War Cry 25 November

Bikers present themselves to help children at Christmas

WAR CRY

25 November 2023 50p/60c

Look who’s back in time Old favourites return for sci-fi show’s anniversary

Musical film in harmony with Nativity story

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 7655

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 FOR generations of children, peeking out from behind the sofa has been the only safe way to watch an episode of Doctor Who. It was 60 years ago this week that the BBC first introduced the viewing public to the time-travelling hero, played by William Hartnell.

Now some of those children who were first terrified by the Daleks and Cybermen in the 1960s are watching the programme with their grandchildren. The show’s popularity spans the generations.

In this week’s War Cry we speak with Doctor Who fan and expert on popular media Andrew Crome, who explains why he thinks the show has enjoyed such longevity. He also argues that the programme deals with philosophical and theological questions. ‘The show’s storylines encourage us to think about what is the right thing to do,’ he says.

Stories can prompt us to consider things beyond the experiences of our own lives. As children, one of the ways in which we learn is through the stories we are told. Even fairytales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and the Hare and the Tortoise teach the importance of perseverance, courage and knowing right and wrong.

Those 2 stories are among 10 that feature in the new CBeebies series Musical Storyland, which, as we report, combines storytelling with classical music. Meanwhile, a true story is being told in The Journey to Bethlehem, a newly released musical film about Jesus’ birth.

As Christmas approaches, the film’s writer and director, Adam Anders, explains why he wanted to make it.

‘It’s a story that, over 2,000 years later, is more relevant than ever,’ he says. ‘People need hope, they need joy, they need to know what the reason for this season is.’

Adam is right. The greatest story is the one of God loving people so much that he came into the world as a baby so that we can know him better. And that story will always span the generations.

When you’ve read the War Cry, why not pass it on ➔ ➔ ➔

Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 1 Champion Park London SE5 8FJ Tel: 0845 634 0101 Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org Founder: William Booth General: Lyndon Buckingham Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill 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.

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CONTENTS FEATURES

3

A song and dance for Christmas Film musical tells the Nativity story

8

Anniversary materialises Doctor Who celebrates 60 years

10 On your bike A two-wheeled appeal for presents 13 Scale of a story TV series tells tales with music REGULARS

6

Team Talk and War Cry World

12 Keys of the Kingdom 14 Puzzles 15 War Cry Kitchen Front-page picture: BBC STUDIOS/BAD WOLF

© 2023 AFFIRM FILMS, INC

Birth of a musical Director and music producer ADAM ANDERS talks about Journey to Bethlehem, his new musical film celebrating the Nativity, which he believes is ‘the greatest story ever told’

Fiona Palomo as Mary in ‘Journey to Bethlehem’

Interview by Sarah Olowofoyeku

’T

IS nearly the season for festive film-watching.

Silver screen staples such as Home Alone, The Grinch, Elf and (debatable) Die Hard will be enjoyed by many, but this year a new Christmas film has been added to the line-up. Through Journey to Bethlehem, out in cinemas now, its creator hopes to share what he believes is the most important Christmas story with audiences across the world.

The musical film retells the story of the birth of Jesus. The action begins in Nazareth as Mary (Fiona Palomo), a young woman, is battling her parents’ attempts to marry her off. She has learnt the Scriptures at her father’s knee and wants to become a teacher, but he reminds her of tradition – her place in society is as a wife.

She is dicouraged, but then her life changes when she is visited by an angel and told that, although she is still a virgin, she is now pregnant and will give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, to fulfil the Scriptures. Suddenly she must face the understandable suspicions of her husband-to-be Joseph (Milo Manheim) and the doubts of both his and her own family.

Meanwhile, further afield, some wise men have seen something in the sky: a star that they are convinced is a sign. They set out to follow the

Mary will give birth to the Son of God

Adam Anders

Turn to page 4 f 25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 3

Mary and Joseph welcome baby Jesus

From page 3 star, which will lead them to a new king.

On their journey, they visit another king, Herod (Antonio Banderas), a hated ruler who doesn’t care for his people.

