Christmas happiness

I read a little while back that some researchers were surprised that the more well off in this country were not necessarily happier than the poor. Why does this idea persist that "money=happiness"? Haven't they heard of the old adage, "Money can't buy you happiness" (and, of course, its rider, "but at least you can be miserable in comfort")?

And in yesterday's Guardian, an article by Larry Elliott, its Economics Editor, blew out of the water the idea that Christmas is a peak time for suicides. He says it's not. In fact, statistically, in December, the suicide rates are down. Christmas actually "cheers them up. Generally, it makes them happier rather than sadder."

The myth about suicides is probably put about by humanists who want to discredit Christmas. But their cover has been blown! People actually enjoy the preparation for 25th December and the time off work, gatherings of family and friends, good food and, of course, the giving and receiving of presents.

I did a straw poll at our Christmas Day service to see whether people preferred giving presents or receiving them. The "givers" had it. Although it may be that people thought that's what I wanted them to say, or that's what they ought to say! Or, maybe not! Maybe people really DO enjoy giving presents!

Of course, things may go downhill in January, when the credit card bills come in, but even so, we like to spend to give - and that's rather nice, I think. Elliott commented that those thrifty people of fiction, Silas Marner and Scrooge are "two of the most pitied characters in English literature".

Good point!

And when Mr. Cameron's new happiness index gets into gear in the New Year , we will all know how happy we are!

Christmas Day

It's 10.30 pm and the rest of the household are in bed! But I must admit we didn't go to bed until about 2 am this morning. We went to our local Anglican Midnight Communion and saw Christmas in that way. Which was a very nice way to do it. Including a good sermon from Colin the vicar.

Then it was our morning service - about three quarters of an hour of Christmas Day praise. It included the allegory of Claude and Carol Candle (well, you had to be there!) and my Christmas meditation, God came down at Christmas, which I will try to blog when I get the opportunity (it's so old I only have a "hard copy").

It has been a nice day - just three of us, including my sister-in-law. Tomorrow is the family day - on the floor with the grandchildren, probably playing "sardines in the dark"! That will also be a good day!

As for today we had a lovely three-meat roast - as advertised in Aldi. And very nice it was, too. I even had four sprouts! We played Yahtzee (that's a blast from the past - but I bought it in a charity shop recently) and Crazy Cuts; a simple game where you are given the name of an object on a card and you have to cut it out from a piece of paper and the first person to recognise what it is gets a point - and so does the cutter. Simple, but actually good fun! Thank you to our Barnet friends for buying it for us!

We also watched Dr. Who - well I had to as someone bought me a pair of Dr. Who socks for Christmas! A bit more silly than usual I thought. Not as patch on the Christmas edition which featured Kylie Minogue a few years ago.

Well, that's our Christmas. Not long to Boxing Day now. Although I've been told if you Google "Boxing Day" it doesn't happen on a Sunday. So Boxing Day is officially Monday - yes I know your diary says it's Sunday, but what do they know?

I hope you had a lovely Christmas also. Keep the Light of the World central to your heart and life.

Christmas Nativity continued

The second epsisode of The Nativity was on last night (see blog entry below for the 1st episode). Things are beginning to happen! Mary learns she is to have a baby by the Holy Spirit. She goes off to visit her cousin Elizabeth.

The Magi continue to debate the impending conjucntion of heavenly bodies and have an interesting discussion about whether God interacts with his people or not. Three Magi decide to leave to head for Judea.

In the meantime, poor old shepherd Thomas has some of his flock taken to 'pay' his taxes and the medicine for his sick wife has run out.

Then Mary has to return to Nazareth, but it's obvious by now she is pregnant. What will Joseph say and do? Cue cliffhanger ending to be continued tonight!

Christmas Nativity

Last night saw the first episode of a four-part drama entitled The Nativity on BBC1. It's a re-telling of the Christmas story and it's on at prime time - 7 pm. It's ousted The One Show leading up to Christmas. Chris Evans & Alex Jones, move over for the Nativity!

It started well last night; Mary meeting Joseph for the first time and then getting betrothed, Caspar, one of the Magi calculating there will be a conjunction of three heavenly bodies and working out the significance of it and Thomas a shepherd who's wife is ill and who can't afford to pay his taxes.

The episode ended with Gabriel visiting Mary with some news - you could almost hear the "thump, thump, thump" of the Eastenders music as the episode ended!

My wife quipped, "I wonder what will happen?" Actually we know, you see, we've read the book!

My return

First of all apologies to all my loyal readers. I realise it's been some time since I blogged, but I will try and do better in the coming weeks.

As always, you can check to see how many days, hours, etc it is to Christmas on the right hand side of my blog page. Which brings me to what started me blogging again. It's the old 'chestnut' of Christmas starting too early.

This morning Chris Evans on his breakfast show said that in his village the Christmas lights are already on! And, no, it's not a test.

