A prayer for those involved in nativity plays

For both the children and the adults organising it.

 

Thank you for sending Jesus at Christmas.

Thank you that we can do this play.

Help us to do our best. 

Help us to remember we’re not doing it to make ourselves look great, but to make Jesus look great.

Please use it to help other people understand more about Jesus and why he came.

Amen.

On cakes and conscience

I've had bits of this post swirling around in my head for ages. I'd meant to post it before the verdict on the Asher's cake case. That didn't happen, but what I'm saying is the same.

As it was far too long, I've cut out everything but the main point, so people might actually read it :-)

I can see both sides. I understand why the bakers refused to make the cake (and I agree with them). But I also understand why the customer was upset.

What if it had been the other way round, i.e. someone had ordered a cake saying 'Marriage is between a man and a woman', or 'Jesus is the one true God', and a cake shop had refused to make it because they disagreed. I'm willing to bet that a lot of Christians would now be running round screaming about persecution.

BUT if I want the legal right to refuse to do something I disagree with, even if it inconveniences or embarrasses someone else, I must also be willing for other people to refuse to do something because they disagree with it, even if it inconveniences or embarrasses me.

You can't have your cake and eat it 

Bethlehem pasttimes

As well as worshipping Jesus and giving him gifts, a couple of the wise men spent some time in Bethlehem playing pelmanism with Mary and Joseph.

Waiting to be called for filming our Nativity video.

Topsy turvy

There's something wrong with a society where mending clothes is a time-wasting luxury.