When the wise men tell Herod of the star that signifies a new king, he feels threatened and wants his rival dead. He decides to track down the threat to his kingdom, meaning that Mary must act to protect her baby so that he can grow up and save the world.

The idea for the film was born 17 years ago in the mind of US-based director Adam Anders.

‘It has been a long journey, no pun intended,’ he tells me over a Zoom call.

‘I was visiting my wife’s family in Iowa at Christmas-time and couldn’t find a movie and certainly not any musicals to watch about Christmas. I thought it was weird and wondered why hadn’t anyone done it. Most Christmas movies are not about actual Christmas, so I thought I should make one.

‘I loved taking the Nativity story and doing it the way I did, as it’s one of the few stories in the Bible that you can celebrate, that you can make vibrant and colourful.

Easter is a much heavier story. It’s not as outwardly joyful when the Saviour dies, but Christmas – our Saviour coming – is really joyful.

‘I saw it as a celebration, and I felt as though there are so many secular Christmas movies that are fun and engaging, why can’t we make a movie like that about the birth of Jesus – what

4 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

Christmas is actually about?’

Although Adam had the idea for a Christmas musical film 17 years ago while he was working as a music producer and songwriter, he wasn’t able to start working on the project till much later.

‘I’d realised I wanted to tell stories through music,’ he explains.

Most Christmas movies are not about actual Christmas ‘Writing a song wasn’t enough of the storytelling for me, so I’d moved to LA to pursue my dream, and that became pursuing film and TV music. I got to work with the best of the best and learn how to make a movie. I had to do that before I could make this film.’

During his years in LA, Adam’s career took off. He became the executive music producer for the musical comedy-drama Glee, and he wrote and produced music for the Backstreet Boys and CeeLo Green, for Disney channel hits, including High School Musical and Camp Rock, and for star-studded films Rock of Ages and Prom.

Joseph decides to stay with Mary, despite his suspicions

© 2023 AFFIRM FILMS, INC

Hated ruler King Herod will stop at nothing to defend his crown

Adam’s Hollywood experience equipped him not only to create the music for his film itself, but also to write and direct the film, although he faced 14 years of frustrations before he was able to make it happen. It was only during the first of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns that he could picture success.

‘During Covid I had six months with nothing to do, and it was a gift,’ he says. ‘I got to sit down, start over, take everything I’d learnt from all the failures, and ask for the right vision. And it became so clear to me.

‘I spent the entire six months working on the script. And I’ve always said no to directing, because I’m busy with a lot of projects. If you direct, you have to leave everything behind because it’s the only thing you have time for. But I knew I had to direct this and that it was time for me to take that step of faith.’

In directing the film, Adam was

responsible for every single detail. It was a big job, but, he says, ‘it was super fun and creative, and for the first time in my life I felt creatively fulfilled’.

In retelling the story, he used some artistic licence, because the source material – the Bible – has only a few verses describing Jesus’ birth.

‘There’s Matthew chapters 1 and 2, and Luke chapters 1 and 2,’ Adam says. ‘So what happened in between?

What did Mary think when this message came to her?

What did her parents say when she told them? How did Joseph, her betrothed, react when she says, “I’m pregnant with the Son of God.” I mean, these are crazy things. It was really fun to put myself in their shoes when we wrote the script.’

In the introduction to the film, the event celebrated at Christmas is described as ‘the greatest story ever told’.

Adam says: ‘It’s the most important story for me. It’s a story that, over 2,000

The Christmas story is more relevant than ever

years later, is more relevant than ever and especially now with what’s going on in the world. People need hope, they need joy, they need to know what the reason for this season is.

‘Right after the words “the greatest story ever told”, it says “inspired by a true story”. That phrase was very important to me, because firstly, it’s not a documentary, it was my inspiration – they didn’t sing and dance to pop music – and secondly it is “true”. As the film-maker, I wanted people to know that this is what I believe, this is my faith that you’re seeing.’

Adam describes the Christmas story as where his faith starts. ‘If Jesus didn’t come, there is no faith. There’s nothing.

