?

Can we see the little child, Is he within? If we lift the wooden latch May we go in?

it takes us on a pilgrimage not measured in miles or hours travelled, or traffic jams or detours endured, but one that can only be experienced in the depths of our hearts when we intentionally and continuously seek Jesus.

So, Bethlehem is not really very far at all, is it? Yet at times we are hesitant about coming into a closer relationship with Jesus. Feelings of our own unworthiness, or of having few gifts to offer, or that our lives are made up only of ‘little smiles and little tears’ all have the potential to block our pathway and we find ourselves at a distance from Christ. Wait a moment though! We may miss something crucial here. What if we lift the latch and boldly enter into the loving, welcoming presence of Christ? What if, stepping inside, we humbly come in faith just as the shepherds did long ago and open ourselves afresh to the babe of Bethlehem, the bread of life? The carol ends by saying that we can find rest in discovering Jesus as our heart’s desire. May you find your way to Bethlehem and be deeply blessed this Christmas!

May we stroke the creatures there, Ox, ass, or sheep? May we peep like them and see Jesus asleep?

If we touch his tiny hand Will he awake? Will he know we’ve come so far Just for his sake?

Great kings have precious gifts, And we have naught, Little smiles and little tears Are all we brought.

For all weary children Mary must weep. Here on his bed of straw Sleep, children, sleep.

God in his mother’s arms, Babes in the byre, Sleep, as they sleep who find Their heart’s desire.

Christma s

RICO TICE, a minister and author, explains how we can get what we really want this festive season

Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

‘WHAT would you like for Christmas?’ is the question on Rico Tice’s mind. In answer to his own query, he says that some of the things he’d like to ask for are actually out of reach – for example, a new knee.

‘My right one has never been great since playing rugby,’ the Londonbased minister tells me. Presents in general, he says, ‘are normally an anticlimax’, because the things that we truly long for can’t be bought.

But he believes that there is a way we can get them.

Rico has written a book, The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist, which considers what people’s deepest desires might be.

Three common human desires are, he tells me, for purpose, peace and hope. He explains where they can be found. ‘Jesus brings what we really long for,’ he says. ‘His resurrection brings purpose, because everything that we do is a part of a story that lasts for ever – and everything matters.

‘At Christmas people want peace with each other. Christmas often reveals bad family relationships, but Christian belief gives you the capacity to forgive each other.

‘Today we’ve got climate change, Covid, conflict in Europe and economic chaos. We need hope to keep us steady, and

Jesus brings that hope.’

In his book, Rico uses a verse from the Bible – Isaiah 9:6 – that is often quoted at Christmas-time in reference to Jesus: ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (New International Version).

‘Later in the Bible,’ Rico tells me, ‘we see those things. Jesus calms a storm, which shows him as the Mighty God. Being the Everlasting Father, he raises the dead. Being the Prince of Peace, he dies on the cross. And his teachings bring light, because he is a Wonderful Counsellor.

‘The prophecy being fulfilled shows that we can trust him for the promise he made in the past and encourages us to trust him for our future.’

Rico uses various incidents from Luke’s Gospel to describe how people can receive the gifts that Jesus offers them. One of them is the conversation between Jesus and the thief who hung on a cross next to him.

‘The account of the thief on the cross models three steps to paradise. The thief says, “We are being justly punished.” So the first step is to acknowledge our wrongdoing. To come to faith, we have to admit our sin. Although we are all victims

Rico Tice

wishes

in one way or another, we are not primarily victims; we are primarily rebels. Secondly, we have to recognise Jesus. The thief says, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” That is him acknowledging Jesus as King. Thirdly, the thief had asked to be accepted, by saying, “Remember me.” It is the shortest but most powerful prayer in the Bible.’

After his encounter with Jesus, the penitent thief died. I ask Rico how anyone can trust that God is good, when all people die and lose loved ones. He points to the death of his own mother as a moment of discovery.

‘As she was dying in the hospital, I said three things

to her: “Goodbye, I love you and I’ll see you again.” My mother had put her faith in Jesus – which is to say she believed that Jesus was born, lived and taught, was tried in a Roman-Jewish court, sentenced to die, strung up on a cross, certified as dead but days later was walking around again.’

Rico believes that Jesus’ death and resurrection show that God is good because he has a plan that will carry us beyond death. People who put their trust

in Jesus can have the hope of eternal life.

‘The Resurrection is like a needle that goes through a carpet, but Jesus pulls us through behind it. What staggered people is that Jesus talked about the resurrection of the dead. This means that we don’t grieve without hope, because we believe that we will rise again.

