The Salvation Army Chatham

There comes a time when we all wish that the summer holiday season will end and we can get back to normal corps life. Well, this has been the last week-end of the school break and next week should see the return of normality.

Once again we have to report that examination results (GCSEs) have been received (last Thursday) and that Chris, Eloise, Emily, Luke, Matt and Rachel have now learnt how well they performed (have we forgotten anybody, if so please tell us!). Our congratulations go to all of them as they now proceed to the next stage of their education. We apologise for not having a photograph of the group but some are still away on holiday. Maybe later if we can get them all together at the same time.

Not surprisingly it was a quiet Sunday in the worship sense. Only one meeting was held and many were taking advantage of what is the last public holiday week-end before Christmas. Its hard to believe that summer has almost gone. It would be better if we had noticed its arrival! Still, the last few years have been pretty good. I guess we were due a bad one. But not bad for everyone. The grass is still green and the reservoirs are full (first time for several years – no hosepipe bans) so we must not complain too much.

Major Kathy

Our morning meeting was again led by Major Kathy who chose ‘Everyone’s invited’ as her theme. Singing Company members were again in short supply so the Songsters brought the only musical contribution singing ‘When we cannot see our way’. Kathy used Philemon as her scripture base and spoke about the need for us to develop a Christian community where all are welcome whatever the background or social class. It is easy for us to succumb th prejudice of one kind or another. Paul wanted Philemon to accept his slave, Onesimus, into his family because he was a changed man, a brother in Christ. In order to do this Philemon had to examine his own attitudes and values. His Christian conviction was put to the test and he would have to forgive the man who had wronged him. We have been forgiven and so we, too, are required to forgive. We are all recipients of God’s amazing love and are expected to convey the same attitude to those who make up our community. We must remove the barriers in our homes, our neighbourhoods and our church.

Kathy used songs 824 and 283 from The Salvation Army Song Book and 28, 111, 935 and 441 from Songs of Fellowship to support her message.

General John Gowans

Finally let us bring you the words of General John Gowans, written for The Salvation Army’s musical production ‘Glory’ recounting the early days of the Army’s ministry, where people from both ends of the social scale find themselves together seeking Christ as their saviour. The words were set to music by John Larssen, later also to become General.