There’s no cross if there’s no birth.’

I ask what his faith means to him.

‘What do I have without my faith?’ he replies. ‘We don’t have a long enough interview for me to tell you how much my faith has meant. My faith has sustained me through health issues, through family crises, work challenges, through hard times, good times, everything. It’s my life.’

25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 5

Team talk TEAM WA Art backs exhibition

Presenter ‘wears’ her faith every day

BBC/LEIGH KEILY

talk ‘ TALK’ j Claire Brine gives her take on a story that has caught the attention of War Cry reporters THE Prado Museum in Madrid ‘has decided to turn its back on its visitors’, reported The Guardian. People attending the museum’s latest exhibition are greeted ‘not by the full splendour of its most famous work, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, but by an austere and lifesize re-creation of the reverse of the painting’.

To put it bluntly, art fans are able to gaze at the backs of pictures – complete with messages and sketches – rather than the fronts. The paper reported that the idea of the exhibition, called On the Reverse, is to allow viewers to see ‘beyond the surface of an artistic image’ by revealing the ‘secrets, stories and meanings’ that are usually hidden underneath.

I love the sound of this exhibition and its concept – that there’s a rarely seen side to something which is usually so carefully presented to the world. The same could possibly be said of ourselves.

Whoever we are, I imagine that most of us have parts of our personality that we don’t want to expose. Perhaps we feel guilty about a past mistake and would hate for anyone to find out about it. Maybe we know that, despite external appearances, we have a violent temper that we struggle to control. It might be that we’re troubled by dark thoughts – things we really shouldn’t be thinking about – which make us feel ashamed and embarrassed.

Knowing how to deal with the parts of ourselves that we want to keep secret can be difficult. What if we open up to a trusted friend and their reaction isn’t supportive or understanding?

As an anxious person who tends to think that the worst will happen, I find it helpful to know that I can tell anything to God and still find acceptance. Like many Christians, I believe that God sees every bit of who I am – including the unlikeable bits I don’t dare to show anyone else – and yet still loves me.

Best of all, he’s also willing to help me work on my imperfections, so that I can become much more like the person he created me to be. However I look at it, that’s a comforting image.

Fans are able to gaze at the back of pictures

Team talk 6 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

THE Rev Kate Bottley discussed her work as a priest and the value of faith when she took part in the podcast The Midpoint with Gabby Logan.

The presenter of Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday programme, whose book Have a Little Faith was published in September, told Gabby: ‘My faith is so intrinsically part of my identity. It’s not a separate thing. I don’t just do religion when I’m in a church or when I’ve got a dog collar on. It has been part of my identity since … I was baptised as a baby.’

Kate went on to explain how her faith has developed over the years.

‘I was christened as a baby like lots of people are but never went to church until I got to 14,’ she said. ‘And it was a bit like a coat in the wardrobe that was always there, but then I put it on. And it’s something I wear every day.’

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WnRLD

MARIA KESIAK

Rickshaws prove a wheel success RICKSHAW rides are taking place at a retirement village in Lancashire thanks to a pioneering minister, the Church Times reports.

Residents at Buckshaw Village are enjoying regular days out in colourful battery-powered rickshaws operated by volunteers after Father Andrew Kesiak came up with the idea. He had the vehicles delivered to the retirement village in February this year.

Andrew explained: ‘A lot of residents told me how they used to love cycling – the feeling of the wind in your hair, fresh air on your face. A rickshaw seemed to be an excellent solution. You’re on a bike.

You don’t pedal, but you have the same experience, the same sensation… You

Windows open after restoration STAINED-GLASS windows created by 19th-century designers William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones have been restored at Birmingham Cathedral after more than a year’s work, BBC News reported.

Depicting scenes from the life of Christ, the windows have been described as the city’s ‘most spectacular pieces of art’ after their restoration. They feature the birth of Jesus, his crucifixion and his return to Heaven. The fourth window displays the Last Judgement.

The windows underwent 500 days of cleaning and repairs, and more than 20 panels were removed and reinstalled. While restoration work was under way, people were able to see the windows up close during a scaffolding tour.