‘The Bible promises that one day there’ll be no more hospitals or hearses or handkerchiefs, no more crying or death or pain. If that’s true, it’s the only thing that can bring us comfort. As Christians, we know that the last thing – death – is not the worst thing. It is just the first page of a book that will go on, each page getting better and better.’

l The Ultimate Christmas Wishlist is published by the Good Book Company

The Bible promises that one day there’ll be no more pain

Families flock to farm for seasonal story

Every year, Pennywell Farm recreates the Nativity and invites the visiting families to take part in the experience

Feature by Claire Brine

THEY say never work with children or animals – but Chris Murray and his team at Pennywell Farm in south Devon are doing both, as they put on their annual Nativity play in the run-up to Christmas.

‘Every year, we take our guests on a walking Nativity journey, telling them the Christmas story,’ says Chris, who opened Pennywell in 1989, along with his wife, Nicky. ‘It’s such a joyous occasion. The main barn becomes a stable where we celebrate Jesus’ birth, and the rest of the farm is totally transformed, decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights and Christmas trees.’

Excited at the thought of entering a manger scene with a real little donkey, my family and I decide to wrap up warm, pull on our wellies and head to Pennywell to see the Nativity for ourselves. On our arrival, we are handed Christmas passports, which will be stamped at various points on our journey.

Then we make our way to the North Pole, which is our first stop before Bethlehem. It’s a place where families can climb into Santa’s sleigh and pose for photographs, while Pennywell staff are on hand to supply costumes to anyone wanting to take part in the Nativity. Reaching out

for a halo made from tinsel, my little girl decides that she’d like to be an angel. Around us, I can spot Joseph and a wise man also getting dressed up.

‘We do the Nativity journey in groups of about 30 people, so we have costumes for all the children if they want to get involved,’ Chris tells me when we chat over the phone in the weeks leading up to my visit. ‘They may want to dress up as a shepherd, a wise man or an innkeeper. But, of course, there can only be one Mary. Once everyone is ready, our narrator takes the guests on a journey to the town of Nazareth, where the first part of the Christmas story is recited.’

Sitting on bales of hay, the audience watch as a child angel Gabriel appears to Mary, telling her that she has been chosen by God to have his Son, called Jesus. There’s a bright light all around. The action moves into Joseph’s carpentry workshop, where Gabriel informs Joseph that Mary is pregnant by God’s Holy

The main barn becomes a stable for Jesus

Chris Murray

CLAIRE BRINE

Spirit. The narrator then explains that the couple need to travel to the town of Bethlehem for a census – and the journey is going to be long and difficult. Thankfully, in the corner of Joseph’s workshop, there is a real-life donkey, all ready to show us

the way. Off we trot, with a clip and a clop. I love it.

When the audience arrive at Bethlehem, we experience sound effects evoking a bustling town. Once we enter the main farmyard, the narrator points out that we need to find accommodation, because Mary is about to have her baby. So the children are invited to walk round various animal pens, which are the inns, and knock on the doors to ask if there is

As goats bleat from behind the fences of various inns, children knock.

But there are no vacancies. When all hope seems lost, Mary and Joseph finally encounter an innkeeper who offers them a stable. So we set off in the direction of Pennywell’s main barn, where – among donkeys, horses, alpacas and pigs – the rest of the Christmas story unfolds. Jesus is born. It’s noisy, cold, a little bit smelly –and somehow beautiful.

As children dressed as shepherds approach the baby and present him with cuddly toy lambs, we are invited to sing the carol ‘While Shepherds Watched’, which happens to be accompanied by the occasional oinking of a pig. Then, when a group of wise men bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, we chime in with ‘We Three Kings’.

My little girl, proud to be in her angel costume, sits with other children in the manger scene and enjoys belting out ‘Away in a Manger’, which is our final carol. Every parent, it seems, is taking photos – and I’m one of them.

‘That final scene in the manger always brings a feeling of calm – especially if we have a real baby playing Jesus,’ says Chris. ‘The narrator explains that God sent Jesus, his Son, into the world to be our saviour, and nearly every time the audience hear that part of the story, there’s a pause, a silence. We are

RICHARD AUSTIN

Children dress up to re-enact the Nativity in the barn

R I C H A R D A U S T I N

celebrating the light coming into the world.’

It’s a story Chris feels compelled to tell, year after year.

