Monday Spot (16 July 2007)
Another busy week-end in the life of Chatham Corps. We will be reporting separately on the day out enjoyed by our Parent & Toddler Groups at Farming World on Friday so watch this space.
A Ham Sandwich?
Sandwiches were the order of the day on Saturday when our youngsters met for their annual outing at Mote Park in Maidstone. Normally they all go to the beach but this year the weather has been inconsistent (to say the least) and it was thought safer to go to the Park. The day was themed as ‘A Teddy Bears Picnic’ and here are some of the little friends the children brought along (and some of the adults too).
The Teddy Bears
Mote Park is a large open space which allows plenty of freedom. Today’s group comprised about 60 people who participated in football, rounders, an egg & spoon race, cricket, pitch & putt and a tug of war. Here are some pictures of the day.
On Sunday morning we learned that Joseph Scott had broken his wrist, falling from a piece of play equipment in the park. We wish him well and hope it is not too sore for too long.
Major Beverley
Our morning meeting was led by Major Beverley on the theme of ‘Issues of Life – Jesus and Disability’. The scripture used was John 5:1-13 (no surprise there, then) and songs included 147, 92, 208 and 40 from Songs of Fellowship together with 52 and 824 from The Salvation Army Song Book. Musical contributions were ‘Let us go in Peace’ from the Songsters and ‘You make me Happy’ from the Singing Company. Retired Bamdmaster Ray Maycock testified to the difficulties he has experienced with loss of hearing and the “process of anger, tears, frustration, prayers, acceptance and adaption” through which he has had to go.
Ray
In her address Beverley said that disabilities are not just physical, they may also be social, emotional and even spiritual. Often a cure has inconvenient implications. Do you want to get well is sometimes a difficult question. Religion had surrounded the man at the pool for many years and it had made no difference. But religion is supposed to make us meet with God, not separate us. When it does we can be cured. We then have a hope of a life that is different and we can be transformed.
Major Drew
Major Drew led our evening meeting on the subject of another great woman of the Bible, Ruth. He dealt with the loyalty, hospitality and grace that are exhibited in the first two chapters of the book. The general thrust of his message was that if we have any kind of influence or authority over others we should use it to build up and protect rather than to ‘put down’. He referred to ‘Slimming World‘ (see the recent Officer’s Blog) and being out of his comfort zone to appreciate how others may feel when they first come to church.
Songs used included 17, 730, 725 and 22 from the Salvation Army Song Book and 1404, 544 and 780 from Songs of Fellowship. Musical contributions to the meeting were ‘God and God Alone’ from the Songsters and two movements of the suite ‘Blyth Heritage’ from the Band.
Finally we would like to advise local people that there will be no Sunday evening meeting next week (22 July) to allow those who wish to attend the Divisional Family Fiesta Day at Hawthorns School, Bletchingly, near Redhill.