Anna Pitt, CEO at the cathedral, said: ‘Around a third of visitors on our tours had never been into the cathedral before, which really shows how the windows can capture the imagination of so many new people.’

just can stop and experience nature.

‘You can engage in conversations and become again a part of the community you may have felt disconnected from, reducing social isolation.’

He added that this unconventional idea is an outworking of his faith.

‘Doing something good in a community, like this project, is a new way of doing church. It is Christlike, though not everybody will accept that. But I can sense God at work here. And, sooner or later, an encounter with the sacred will happen.’

Financial support for street pastors CHURCH groups that look after vulnerable people who are on nights out have been awarded £46,000 for their work, BBC News reports.

Thames Valley police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber announced the funding for 13 branches of the Street Pastors initiative, describing the support that they provided to police as invaluable.

While out on patrol, the volunteers hand out foil blankets and water, provide first aid and remove glass bottles from the street to discourage violence and vandalism. They also respond to requests from the police and night-time economy staff to help disorientated people and arrange taxis for those unable to get home safely by themselves.

Mr Barber said: ‘Over the last year, I have been out on patrol with a number of street pastors and have seen firsthand how they successfully work in collaboration ... to help create a positive atmosphere for those having a night out.’

25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 7

Whoniversally As Doctor Who celebrates 60 years on screen, fan and expert on popular media ANDREW CROME explains how lessons can be learnt from the show’s storylines Interview by Andrew Stone

ZOE MCCONNELL/BAD WOLF/BBC STUDIOS

Andrew Crome

Catherine Tate and David Tennant are reunited 8 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

D

ALEKS, cybermen, weeping angels and even rival TV channels have not been able to see off the Doctor, as the famous Time Lord celebrates 60 years on our screens this week.

It was on Saturday 23 November 1963 that Doctor Who first materialised in front of the British public. Today (Saturday 25 November) on BBC1, David Tennant makes his return to the Tardis, where he’ll be joined by previous companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in his journey through space and time – resurrecting a Doctorcompanion pairing not seen since 2010. Fans, known as Whovians, can’t wait.

‘They’re one of my favourite Doctor and companion partnerships,’ says one such fan, Andrew Crome. ‘I am looking forward to a big blast of nostalgia.’

Andrew has been a fan of Doctor Who since he was about eight years old. Although he wasn’t born when the show began, his enthusiasm for it prompted him to go back and watch the episodes in its first run from 1963 to 1989. Then he was ready for the reboot in 2005 when the programme reached a new audience.

‘I think the popularity of the show is that it can go anywhere in any time and be incredibly creative,’ he enthuses. ‘You

popular BBC

BBC

Patrick Troughton took over the Tardis from the first Doctor, William Hartnell (top) saw that particularly in the ’60s and ’70s where they were amazingly creative with very small budgets.’

An early example of that creativity was the response of the show’s producers when, in 1966, the original actor who played the Doctor, William Hartnell, had to step down on health grounds. They came up with the idea of having the Doctor regenerate into a new person. The new actor to take over the role was Patrick Troughton, who was completely different from the man he succeeded.

‘The fact that they cast someone so different was a stroke of genius,’ says Andrew. ‘It meant that the Doctor didn’t stay as an older man who was professory and slightly grumpy.

Instead you had the clownishness of Patrick Troughton. That certainly helped with other changes the Doctor has gone through since then.’

Viewers have seen 13 actors play

the time-travelling hero, including Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to do so. This Christmas Ncuti Gatwa will become the 14th person to take ownership of the keys to the Tardis.

It’s something that Andrew, like many other fans, is looking forward to. But unlike other Whovians, Andrew’s interest in the programme has also influenced his working life.

He is a senior lecturer in early modern history at Manchester Metropolitan University. But his research has focused on religious history and the way that popular media – films, documentaries, books and even video games – reflect philosophical and theological questions.

‘I look at how media has evolved as specific mediums and how what is being shown and what is being portrayed impacts on people’s understanding,’ he says.