‘Every Christmas, Nicky and I stage the Nativity at Pennywell because of our Christian faith. Sharing the good news is what Jesus tells his followers to do. When you become a Christian, God’s Holy Spirit comes into your life and it makes you want to share that good news with others. The last thing Jesus said to his disciples was that his message was for everyone.

‘This year, when the world looks so hopeless, the Nativity play is a gentle way of reminding people that there is so much hope to be had. The world may be full of condemnation, but Jesus comes with a different message. He transformed

people. He is our source of hope and joy, if we go to him.’

Sharing the Christmas story at Pennywell has been important to Chris since the farm’s beginning. He remembers staging the first Nativity in 1990, after a couple of members of staff approached him with the idea.

‘They told me that they wanted to raise some money for their church and suggested putting on a Nativity play at

the farm, because not every school appeared to be doing them any more.

I knew that I wanted to raise money for the Christian charity, Tearfund, so I agreed.

‘We also wanted to do the Nativity because we felt that the real meaning of Christmas was getting lost a bit. It’s about Christ – and not the “mass” of eating and drinking. Christmas had become so materialistic, and yet there’s no need for it to be like that.’

Though the celebration of Jesus’ birth is at the heart of a Pennywell Christmas, there are plenty of other festive treats for the audience to enjoy once the Nativity play has finished. After leaving Bethlehem, my family and I head to another part of the farm, where we take a ride on a tractor and spot gingerbread men along the trail. In Noah’s Barn, my daughter visits the elves’ sweet shop to pick up her free bag of goodies, then happily sits down with a Christmastree cookie to write her letter to Santa. After a quick bounce on the bouncy castle, we head off to meet some of the other animals on the farm, enjoying cuddles with miniature pigs and mice.

The Nativity play brings hope

Our final stop before heading home is Santa’s grotto, where the man in red chats with my little girl, poses for a photo, gives her a high five and hands her an early Christmas present. He has made her day – and when I see the smile on her face, my day feels pretty special too.

‘Every year we are looking for ways to make Christmas at Pennywell even better,’ says Chris. ‘So, although the Nativity story always remains the same, we invest a lot more money in the whole experience. This

Chris dresses up as an elf to help Santa

RICHARD AUSTIN

year we’ve got more lights for Bethlehem and new sound effects. We’ve bought 200 bales of fresh straw, so that the barn is comfortable for the performances, plus we’ve got hundreds of Christmas trees. The idea is to make the farm appealing to everyone, and it really does look spectacular with twinkling lights all over the place.’

While Pennywell attracts many new visitors during the Christmas season, some families return year after year, explaining to Chris that the Nativity (and all the farm’s festive trimmings) have become part of their annual traditions.

‘We get a lot of generational visits –grandparents, parents and young children,’ says Chris. ‘But we also get a lot of parents with their older children who are university students. Ever since Covid, families have been looking for ways to get together and find activities to get them in the Christmas spirit. Knowing that families are relying on us in this way drives us on to make the Nativity even better and more relevant.’

Chris hopes that when it’s time for guests to go home, the message of the Christmas story will remain in their hearts. In his experience, it’s a message of peace, joy and hope.

‘Christmas is about God coming to Earth in human form, so that no matter what we have done wrong in our life, we can be saved,’ he says. ‘Every morning, Nicky and I pray for everyone coming into the farm, that they will hear the Christmas message and discover it is real. My hope is that when families visit us, they have more than just a lovely experience. I want them to go home saying: “There was something different going on at that farm. What is it?”’

An innkeeper turns away Mary and Joseph

RICHARD AUSTIN

Home for Christmas

HAVING suffered with anxiety and depression from the age of 12, Stephen began drinking heavily to cope. ‘I started drinking when I was about 15,’ he recalls. ‘I just got a taste for it, and it went from there. The way I’ve always dealt with problems is alcohol. If I have an argument with someone – alcohol. If there’s a death in the family – alcohol. Because of alcohol, I lost two marriages and my kids stopped speaking to me.’

After his second marriage fell apart Stephen had to leave the family home and lost contact with some of his five children. For two years he had to sleep rough on the streets of Cardiff, whether in subways or under bushes.

‘It’s a horrible experience,’ he says. ‘You just feel dirty. You never think you’ll be homeless, and when you are homeless, you just feel worthless.’

Driven into despair, his drinking continued to spiral out of control to the detriment of his health.

