You might meet Jesus in a pub, says Scottish minister

       In the small town of Lanark (population 8253) in central Scotland, Kerr of Greyfriars Parish Church has become an overnight celebrity this Christmas season for announcing that his church members will exchange pews for bar stools. They will attempt to spread the festive message with a Christmas Eve carol singing session at a local pub, The Clydesdale Inn.
       He told The Scotsman newspaper on 22 December that the church had looked at new ways of getting the Christian message out beyond the confines of the church. In addition to the carol service, the pub’s management will be serving a special beer brewed for those bursting with goodwill and
festive song – Greyfriars Kirk Christmas Ale.
       The Rev. Ian Galloway, convenor of the Kirk’s (Church of Scotland’s) Church and Society Council, warmed to the idea of carols in the pub.  “Ever since Victorian times,” Galloway told the Edinburgh-based newspaper, “carols have been sung out and about and the point of them is to relate the
Christmas story to others, not just to keep it within the walls of the
church.”
       In a time of dwindling attendances, churches throughout Britain have decided to open their doors, spread their wings and sing along with locals in pubs and restaurants.
       Some pub owners hope carol singing Christians will help boost sagging profits.
       South of the Scottish border, however, the Rev. Tim Jones of the Church of St Lawrence in York, caused some consternation when he said in a Sunday sermon ahead of Christmas, “My advice, as a Christian priest, is to
shoplift.”
       Jones said he gave the advice with “a heavy heart”, adding that stealing could only be justified by those in dire need as a better option than “prostitution, mugging or burglary”. He said that shoplifting could  be justified if a person in real need did not take more than really needed to get by and as long as they did it at large national chain stores, rather than small family businesses.
       A senior Anglican cleric, Archdeacon Richard Seed of York, said, however, “The Church of England does not advise anyone to shoplift or break the law in any way.”
       Local anti-theft groups, the police and lawmakers as well as retail executives condemned Jones for being irresponsible and for encouraging crime.