We thought you might like to read something that was sent to us recently…..

Valentine, the priest after whom Valentine’s Day is named, was martyred for his belief in the institution of marriage.

The emperor of Rome, Claudius, passed a law banning marriages.  His reason was simple: men would not volunteer to join the Roman army with wives and fiancées to leave behind.  Valentine knew that God instituted the family and His will included marriages.  So, he kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but in secret.  He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening for soldiers on the steps outside.

One night, he did indeed hear footsteps.  The couple he was marrying escaped, but he was caught.  He was thrown into prison and sentenced to death.

Valentine remained cheerful while he was in prison and many people came to the prison to visit him.  He even continued to perform marriage ceremonies while he was in prison. He converted the jailer to Christianity. The jailer’s daughter would often visit Valentine in his cell and they sat and talked for hours.  She believed he did the right thing ignoring the Emperor and performing marriage ceremonies.

On the day Valentine was to die he left this girl a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty.  He signed it, “Love from your Valentine”.  That note, written on the day Valentine died –  February 14th, 269 AD – started the custom of exchanging love notes on St Valentine’s Day.

Valentine was truly a man of courage.  The theologian Karl Barth wrote: “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”  Let’s be as courageous as Valentine himself and bring about change to a world that’s hurting.  Simply by serving as channels of God’s healing love we can inspire more change in people than we might ever imagine

“For God so loVed the world, 
……That He gAve 
………..His onLy 
………..BegottEn 
…………….SoN 
………………..That whosever 
…….Believeth In Him 
………Should Not perish, 
.……But have Everlasting life.”
John 3:16

Almost a Happy New Year.

With the news of the appalling events that have taken place in Paris, France, (and the continuing conflicts that fill our precious world) comes the reminder and awareness that life on this earth is indeed a temporary blessing.

Take no one and nothing for granted; enjoy each moment; give thanks for the good in your life; celebrate the temporary; embrace the eternal; stand up for love, peace, truth, justice and righteousness; speak out against evil and wrong-doing.  Remember that each act of kindness makes a difference.

God bless you.

Christmas is coming, and with it a brand new song from David Clifton calling to remembrance the Christmas Truce during the Great War of 1914. Due for release on the 14th December, and titled The New Born King (Christmas Truce 1914), the song tells story of the dawning of a cold and frosty Christmas Eve morning, when no guns were fired, and soldiers of both sides began singing Christmas carols to each other across no-man’s-land.

In disobedience to their officers, and obedience to the peaceful message of Christ, they downed their weapons and began meeting on Flanders fields, exchanging gifts and even playing a game of football. Based on eye-witness accounts from the time, notably the soldiers of the Royal Warwicks and North Staffordshire Battalions and regimental war artist Bruce Bairnsfather, this beautiful new carol captures the mystery of the Gospel message of peace, which has eternal power to inspire, and which stopped a war for two days for those soldiers 100 years ago. It will be available here on Little Room, on iTunes, Amazon and all digital download stores. All proceeds are being given to Help For Heroes and The Royal British Legion.

At the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month….. there was peace. Once upon a time.

In honour of all the fallen, particularly the memory of those from the the Great War of 1914-1918 we suggest you buy this moving new recording from Phil Baggaley’s band, The Open Road. You can download your copy of ‘An Old Soldier’s Dream of Home’ here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/old…
In aid of the British Legion Poppy Appeal, available on iTunes, Amazon & all good download sites.

November is here and the shops are already displaying Christmas trees, decorations, and (heaven forbid) already playing Christmas music! We are not amused. All the delights of Thanksgiving (in the USA) and Advent still to come. Far to early in our humble opinion.

So we recommend a riotous selection of Mr Don’s superb Electronica music to clear our heads and hearts in preparation for all the forthcoming delights of December!

Thank you to those who have sent enquiries regarding Charlotte Parmiter’s folk album. Without getting too technical on you all, the producers have decided to re-record her original vocals and the main guitar/mandola parts again before Jon Kelly begins the final mixes. Her vocals were re-recorded in London in early October, and work is now starting on the guitars and mandola re-recording. Watch this space for further updates. It is sounding wonderful, and will be worth the wait.

Best wishes for a happy Autumn/Fall from all of the Little Room team.