One piece of Andrew’s research was

The show can go anywhere in any time

to help compile a book, Time and Relative Dimensions in Faith, about religion and Doctor Who. ‘In the book we look at all aspects of religion that are explored in the series,’ Andrew explains. ‘We look at the way philosophical and theological questions are addressed by situations and dialogue.

We also look at how examining Doctor Who historically can tell us something about the religious situation at the time a particular story was made.’

As an example of a time when faith was incorporated into a recent Doctor Who storyline, Andrew highlights an episode from Jodie Whittaker’s first series as the Doctor.

‘There was an alien character being acclaimed as a god,’ he says. ‘The Doctor didn’t go in and destroy the concept of belief, but made the point that the character was not acting in a way a god should act but was instead abusing their followers.’

Andrew doesn’t think that any of the writers on the programme are deliberately looking to put across faith-based messages, but says that it’s natural for any artist to bring elements of themselves, including their faith and belief, into their work. He also thinks that it’s natural for him, as a Christian, to see reminders of his own faith in Doctor Who. ‘I see reflections of Jesus in what the Doctor does,’ he says. ‘I think that’s inevitable where you have a hero figure – often a self-sacrificing hero figure. I’m not saying it was intended by the writers, but there have been times when Doctor Who has provided me with a reminder of some aspect of my faith. That’s particularly true for concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation.

‘The Doctor is not an unproblematic Christ-figure, because he is flawed, he’s still learning and he still makes mistakes.

There are also times when he reacts in the wrong way to things, but many of the show’s storylines encourage us to think about what is the right thing to do.’

25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 9

Special delivery The Salvation Army in Newark is about to welcome a bunch of Santa bikers who are supporting its appeal to provide Christmas presents for children in the community Feature by Sarah Olowofoyeku

Church members and people from the community welcome the bikers

John Judson and his wife, Ann

10 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

S

ANTA CLAUS is coming to town, and he’s riding a motorbike. Next Sunday (3 December) hundreds of bikers will be pulling up to The Salvation Army in Newark, Nottinghamshire, many of them dressed as Father Christmas, and all of them bearing gifts.

The gifts are for The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal, which every year ensures that children who wouldn’t otherwise receive presents have something to open on Christmas morning.

‘The bike run started off 14 years ago, when we should’ve gone to a similar run in a very hilly part of Nottingham,’ says organiser John Judson. ‘It was an exceptionally cold spell and there was so much ice about that the event was cancelled at the last minute. By that time, a few of us had already bought gifts ready to take, and I thought we should find someone to take them to. I heard about The Salvation Army’s Christmas toy appeal, so I made it known through one or two biker sites that we would be taking part.

‘Despite having only about three days’ notice, something like 17 motorcycles turned up. We rode very carefully through the ice and snow to Newark, and at the end of it all, somebody said to me, “We ought to do this again.” Somehow, I got elected,’ he laughs, ‘and I’ve been doing this ever since.’

Since then, the event has grown. John sends out information through motorcycle sites and advertises in local newspapers.

In previous years, bikers would gather in Southwell, and people from the town would line the streets to see them, many of them

Bikers gather at Southwell marketplace before riding to The Salvation Army bringing gifts of their own for the bikers to take. This year, the meeting place has changed to a pub in Bleasby, as Southwell is no longer able to accommodate all the bikers who take part.

‘We’re up to about 185 riders now,’ says John. ‘Some will be bringing partners on the back of their bike. They will be bringing gifts for the children and most of them will be in fancy dress. There’ll be Santas, snowmen, wizards and fairies. It’ll be very colourful.

‘When we arrive at The Salvation Army, we completely block the car park. Then we’re met by people connected with the church, we all get together and eat mince pies and drink coffee and tea. Everybody has a chat and puts the donated gifts on the table in the main hall. It’s a terrific atmosphere.’

This year, John will be dressing in Santa’s colours.

‘I’ll be wearing a red and black motorbike jacket. My wife puts on a Santa suit for sitting at the back. We’ll decorate the bike with a Santa face and some tinsel, so we’ll look very jolly.

