Virtual Methodist

This morning in Dundonald Methodist we celebrate what we call our "Gift Service" where we bring gifts for the Belfast Central Mission's Gift Appeal , where toys and other presents are given to support children and young people in difficult circumstances (If you haven't given already they, and other agencies like the St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army are accepting donations for another week). But just as with our gift-giving on Christmas day it is good to think again about our motivation for giving such gifts... Is there any sort of expected pay-back? At Christmas we can feel piqued if our generous gift is not matched by a similar one in return... or perhaps our magnanimity is payback in itself as we bask in the image of ourselves as unselfish benefactor... or perhaps we are expecting our reward in heaven?  On this day as on any other we should give because it is good to give... indeed we're told it is more blessed to give than receive... And with that in...

OK, we're now lurching into strange weird and bizarre territory now... Baby Jesus cookie cutter anyone? "The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes..." Not even when you bite his head off. When Jesus later said "this is my body... eat it in rememberance of me..." it was certainly not with this in mind. I am reliably informed that there is a whole Nativity Cookie set out there, but I am not sure that is any less disturbing... Anyone want a Virgin Mary and coffee? Cheers

Now I'm not one of the "Have you not noticed that Santa is an anagram of Satan"-brigade, indeed, I have donned the red suit and beard on more than one occasion (terrifying numerous kids in the process), but we must keep Santa in his proper place mustn't we! And that place clearly is in a very tasteful tree decoration which shows him bowing the knee before the Baby Jesus... Everyone say "Ah!" Cheers

My sister in law Linda usually comes up with some bizarre and crass religiously themed Christmas gift for me each year... "Jesus Action Figure"... "Baptism Shampoo"... "Fire-breathing clockwork Nun" to name but three, but whilst we were in Niagara Sally pointed out to me a Christmas item to top them all... A nativity set with all the characters replaced by bears... In Sudan last year a British schoolteacher was almost executed for allowing her pupils to call a teddy bear Mohammed... Yet here is the incarnation of the Son of God portrayed by ceramic bears! Then I went online to find a picture for this rant only to discover that this is not an anomally. There are hundreds of variations on an ursine nativity theme. But then, as I was checking Libby Purves' Faith Central page this morning I discovered this exercise in even worse taste ... Pin anyone!? Cheers