The Millennium bug is causing some concern for many people. I have a friend who fears her television, video, central heating, washing machine and heaven knows what else will all be affected by it and that she will need to replace them all in January 2000. There is even one family who has taken to the mountains of Scotland to get away from it all, because they fear some great disaster will befall us in the towns and cities. There are even some sects who are certain that something will happen at the stroke of midnight of 1999/2000 and the authorities are fearful that they could do something stupid which might affect other people.
The Archbishop of York would seem to be taking a most sensible course of action. He is organising a pilgrimage to the Holy Land at the end of December and maybe that could be the way to get away from it all, as one assumes the Jews will not be keeping the Millennium, at least the Millennium of Christ's birth. For those interested, his address is Bishopsthorp Palace, York.
I noticed on the television recently that the Muslim funeral of King Hussein of Jordan did not involve the use of religious leaders of other world faiths, and I can understand that, as he was a Muslim monarch. Why is it that a group of Anglicans who have been meeting together to discuss the Coronation Service of the next monarch, have decided that this ancient Christian Service should become a multi-faith event? I thought that our country was still a Christian country and has been for over 1400 years? Why, because we have a small minority of immigrants do we now call ourselves multi-faith and multi-ethnic? Before anyone accuses me of discrimination, let me add I was Vicar of a multi-faith and multi-ethnic parish in Birmingham for eight years and I was on good terms with all my parishioners and much respected.
"The Dome" is now to have a 'Spirit Zone' in it that is to be multi-faith, except that the Muslims will have to worship outside for some reason. ln it the Millennium Statement may be recited by The Queen on the stroke of midnight when she lights her Millennium candle. (It is not to be called a prayer and has no mention of our Lord Jesus Christ in it anyway.) Thankfully the wise Bishop of London says (as I suggested in this magazine recently) that he already has a dome on his side of the River Thames and it has a cross on it, and he is absolutely clear about its emphasis and its foundations. Thank God we still have one or two bishops who still believe we are a Christian country and uphold the Catholic Faith brought to these islands by St Augustine in 597 AD.
Pray for the conversion of England /Britain to Christ.
God bless you all.
Your priest and friend.
Fr Malcolm Ferrier
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