Along with some memorable carol concerts and services I have had the opportunity to see something of the season in other circumstances. The first was a visit to Birmingham Prison (formerly Winson Green) on the 23rd of December for a service of carols and readings. Once we had gone through the entrance security we walked over to the original block, built in the 1840s. Snow was falling and it was dark save for the illumination of security lights. Through the snow, the old block looked like something out of Dickens and if we had been wearing top hats and massive scarves it would not have felt out of place. Inside though, it was warm.
About 40 prisoners and a similar number of staff and visitors took part in a service which I found very moving, particularly the homily from the Salvation Army illustrated with the lighter touch of a disappearing necklace! The trick deliberately went wrong several times before it was right - you can see the message. I did what I could to reinforce this and afterwards the prisoners went back to their cells where they were to spend Christmas and we went freely into the night.
On the 27th of December I visited the Birmingham Christmas Shelter. The shelter runs for six days giving food, a bed (mattress and blankets as shown in the first photo) warmth and some entertainment as well as food vouchers to homeless and lonely people. BCS is run entirely by volunteers with no public funding whatsoever. They cater for up to 100 ‘guests’ over Christmas although some of the guests dare not stay overnight lest the place where they normally sleep out (such as under the motorway) be taken by another homeless person.
The food is good with a volunteer chef each day. When I was there a lecturer/chef from University College Birmingham (the former College of Food) had prepared a great steak and kidney pie.
I am doing rather well for cups of tea recently as you can see from the second photo in the recreation area! Many of the volunteers have been coming for several years to help at the Shelter. It firms up further my view that there are far more good people around than the other sort. I thanked them for all that they were doing and returned to home, family and freedom grateful that I had all of these good things.
About 40 prisoners and a similar number of staff and visitors took part in a service which I found very moving, particularly the homily from the Salvation Army illustrated with the lighter touch of a disappearing necklace! The trick deliberately went wrong several times before it was right - you can see the message. I did what I could to reinforce this and afterwards the prisoners went back to their cells where they were to spend Christmas and we went freely into the night.
On the 27th of December I visited the Birmingham Christmas Shelter. The shelter runs for six days giving food, a bed (mattress and blankets as shown in the first photo) warmth and some entertainment as well as food vouchers to homeless and lonely people. BCS is run entirely by volunteers with no public funding whatsoever. They cater for up to 100 ‘guests’ over Christmas although some of the guests dare not stay overnight lest the place where they normally sleep out (such as under the motorway) be taken by another homeless person.The food is good with a volunteer chef each day. When I was there a lecturer/chef from University College Birmingham (the former College of Food) had prepared a great steak and kidney pie.
I am doing rather well for cups of tea recently as you can see from the second photo in the recreation area! Many of the volunteers have been coming for several years to help at the Shelter. It firms up further my view that there are far more good people around than the other sort. I thanked them for all that they were doing and returned to home, family and freedom grateful that I had all of these good things.
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