‘The guy who will be riding up front is Rob, alias Santa Claus. His bike is generally covered by a sort of netting into which he weaves flashing lights – you can’t even see his motorbike when he’s finished. It’s a wonderful thing, and he rides in front, playing Christmas music and carrying a bell which he rings every now and again. It’s pure carnival.’

Major Matt Elsey, leader of the Newark Salvation Army church, welcomes the bikers each year.

‘It’s quite a sight and quite a noise!’ he says. ‘We have our church service from 10.30 to 11.30, and they turn up at about 11.30. We all go outside, the band plays some carols and the bikers come into the church.

‘They hang around for an hour or so, chatting to people from the community – adults and children – who have come along to watch the bikes. The kids go out of the church and the bikers let them sit on their bikes.

‘We do a little talk and tell them how many people they helped last year, and how many people we anticipate helping this year. Then we always share a prayer

It’s a terrific atmosphere

with them as they go, for their safe travelling. It’s brilliant.’

Last year Newark Salvation Army distributed Christmas presents to 620 children, and The Salvation Army across the UK and Republic of Ireland distributed more than 76,000 gifts. This year it is expected that the number of families requesting help will rise as a result of the cost of living crisis.

John keeps organising the bike run year after year because ‘it’s doing good for someone’.

He says: ‘This is a real charity, and it’s helping kids who need support. I suspect that without The Salvation Army there’d be a lot of kids who’d have a fairly miserable Christmas. It’s something we can do quite easily and have a lot of fun at the same time.’ l To find your local Christmas Present Appeal visit salvationarmy.org.uk/ christmas-present-appeal

25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 11

KEYS OF

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 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

THE KINGDOM

In this occasional series, Nigel Bovey unlocks the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven, which Jesus speaks to his disciples about in Matthew’s Gospel

The Kingdom of grace IN his teaching, Jesus tells a story which likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a landowner who hires men to harvest his vineyard. When the working day begins early in the morning, he hires the first gang of workers and agrees to pay them the daily wage of a denarius.

Twice more during the day, the man recruits more workers, agreeing with them that he will pay them ‘whatever is right’ (Matthew 20:4 New International Version).

With an hour left in the day, daylight fading and the harvest possibly still incomplete, the man recruits a further group of labourers. Is it possible that those who were still available for work at that time were the weakest, the least able or, even, the most work-shy?

At the end of the day, the man tells the workers to collect their wages. First of all he calls for those who have worked only the last hour to be paid first.

Surprisingly, he pays them the daily rate. When those who had grafted for the full shift come to collect their wages, they – not unreasonably – are hoping for more.

The landowner, though, pays them the same. Understandably, they have a go at the landowner. They say that it’s not fair. They had slogged all day in the heat and yet the others have been paid the same as them!

The landowner refutes the idea that he is being unfair and reminds them that all those hours ago when he had hired them they were happy with the agreed deal. He tells them that it is his money and that he has the right to do with it as he wishes. If he wants to be generous, then that is his prerogative.

Through this story, Jesus is not setting a template for industrial relations or lecturing in supply-and-demand economics. Instead this is an insight into God’s grace.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not based on God paying us what we deserve, because, as people who consistently break his law, we deserve death. The operating system of the Kingdom of Heaven is God’s grace – his favour and forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it.

The workers have a go at the landowner

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Looking for help?

Name

Address

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

Or email your name and postal address to warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk 12 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

Notable tales QUICK QUIZ 1

2 3 4 5 6

Who wrote the Victorian romance novel North and South?

What is the capital city of Thailand?

Who was the first AfricanAmerican to become President of the United States?

Who directed the 1968 sci-fi film 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Which chemical element in the periodic table has the symbol K? Who had a No 1 hit in 2019 with the song ‘Someone You Loved’?

ANSWERS

Children embark on a musical adventure TV preview by Claire Brine

A

RE you sitting comfortably? Because a collection of stories from around the world is about to begin. On Monday (27 November), the CBeebies channel is launching Musical Storyland, a 10-part series aimed at children which brings global tales to life through the sounds of the BBC Philharmonic orchestra and guest musicians.

