Chatham Salvation Army » Blog Archive » Monday Spot (23 April 2007)

Monday Spot (23 April 2007)

It felt very strange yesterday with the absence of so many people. Our Songsters were visiting Kettering for the week-end and we shall bring you a report on that within the next few days.

Also this week was the Divisional Women’s Week-end (A-Maze) held at Herne Bay Court, a Christian Conference Centre on the north coast of Kent.

Herne Bay Court

Normally a number of our ladies attend this event but this year, mainly due to the Songsters engagement at Kettering, only one was able to be present. Retired Songster Leader Verna Smith was not only a delegate but was also facilitating one of the sessions.

Verna Smith

Another factor was the closeness of the date to The Salvation Army’s ‘Roots’ week-end which comes up in two weeks time. Anyone attending both events will find the expense very heavy and so there is a tendency to chose ‘one or the other’. ‘A-Maze’ took as its Bible Study subject the journey of the disciples on the Emmaus road as found in Luke’s gospel. ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road (verse 32)’. The week-end concluded that SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION. Food for thought I guess.

Our own meetings on Sunday were led by Major Kathy who took for her morning theme ‘Love and Joy’.

Major Kathy

Using songs 144, 206, 807, 530 and 10 from The Salvation Army Song Book supplemented with 1013 and 299 from Songs of Fellowship she based her meeting on Galations 5:1 and 16-26. The only musical section to participate was the Singing Company who sang ‘Love is so amazing’

Beginning a series on ‘the fruits of the Spirit’ Kathy, in her address, spoke about the fact that we shall be known by our ‘fruits’. We must love each other and have no conflict or emnity within the church. We must live by the Spirit. All other qualities which Paul lists are derived from and expressed in love. The Christian can only know real joy when he is filled with the Spirit and the spirit filled Christian cannot fail to produce ‘fruit’. Major Kathy prayed that our church be full of love for each other so that it may also be full of joy.

In the evening the subject was ‘The Proclaimer’ and was based on Acts 2:1-39. Songs used were 829, 64 and 393 from The Salvation Army Song Book and 1419, 10 and 520 from Songs of Fellowship. The Band, very depleted due to the absence of those in the Songsters, brought ‘Jesus loves Me’.

In her message Major Kathy referred to the homeless people who come to eat at our hall each Monday. They need the gospel but are not ready to receive it yet. When they become ready our message must be proclaimed with clarity and with words they will uinderstand. She spoke about the art of personal testimony and how it must focus on the work of God. Our words must have a purpose and our lives (and corps) be purpose driven so that, when people hear what we have to say, they will be prompted to think seriously about it. ‘Go out into the world and preach the gospel’. Use words if necessary but words alone are not enough. We must be Spirit filled.

During the afternoon the band, much depleted by the absence of those members in the Songsters, led the annual St George’s Day parade which takes place in the Medway Towns and provided the music for the following service in Rochester Cathedral. Fortunately the weather was good this year and here are some photographs of the event.