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British vicar catches fire waiting for God's answer
Stephen Beach of St Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth, southwest England, was getting his congregation to reflect on the experience of waiting in the final section of a sermon delivered from his home last week.
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Rich Alldritt, vicar of St Thomas Church, Oakwood conducts an online service via Youtube after all churches were closed as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. Oakwood, Britain March 22, 2020 (REUTERS/John Sibley)
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British vicar got more than he expected from his first attempt at an online sermon when he leaned too close to a candle on a cross and his sweater caught fire.
Stephen Beach of St Budeaux Parish Church in Plymouth, southwest England, was getting his congregation to reflect on the experience of waiting in the final section of a sermon delivered from his home last week.
"It's a great thing to pause in the presence of God and to ask the question: Lord God, what are you saying to us?," Beach said, warming to the theme.
"And then, of course, to wait for an answer. I've just been pausing between these..." he continues before the realising his left shoulder has moved too close to the flame.
"Oh dear, I just caught on fire", he exclaimed, batting and blowing out the flame. "Oh my word."
Hopefully this will make you smile. WATCH as Rev Stephen Beach, the vicar of St Budeaux parish in #Plymouth accidentally sets his jumper on fire during his online sermon. #HeartNews
(With thanks to his niece @StIvesMermaid from Cornwall) pic.twitter.com/8EsT6x4yHc
— Heart South West News (@HeartSWNews) March 21, 2020
Video sermons are part of the Plymouth church's response to the coronavirus crisis, trying to encourage people to keep faith and sustain their normal outlook on life, the vicar told Reuters in a message.
"My family love it, and the youngest grandchildren want to know when Granddad is going to set himself on fire again," Beach added.
Several places of worship around the world have adopted online prayers and services in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
In a television message watched by more than 27 million people on Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Britons to stay at home, told nearly all shops to close and banned social gatherings including weddings and baptisms.
