Justin Bieber joins NHS choir for Christmas
Justin Bieber has teamed up with the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS choir to record a Christmas single, a remix of the star's single Holy, which reached number seven in October. The charity collaboration comes five years after the two acts were locked in a battle for the Christmas number one. Bieber said, ‘I was honoured to meet everyone from the choir and I'm really happy that they got their number one.’ Their new charity single is aiming for Christmas number one, with proceeds to be split between NHS Charities Together, which represents more than 230 NHS charities, and the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Charity. An immunisation clinical coordinator said, ‘The message that holding someone is such a special thing that it's almost a holy experience is so resonant with current difficulties and personal challenges.’
Worshippers must reserve seats at Christmas
A Church of England spokesman has said, ‘At Christmas around six million people of all ages wish to attend services to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Covid-19 has meant it is necessary to limit the capacity of church buildings to keep everyone safe.’ Those wishing to attend services this Christmas are being encouraged not to leave it too late to book their seats. Churches have been advised to set up free online ticket booking systems to ensure adequate physical distancing can be maintained. The popular Christmas services are quickly filling up. St Paul's Cathedral has no tickets left for Christmas services. York Minster tweeted, ‘Tickets for 23rd and 24th carol services are sold out, although they will be livestreamed’. Some churches have added additional services to their programmes to keep up with demand, while advising online bookings. Churches are urged to add their Christmas events to the CofE’s 'A Church Near You' page.
Christmas hardship for many
This year has been tough for us all, but for millions of the poorest in our country life is now desperate. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from and are facing a Christmas of hunger and hardship. Centrepoint say this could be the worst homelessness crisis in their fifty-year history, with 23,000 young lives at risk. They are not just a Christmas statistic, they need a safe warm room to live in. They need to be able to turn their lives around (see) The Salvation Army said that after a difficult year they want to reach out to those who are suffering the most and bring joy and hope into their lives this Christmas. In over 650 communities across the UK they will be rolling up their sleeves and doing all they can for them.
Christmas unwelcome guest
As we prepare for a different Christmas, thousands of families will be carrying the mental exhaustion of an unwelcome guest - debt. Debt erodes confidence and brings a whole host of stresses, and strains this festive season. Furlough, income reduction, job losses have all taken their toll. The recent collapse of Debenhams and Arcadia put a further 25,000 jobs at risk, on top of the thousands of jobs already hanging by a thread. Our poorest communities are hit hardest, with little or no savings to fall back on, and are unable to cope with the income shocks that this year has brought. Heating or eating is a brutal choice for many families. Pray that those struggling with financial problems and feeling isolated will realise that they are not alone and there is no shame in needing debt advice. May those needing such advice be put in touch with the agencies who are able to support them.
