General Chat

Joke from the parish magazine. If you take Christ out of Christmas, all you are left with is M&S Val.

We all enjoy the true meaning of Christmas n our family.We are Quaker and not at all killjoys,Christmas is the celebration of the birth of someone who tried to show us through his life a better way of living ours.It doesn'tatter if he was divine.HE SHOWED US THE WAY,TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER AND RESPECT EACH OTHER. HIS TEACHING two thousand years ago is just as relevant today. I agree that it should not be a time when we overindulge.That was not the example of the gifts given by the magi which our own gifts are in memory of. We are not intended to get into debt through our giving. We keep it simple.The gift of love and friendship to all of our friends is what we concentrate on at this time of year.We open our house and all are welcome. We have a wonderful time with people in and out all day long and Edmund prepares a splendid Buffet which everyone enjoys. No one is lonely in our street as all know that they can come here. Have a very Happy Christmas Everyone-My love to all of you - You have been wonderful friends throughout a very difficult year-My Thanks-Rose Ramblin Again

I wonder if you'll be whatching the program "Who Wrote The Bible" on christmas day.

Hi Mandy Totally agree with all your comments. It's a pity not more people remember the true meaning of Christmas - there might not be so much trouble in the world. God bless Pauline

Hello Mandy, I totally agree with you, I get sick of the seasonal commercial hype at "Jingletide" or "Tick a tick timex time", to use two of my more provocative labels for the December binge. Christmas doesn't really start for me until the crisp of Christmas Eve, when I see the shepherds making their way down the hill to see the newborn babe for themselves. Many thanks for the website, I'll have a look. I wince when I think how much we spend to "celebrate" the season. Have a very happy Christmas and celebrate the Nativity of Jesus, Philip

hiya mandy my friend just to say thank you for being a good friend as you are to manyi have only known you since may but i have found you a good and honest girl and a merry christmas to you and your family love sandra xx

LOL Bob, I've had a hard day and thought I might have said the wrong thing, especially when Anne put 'I agree with Bob' :))

Mandy I thought that and was agreeing with you LOL

Sorry Bob and Anne - I might have worded my message wrong, and I certainly hope I didn't come over as pious! I also love the joy of giving and don't see anything wrong with that. I was just trying to make the point of a lot of people going mad with getting into debt, getting paralytic drunk and not realising that there is more to Christmas. Mandy :)

Mandy I agree with Bob on this. I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus but in celebrating His birth i also give presents to friends and family. Anne

Mandy I think you are pushing an open door here. As you know we are pretty involved with the Church but I see no harm in buying gifts for our friends and family. It seems to me that there is a general problem of parents compensating for their inadequecies (real or omagined) by buying expensive gifts that they can't afford. There is also the problem of parents who can't say no to their children's demands. You see them in the supermarket all year not just at Christmas Merry Christmas Bob

Like politics, religion is a risky subject for debate in an open forum! But at this time of year, I'm not going to apologise for being a Christian and wanting to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas. My teenage son attends a church school and they were told about a website www(.)buynothingchristmas(.)org (remove brackets). I love Christmas and try not to go too overboard with presents and food, and love to have a family time together. But it's far too commercialised and we're losing the true meaning. Have a browse at this site, won't do us any harm to have a little reminder! Happy Christmas everyone. Mandy :)