Just A Minute

DECEMBER 26 is known as Boxing Day in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

It used to be the day that local tradesmen came and collected their Christmas boxes or gifts in return for the service they had given during the year.

It was also the day when landowners gave gifts to those who worked for them.

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It is also St Stephen's Day and Stephen is known in the Bible to be the first Christian to lose his life for his faith in Christ.

Stephen was a deacon in the early church and deacons are all about service. A lot of churches have them and their tasks and responsibilities differ and but service at the centre.

Even those of us who have been ordained priests or even bishops never stop being deacons.

Jesus spent his earthly ministry serving other people and putting them first, culminating in the time when he washed his disciples' feet because they were too proud to wash each other's.

Let's make 2009 a time when we show our love for God by putting other people's needs before our own.

Have a very happy and peaceful new year.