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 7606
WHEN considering the essentials for Christmas, one item that parents can easily overlook is a tea towel – not for drying up after Christmas dinner, but for placing on the head of a child picked to be a shepherd in the Nativity play. Of course, if the little one is an angel, then a garland of silver tinsel will be needed instead. At one time or another, many people will have watched or taken part in these performances that tell the story of the birth of Jesus. Nativity plays, often involving the youngest members of the family, are as much a part of the season as presents, turkeys and trees. But they are so much more than that as well. They are a reminder to people of all ages of the central message of Christmas – that God came in the form of a small baby to bring hope into a sometimes dark and hopeless world. It’s a message that author and theologian Elaine Storkey discusses in this week’s War Cry. In her interview, Elaine explains that the Bible’s account of the birth of Jesus is a story of light coming into the world. She mentions an Old Testament prophecy often recited at Christmastime which describes that concept. ‘It’s significant because it feels familiar,’ she tells us, ‘but we also see the beauty of it. Many people today are walking in darkness which is not of their own making but which they’ve been pushed into by other people, events, poverty or ill health. We all need that light to be shining and, if that light is somehow connected with the baby at Bethlehem, then we’ve got something we can focus on, we’ve got real hope.’ When we consider the essentials of Christmas this year – whatever those may be in the midst of a cost of living crisis – let’s try to remember the essential message of ad the War C hope and light that the birth of Jesus can bring. e re ry v ’ Doing so might just light up our festivities in u ways we could never have imagined.
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
INFO Your local Salvation Army centre
CONTENTS FEATURES
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A muppetational film The Muppet Christmas Carol at 30
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Stream on ITV launches the latest on-demand video service
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‘More sinners than saints’ The family tree of Jesus explored
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An East End send-off Albert Square remembers Dot
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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
When yo
What is The Salvation Army?
REGULARS 4
War Cry World
12 Team Talk 13 Now, There’s a Thought! 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC