From the newsletter ...

Whose Millennium is it anyway? Are you ready to cope with the Millennium Bug? It sounds like something out of a sixties sci-fi horror film doesn't it? It might conjure up visions of some dreadful contamination from outer space that's poised to strike at civilisation at the stroke of midnight on December 31st 1999. But don't panic -- it's not a bug at all. All it means is that some computer systems won't be able to recognise the date 2000 because they've been programmed to think that every year must begin with the number 19. That's not to say it isn't serious. A lot of things that we take for granted could cease to work unless something is done to correct all those computers. One way or another, this Millennium business is attracting a lot of attention. There's the famous (or infamous) Millennium Dome. For some, it's a great idea for a national celebration. For others, it's a colossal waste of taxpayers' money. Already, many communities are planning how they will mark the Millennium, with special events and projects. But have you stopped to ask why there is this focus on the Millennium in the first place? What's the significance of the number 2000? Why is that year any different from any other? In one sense, it's hard to see what all the fuss is about. It's just another number, just another year. But in another sense, it's quite thrilling to think that so many people will be going out of their way to mark the occasion. They will be celebrating the anniversary of the arrival on earth as a human being of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is the reason for the whole thing, because that new year will be 2000 Anno Domini -- the two thousandth year of the Lord. Now I'm not sure that everybody who is preparing for it realises that. Imagine it's your birthday, and you hold a party, and invite all your friends and relatives. How would you feel if they arrived at your home one by one, greeted one another, drank toasts to one another and gave each other presents, all the while completely ignoring you? It would be a very strange birthday! Celebrating the two thousandth anniversary of Jesus' arrival without considering him could be equally strange. Churches Together in Witney are planning a series of special events beginning next year to mark the Millennium, and focus attention on Jesus, whose anniversary it is, and who is still the greatest need of this world. Watch out for details! Stephen Bessent Cogges Parish | Other articles | Following issue © 1998; Published in Cogges Parish monthly newsletter, number 234, November 1998 cogges.pcc@comlab.ox.ac.uk