Wembley Christmas event hears how praying footballers build teams that win
Hundreds of Christian football fans took part in the FA’s ‘Faith and Football’ Christmas event at Wembley last night, hearing how faith and football are intertwined and then joining a carol service beside the pitch. There were many testimonies of faith, stories of prayers answered and a wish to spread the word. Sky Sports presenter and prominent Christian, Simon Thomas, interviewed the former captain of Crystal Palace, Joel Ward, whose time with the club ended with the FA Cup final win in May. He explained that a group of players there attended Bible studies and prayed together before the games, which was an “incredibly powerful” thing, making them feel they were working collectively as a group and able to lean on one another for support. This is the second story in a week of a football team finding that prayer bolsters team spirit and success. Arsenal has “The Bible Brothers”, who read the Bible and pray before games, building team unity that has seen them go to the top of the Premier League. While Crystal Palace’s prayer group was strong in the build-up to the FA Cup final, and now has a spin off “BallersinGod” Instagram account, with players who aim to “impact the beautiful game for Jesus” and “glorify God on the pitch”. The FA event was part of a series in which faith groups come together to mark significant festivals, demonstrating the place of faith in the game, inspiring mutual respect and building lasting goodwill. This was the second Christian event to be held at Christmas and the Salvation Army band was there to lead the carol singing, Cardinal Vincent Nichols said a prayer and Bishop Jill Duff led the service. The event included presentations, speeches and interviews outlining the work of Christian grassroots clubs especially for young people, concern with mental health especially for young academy stars, and how people of faith are enmeshed in club charities offering practical support to the local community. A report on this event is coming soon on the website
Nasa scientist’s new theory re the Wise Men’s star
The “star in the east” which “stood over” the stable where Jesus was born, could be explained, according to a Nasa scientist, by “temporary geosynchronous motion”. In the latest theory to explain the Bible story that “Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him?’… When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy”. Mark Matney, a planetary scientist for Nasa, says the star could have been a comet recorded by Chinese astronomers in 5BC, as being visible for 70 days in the Spring of the year. He modelled a range of orbits and calculated its motion could have cancelled out the effect of the earth’s rotation at one stage, near Bethlehem, in a phenomenon known as “temporary geosynchronous motion”, appearing to pause its movement. The Times has the story here
German president and chancellor back cause for peace
The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, laid a wreath at the altar of Coventry Cathedral, newly built after the old cathedral was destroyed by German bombing in World War II. It was the first visit by a German president to the UK for 27 years. Coventry has become a centre for peace and reconciliation, with the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation led every weekday at noon and the setting up of the Community of the Cross of Nails, a worldwide network dedicated to peace. Three days after the president’s visit, the German Chancellor visited Ten Downing Street for talks with President Macron, Keir Starmer and President Zelensky, to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine. The Times reports that there is an imminent deal to release up to £100 billion of frozen Russian assets in Europe to aid Ukraine.
New Dean of Winchester
The new Dean of Winchester is to be Canon Chris Palmer, currently Canon Treasurer at Exeter Cathedral. He follows Dean Catherine Ogle, who left in March after a review found failings in leadership and management. The director of music, Andrew Lumsden, resigned in 2024
New Orleans Catholic sex abuse scandal agreed scale of payment
The New Orleans Catholic Archdiocese will pay at least $230 million to victims of clergy sexual abuse under a settlement approved on Monday. The archdiocese had filed for bankruptcy in May 2020 rather than handle each abuse claim separately, a move which critics said will mean it avoids questions.
Methodists launch Christmas campaign: You are a gift!
The Methodist Church in Britain has launched its national Advent and Christmas campaign with the first outdoor advertising promotion, on the streets of London. Posters declaring “You are a gift. Made with love” will appear on bus stops, roadside displays and other public places. Passers-by will be urged to reflect on the ways they bring light to others this Christmas, through generosity, service, hospitality or simple presence.
West Midlands police decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, is continuing
row back on West Midlands Police has gone back on a suggestion from its assistant chief constable, that members of the Jewish community backed the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. A statement says it never intended to imply this. The Force has also been accused of using AI in a report to justify the ban, which gave wrong information about a match against Asto Villa. It has since apologised. Jewish Chronicle report here.
Chancellor: Antisemitism is stain on this county
Jewish News reports on a lunch held by Labour Friends of Israel yesterday, where the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, said the rise in antisemitism was a stain on this country, and no community should live like this. She also defended Zionism saying: “the belief that there is something inherently wrong about the right of the Jewish people to self-determination” must be “wholeheartedly” rejected. There were 400 public figures there including David Lammy, Steve Reed and Peter Kyle.
One hundred kidnapped Nigerian children released
One hundred of the 300 schoolchildren abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month have been released, the Christian Association of Nigeria said yesterday. Fifty more managed to escape. Leaving around 100 students remaining in captivity. The abduction happened on 21 November in the Papiri region. A further 25 children were seized from a neighbouring region, and 38 worshippers were seized from a church service. No group has yet admitted responsibility. Story on Crux Now here