Using live action and animation alongside original compositions, the musical programmes will tell a range of much-loved stories, such as The Baobab Tree and Jack and the Beanstalk. On hand to narrate the tales are several star presenters, including EastEnders actress Molly Rainford and 5 Live broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake.

As the words are spoken, talented musicians play a key role in the storytelling. They include Sean Chandler, a deaf trumpeter and teacher with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and Kuljit Bhamra, a tabla player who worked on the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The combination of literature and music in a children’s programme is a move that excites Helen Foulkes, the head of BBC Education.

She hopes that schools will access the accompanying resources available on the BBC Teach website.

‘It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn through storytelling and to bring world-class musicians – and their instruments – into the classroom,’ she says.

Whether families at home are familiar with the musical tales featured in the series or not, there’s no denying that stories can be powerful.

Many of them have stood the test of time, being passed from one generation to another. Sometimes, those old stories from history are the most life-changing.

Today, there are millions of Christians across the world whose lives have been transformed by hearing the story of Jesus. It’s a true story about the Son of God, who lived on Earth and demonstrated God’s love. It’s about how we can let that love guide us, so that we can become better people. And it’s about the possibility of receiving God’s forgiveness for our mistakes, so that when we die, our story doesn’t end on Earth but continues for eternity in Heaven.

If it’s a story unknown to us, it’s certainly one worth reading – giving us all the potential to start an exciting new chapter.

Stories can be powerful

25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 13

1. Elizabeth Gaskell. 2. Bangkok. 3. Barack Obama.

4. Stanley Kubrick. 5. Potassium. 6. Lewis Capaldi.

PUZZLES Quick CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Thick sauce (5) 5. Journal (5) 8. Plastic fibre (5) 9. Saunter (5) 10. Protective garment (5) 11. Rowdy (5) 12. Foodstuff (4) 15. Shoved (6) 17. Gem (5) 18. Tranquil (6) 20. Aid (4) 25. Teacher (5) 26. Barter (5) 27. Mistake (5) 28. Rascal (5) 29. Irritable (5) 30. Authority (5)

SUDOKU

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

5 4 8

6 7 4 9 9 3 6

9

DOWN 1. Celestial body (6) 2. Snub (6) 3. Occurrence (5) 14. Sleeping berth (3) 4. Up to (5) 15. Clothes clip (3) 5. Frolicsome (7) 16. Female sheep (3) 6. Wither (6) 17. Agitated (7) 7. Musty (6) 18. Placard (6) 13. Lubricate (3)

7 1 4 19. Appalled (6) 21. Handcart (6) 22. Extreme fear (6) 23. Platform (5) 24. Crawl (5)

M O HONEYC B

Each solution starts on the coloured cell and reads clockwise round the number 1. Small notebook 2. Christian building 3. Racket sport 4. Face 5. Medical centre 6. Chemical element found in salt

2

7 5 4 8

2 8 1 3 4 9 2 4 4 1 6

W RDSEARCH

6 2 1 8 4 9 3 7 5 5 8 7 6 3 2 9 4 1 Look up, down, forwards, backwards and diagonally on the 4 3 associated 9 1 7with5faithfulness 6 2 8 grid to find these words 8 5 4 9 1 7 2 6 3 MV U S B A Z S T C J U O L MK E H 2 9 3 5 6 4 8 1 7 V Z U Q S A Z I N V A L I WR Z P F P L G P I E 7T Y1 R 6N O2 L 8A S3 L 4P L5 H 9 DWT P D Q N T O Y K C S X S D F I 9 6 5 7 2 8 1 3 4 Z I A L L E G I A N C E Q X C BMN E E Y O V L 3T L7 H 2C N4 O 9I O1 B 5B P8 G 6 T J Y B QO T I I T H F M I Y D I Q 1 4 8 3 5 6 7 9 2 U J F Y V Y F B S H RMB R CWH V L V I E T I L A Q L I O EMN T T M O R D N P A F D U T Y CWN A U A F S S E R Q D Z NMZ N X Q T T Q V A E S L Z A QO E C E F P K Z S K R I R P I E Q I N P R D I J H A N U Y Z C T T B S T Z E Y T B O L A OO R E S S Y E J G H D G D D N H D C N Y T W J H B F D Z Q F T K J R Z N Q Z G T D E T A V S Z N E F A U J K H R Z A F P K J U F Q B Z G K Q T C E B X

