World Cup Final - How Unreasonable of God ⚠️
As God is beyond time and knows past, present and future events, couldn't He have organised the World Cup and preparations for the celebration of His incarnation better?
Understanding the dilemma faced by faithful Christians and football fans alike, the Church of England, mindful of it's pastoral responsibilities, has offered advice to its clergy.
Through its 'Church Support Hub' it suggests:
"Making the Most of the World Cup Final 18th Dec 2022"
"On the 18th December, Churches often hold Carol
Services in the afternoon or evening, and this could still be possible if
you choose the time carefully…but what if there are penalties?! It may be best
to avoid that day altogether and host a carol service on Saturday 17th instead."
Alternatively, one could:
"Screen - Screen the game in Church with refreshments."
Much better!
Now, Happy Jack wants to know if there will there be alcoholic beverages and meat pies during the match - well, at least at half-time?
And will the #OneLove armband be mandatory? One assumes #TakingtheKnee is a given in church.
Does anyone have suggestions for suitable Carols?
[The Bishop of Derby, Libby Lane, is the Church of England's lead bishop for sport.]
"Screen the game in church".
ReplyDelete🤮
Gross .... and Jack thought you were a lady!
DeleteI should have swooned onto my chaise longue instead. Jack should put trigger warnings on posts before he publishes things like this.
DeleteThat football themed nativity gets worse.
'He’s coming soon
He’s coming soon
He’s coming
New King’s coming soon.'
Double 🤮. Show some respect, whoever came up with that!
There is an "adult content" button Jack could use.
DeleteWhat about:
"We’re coming too
We’re coming too
We’re coming
Shepherds coming too."
It's the Christmas gift that keeps on giving.
DeleteAlso.
🤮
🟨
DeleteTwo and it's a red!
Is that a sports thing? I don't speak sports. Apparently we just beat Spain?
DeleteIt's a warning.
DeletePlease swoon onto your chaise longue next time.
Yes, Japan has beaten both Germany and Spain and have topped their group, sending the Germans home.
The very cheek. I have a mind to pack up my snuff box and depart!
DeleteSo, what you're saying is .. if England make it to the final, it's because we got rid of Germany for you? You're very welcome!
Just keep a 'sock bag' close by!
DeleteNo, Japan have it more difficult for England. Should England beat Senegal (the African campions) on Sunday and France beat Poland, then we'll meet them in the quarter-finals (the current world champions).
I see... so, what you're saying is that England are in trouble if they have to play a side that's actually good at football? 😁
DeleteIf something's worth doing, it's worth doing well, I say.
"Of all the unexpected lessons learned so far at this World Cup, perhaps the biggest one is that you write Japan off at your peril.
DeleteTheir next opponents, Croatia, beware - because the Blue Samurai have emerged as the comeback kings of Qatar ... "
So am I missing something here? There aren't Services of Obligation. What requires anyone to go to a Carol service?
ReplyDeleteThe CoE can put on its service or not. It can move it or not. There is no sin here.
No one has suggested this traditional carol service is a "service of obligation" or a "sin" not to hold it. Given a choice between worshipping God, deferring the service or screening the World Cup final, what should a Christian church do?
ReplyDeleteThat's my point. There is no "should" in this situation.
ReplyDeleteThe Church of England holds Carol services on the last Sunday of Advent for adults and families. It's a time honoured tradition. In that respect, there is a "should".
DeleteThey've also offered another idea, i.e., stage a football-themed nativity play. It has created two scripts that parishes can download, involving, amongst other football themed ideas, e.g. a football being confused with the child Jesus, and the Three Kings following the star to an adaptation of the anthem Football’s Coming Home:
“We’re coming west;
We’re coming west;
We’re coming;
Kings are coming west.”
You can read the full script by following the link on this page:
https://www.churchsupporthub.org/sport-and-wellbeing-landing/sport-wellbeing-downloads/bsport-wellbeingb-downloads.php
Oh, and there's a difference between the words "ought" and "should".
DeleteYes, but I am more invested in the difference between "shall" and "should". In any case, you chose the word.
DeleteIf a church feels there is a tradition that should be respected, then let said church respect the tradition. There is no compulsion. If a church wants to make accommodation , then let it make accommodation. There is no compulsion.
Btw, if it is just about "Tradition" then you have completely submarined your own case. Tradition doesn't bind anything.
HJ, I suppose that in the spirit of fairness the Carol service is probably the one service that people who don't normally go to church attend and whilst it may not be the best evangelical tool, you may not want to compete with the football particularly if England are in the final.
DeleteAlthough as Lain has said elsewhere moving it to another date is probably difficult.
Yes it looks disrespectful in some ways, but perhaps it's simply dealing with the reality of the situation?
Maybe we are at risk of leaping on to a bash the CofE bandwagon??
@ Carl
DeleteTradition - small "t". Tradition as in Sacred Tradition, is another matter altogether. The former means a “handing down,” Sacred Tradition means the handing down of divine revelation from one generation of believers to the next.
On balance, if it's an issue for a particular parish, it may be best to host a carol service on Saturday 17th December instead.
The problem lies in the further suggestion that instead of divine worship the match should be screened live in church with refreshments offered - or with a football themed nativity play.
You think it's okay for a worship service and the World Cup to be combined?
@ Carl
Delete"Ought" tends to be used to refer to a moral obligation or duty. Jack used "should" in the sense of the best thing to do in this situation.
@ Prof G
DeleteTrue - but it's a Cranmerite tradition!
While the sermon etc is going on, get Brian the verger and Elsie the tea lady to convey Lineker's commentary in real time in the chancel through the medium of interpretative dance
ReplyDeleteCareful Gadjo, the CofE Communications Team may be reading this!
Delete