‘I wasn’t eating at all,’ he says. ‘I would drink heavily just so I could sleep on cold nights. It blocked everything else out. All

I could think about was the next drink.’ Feeling ashamed, he couldn’t bring himself to tell his family where he was, and he faced the possibility of dying alone on the streets. But his life was transformed when he met Kelly, who worked on The Bridge, a Salvation Army detox programme for those with drug and alcohol addictions. She offered him a place on the programme and a room at Ty Gobaith Lifehouse, a centre for people experiencing homelessness. ‘I was like, “I’m taking this with both hands,”’ he remembers. ‘It was the best thing I’d ever done.’

The specialist support that Stephen received from The Bridge gave him the strength to recover from his alcohol addiction. ‘Whenever I weakened, I could call them, night or day, and they’d be there,’ he recalls. He is now eating properly, his health has significantly improved and he is on medication to alleviate his anxiety.

Stephen thinks that The Salvation Army saved his life. ‘If it wasn’t for them, I probably would have been dead,’ he says.

Through the help he received he has also been able to move into his own home, and he is now back in contact with his children.

‘If The Salvation Army think you’re ready, you’re allocated a flat, and you still get a year’s aftercare,’ Stephen explains. ‘You get someone who will come out and check on you and they’re still there for you if you need it. The staff all just help you, it’s one of those places that makes you welcome, and I love it there. I call it my second home.’

The Christmas after Stephen gave up drinking was the happiest he’d had for years. He enjoyed a Christmas meal served by Salvation Army officers and volunteers, and he felt that ‘for the first time in years, I didn’t feel left out’.

He says: ‘Christmas now is amazing because I get to go and see my family, see my kids. So far I’ve done nearly three

Stephen now has his own home thanks to The Salvation Army

After his marriage fell apart, Stephen spent two years living on the streets. But, thanks to The Salvation Army, he now has a place of his own

Feature by Emily Bright

Drinking heavily blocked everything else out

years sober so my kids phone me and go, “I’m so proud of you and what you’ve achieved.”’

Stephen also has a dog, which has helped him enjoy his new start in life even more. ‘I think I’ve had him nearly a year, and I don’t think about my anxiety as much. He’s amazing and I love him. My future now is to keep doing what I’m doing and just be me and be happy. Life is beautiful.’

The Salvation Army is not only a charity, but also a church, and the Christian

faith lies at the heart of all that it does to serve people who are experiencing homelessness.

Major John Stark, the chaplain at Ty Gobaith Lifehouse, says: ‘Ty Gobaith translates in English as “Hope House” and, as a Christian response to people experiencing homelessness, The Salvation Army would always want to express hope to each person we meet in our centres. Our aim is to be there to support each resident as they navigate through this time in their lives, to be a listening ear and an

encouragement, and to show them the love of Jesus.

‘Because we love God, we are motivated to love others. Through our support The Salvation Army aims to bring healing and fullness of life not just to Stephen but to all.’

l For more information about the help that The Salvation Army gives visit salvationarmy.org.uk

Roast beef with olive and mustard crust

Ingredients

2tbsp vegetable oil

2kg beef roasting joint, ready to cook

2 sprigs rosemary

2 garlic cloves, squashed Salt and ground black pepper

1 egg yolk

2tbsp hot mustard

1tsp mustard seeds

50g black olives, finely chopped

2tbsp breadcrumbs

Method

Preheat the oven to 140C/275F/Gas Mark 1.

Heat the oil in a frying pan and brown the meat all over alongside the rosemary and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and take out of the pan.

Whisk the egg yolk with the mustard, mustard seeds, olives and breadcrumbs and brush over the meat.

Add the rosemary and garlic to a grill pan and place the meat on a wire rack over it, then cook in the oven for 40-50 minutes, depending on the thickness of the meat and the desired degree of cooking.

When cooked, wrap in aluminium foil and allow to rest for about 10 minutes.

Ingredients

Pour the apple juice in a pan and stir in the honey and vanilla extract over a low heat until dissolved.

4-5 apples, peeled, cored and thickly sliced

Add the apples and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 5-10 minutes, until the fruit is tender but still whole. Stir in the lemon zest and set aside to cool completely.

Scoop the layer of fatty cream off the top of the coconut milk and put into a chilled bowl. Reserve the milk in the fridge for another recipe.

Whisk well for 1-2 minutes, then add a few drops of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Whisk again until light and fluffy.

Layer the apples, coconut cream and biscuit crumbs in serving glasses. Serve chilled.

Born that man no more may die man no more may die

Born that

From ‘Hark! the Herald Angels Sing’ by Charles Wesley