ANSWERS 6 5 4 8 2 7 9 3 1

2 8 3 5 9 1 6 7 4

7 1 4

1 7 9 4 3 6 5 2 8

8 6 1 9 5 2 7 4 3

4 3 7 1 6 8 2 9 5

9 2 5 7 4 3 8 1 6

3 9 6 2 8 4 1 5 7

7 4 2 6 1 5 3 8 9

5 1 8 3 7 9 4 6 2

HONEYCOMB 1. Jotter. 2. Church. 3. Squash.

4. Visage. 5. Clinic. 6. Sodium.

QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS: 1. Purée. 5. Paper. 8. Vinyl. 9. Amble.

10. Apron. 11. Noisy. 12. Tofu. 15. Pushed. 17. Jewel.

18. Placid. 20. Abet. 25. Tutor. 26. Trade. 27. Error.

28. Rogue. 29. Ratty. 30. Power.

DOWN: 1. Planet. 2. Rebuff. 3. Event. 4. Until.

5. Playful. 6. Perish. 7. Rancid. 13. Oil. 14. Bed. 15. Peg. 16. Ewe. 17. Jittery. 18. Poster. 19. Aghast.

21. Barrow. 22. Terror. 23. Stage. 24. Creep.

14 • WAR CRY • 25 November 2023

ADHERENCE ADHESION ALLEGIANCE ARDOUR ATTACHMENT COMMITMENT CONSTANCY DEPENDABILITY

DEVOTION DUTY FIDELITY LOYALTY PIETY RESOLUTE STEADFASTNESS TRUSTWORTHINESS

4

1

6

SERVES 6

Chilli bean soup with avocado salsa INGREDIENTS

METHOD

For the soup

Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onion, garlic and chillies for 2-3 minutes, until the onion begins to soften. Add the cumin and cinnamon and fry for a further minute. Add the remaining soup ingredients to the pan, bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

1tbsp sunflower oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 red chillies, finely chopped 1tsp ground cumin ½ tsp ground cinnamon 2 x 400g cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed 400g can chopped tomatoes 1.2l vegetable stock

Transfer the contents of the pan to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Return to the pan and heat through.

Meanwhile, tip all the salsa ingredients into a bowl and toss.

For the salsa 150g avocado, peeled and finely chopped

Serve the soup topped with a spoonful of salsa.

2 tomatoes, finely chopped 4tbsp fresh coriander, chopped ½ small red onion, finely chopped ½ small red chilli, sliced (optional) Freshly ground black pepper

SERVES 4

Pink poached pears INGREDIENTS

METHOD

4 firm pears

Peel the pears and core them from the base using a small knife or vegetable peeler, leaving the stalk intact. Trim the base flat so the pears stand up.

150ml sugar-free blackcurrant cordial 500ml boiling water 2 star anise 1 cinnamon stick Low-fat yogurt, to serve

Pour the cordial into a pan and dilute with 450ml boiling water. Add the pears. If needed, pour in more water to ensure the pears are covered. Add the star anise and cinnamon stick, then bring to the boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the pears are tender.

Remove the pears from the saucepan and set aside.

Continue to boil the liquid for 10-15 minutes, until the liquid is reduced to about 200ml, then remove the star anise and cinnamon stick.

Place the pears on a serving dish and drizzle with the sauce. Serve with some low-fat yogurt.

Recipes reprinted, with permission, from the Diabetes UK website diabetes.org.uk 25 November 2023 • WAR CRY • 15

God is far more interested in who you are than in what you do Rick Warren

WAR CRY