And in Iceland you can get "Christmas at Iceland deep fill mince pies. Best before date 25 Nov. " Can someone tell them Christmas is actually 25 DECEMBER please?

At the time of writing I see there are only 287 days to go to Christmas! So, not surprisingly, I suppose, the big whole page advert on the front of our local paper urges us to book our Christmas party now.

Special rates if you book before the end of March!

There is an "all inclusive" price of £42. I assume "all inclusive" for a Christmas 'do' includes someone re-counting the story of the baby Jesus born in a stable and the visits of the shepherds and wise men...

No, actually, I'm not being serious.

Christmas at Church

A Baptist minister once said to me that he had to move to another church because he'd run out of ideas for things to do at Christmas! I've actually found that God has always inspired me to do something, hopefully, fairly creative each year. However, having moved church this year (NOT for the above reason, I must add!), I have plenty of resources up my sleeve - recycling at its best! Having said that, at the Beavers' carol service last week I re-told the Christmas story in a way I've not done before.

First of all, let me say I believe the Christmas story needs to be re-told each year. I know we did it last year, but that's the point of celebrating Christmas, re-telling the story, so the next generation hear it. I took along some Christmas cards and, showing them one at a time, asked them whether the picture on the front was part of the Christmas story or not. We sorted them into two piles. My favourite was one of Santa in shorts sitting on a beach! They thought it was fairly odd until I pointed out the words on the front, "Happy Christmas from down under!" It was from a friend of ours who lives in Australia.

Having discarded the cards that weren't part of the Christmas story, I then went through the rest of the cards, telling the story as I went. I also scanned in the cards, so they came up on a PowerPoint presentation, to ensure even those at the back could see them.

You need, of course, to have cards that go through the different aspects of the story. If you think it's a good idea, go through the Christmas cards you receive and keep a selection for next year (assuming you've planned your Christmas talks already for this year!).

I'm also doing a "Cracker for Jesus" on Sunday and pulling some smaller crackers on Christmas Day. I'll blog about them later - but not until I've done them - some of my congregation read this blog!

Christmas comes ... and goes

From a spiritual point of view, it was an odd Christmas. By lunchtime Christmas Day I'm usually "carolled out" as I've sung the most popular ones a number of times by then. But this year, with a combination of not being in a pastorate and having a cold that lasted two and a half weeks, I felt I had hardly celebrated Christmas at all. For the first time in 23 years I was not taking part in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services; instead, we went over to my sister-in-law's. Now we thought we would go to a late night service on the Eve, but listed locally were only Anglican churches, plus the Methodist church which was doing communion.

Now I've led Christmas Eve communions and I know they can be special times (in Barnet, it was always by candlelight). However, I'm afraid the Methodist service was just as Anglican as C of E churches, if not more so! I realise this is just our preference, but it didn't do a lot for us. Especially as it seemed to be 'karaoke' carols, as we think the organ music was being played from a CD, rather than the organ keyboard. It was a case of keep up or else! Plus, of course, a carol that we didn't know, but it was by Charles Wesley, so that's alright then!

So a slightly odd Christmas for us. I hope next year I will have a church and I promise I will be grateful, even when I've sung "O come all ye faithful" for the sixth time!

No need to unblock the chimney after all ...

I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I often am at the lengths some parents go to ensure their children don’t find out the terrible truth the father Christmas doesn’t actually exist. No, he doesn’t! Sorry if I’ve shattered your illusions but it had to happen sometime! You don't have to unblock the fireplace for 24 December!

Actually, I think we should not bring up our children to believe in Father Christmas and here are three reasons why.

Firstly, the fact is that we are lying to them. We tell our children not to tell lies, and then by stringing them along about Father Christmas we are in fact lying to them. It doesn’t seem to me to be a very good example to set to our children

Secondly, what about Jesus? When they find out that Santa is only a myth, what about the other story that comes out at Christmas, the one about the baby Jesus born in a stable? Isn’t that a myth also? If Father Christmas doesn’t really exist, why should Jesus? As I’m a firm believer that Jesus did and does exist, I don’t want children’s beliefs prejudiced by the mythical Father Christmas.

Finally, we give our children presents because we love them. Why do we assign away our love to an imaginary figure from Lapland? Our children need to know in as many ways as possible that we love them. So tell them the presents you bought them are from you!

End of rant! But do think on …

Christmas is, of course, coming ...

I went with my daughter and granddaughter to a Spanish restaurant for lunch yesterday. And, guess what, you can now book your Christmas dinner! What's more, you can receive 20% off your party's food bill if you hold it before 25 November (yes, November!). Is it really a Christmas dinner over a month before Christmas? Come to that, is it really a Christmas dinner as there isn't roast turkey, brussel sprouts or Christmas pudding on the menu? You can't really have Christmas without them can you? (on second thoughts you could jettison the sprouts!)