Bishops donates books to toy appeal

Published 20 Nov 2008 11:00 0 Comments

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THE Bishop of Reading fears money worries are causing many families to dread Christmas.

The Right Revd Stephen Cottrell is backing our "brilliant" Toys and Teens campaign to try and make sure children are not the latest victims of the credit crunch. Bishop Stephen said: "Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but actually for many people it is the busiest and most difficult time of the year and sadly often a time when many families break up.

"The problems this year probably mean even more people are stretched for money - but children are still seeing the adverts on the telly. It is a very pressured time."

The 50-year-old father-of-three added: "People must dread Christmas coming knowing that they can't provide their children with what they would like to give them.

"This Christmas, perhaps more than in recent years, there must be many families around Reading that are very anxious now. I know as a parent how hard it can be.

"Children don't understand when they are growing up what can be afforded and what can't. All they see is the advert and the hard sell and as a parent you want to be able to give it to them.

"There seems to be something almost obscene about it often, spending vast amounts of money we can't afford on things that people don't want.

"What a strange way to celebrate the birth of Christ who came to teach us how to live simply."

Bishop Stephen said he was in favour of Christmas being celebrated but the danger was that people ended up celebrating themselves. He said the campaigns like the Toys and Teens appeal encouraged people to think about others.

Bishop Stephen has written almost 20 books and has donated two copies of The Adventures Of Naughty Nora - the first children's book he has written.

He said: "Naughty Nora, as the name suggests, is a naughty person, but naughty people are interesting because they often live life to the full. I hope adults and children who read them will find them joyful, life-affirming stories."

The Bishop has also recently released a book for adults, Do Nothing: Christmas Is Coming, with a thought for each day of advent on how to avoid stress.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 20 Nov 08

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