The Salvation Army Chatham

Last Tuesday we reported on Mark Scoulding’s role as ‘event organiser’ for a campaign against Human Trafficking in the City and University of Durham where he is studying.

Mark Scoulding

Readers might like to see some of the coverage and support Mark has received from local newspapers. Click here and here to read. We understand that he has also been interviewed by Durham FM who broadcast the piece last Friday, the first day of the campaign. We look forward to Mark’s report on events later this week.

Meanwhile, back home in Chatham, we began the week-end with a family quiz night organised by Sam Wood and the Fellowship Purpose Group. Over 90 people attended and the evening was a resounding success.

Quizmaster Richard Craik

Winning team ‘GASP’

Sam and her team of helpers provided us with a wonderful evening of fun and enjoyment and deserve the thanks of all present. The food was great and added hugely to the enjoyment.

Well done Sam!

Plenty of singing and good music is usually a feature of our worship at Chatham and this Sunday was no exception. Major Kathy led both our meetings and, in the morning, she chose to include songs 575, 615, 591, 564 and 580 from The Salavtion Army Song Book. She also used 1377 and 1013 from Songs of Fellowship supporting the theme of being ‘Alone with God’ (the how and the why of time with God). This theme will form the basis of our morning worship until the end of February.

The musical ministry of the Singing Company and Songsters was ‘Thanks’ and ‘In His Presence’ respectively. Using Mark 1:35-39 Kathy spoke about the fact that we cannot bargain with God. She said This morning we will look at God’s own attitude to prayer. Are we giving our time to God or to God’s work? Sometimes we need to be quiet with God and to find time to pray and listen to Him. She quoted “if I have my quiet hour I have a quiet heart”. Prayer is the key which unlocks faith. It is central. God’s work cannot be done without it. Society today is filled with great demands in the work place. If we are to achieve we must put God first. God’s priorities must be our priorities. They will be if we put God at the top of the list and pray constantly so that prayer continually inspires what we do.

Kathy also taught the children an important lesson about prayer. We don’t need to use long words, its OK to keep ‘bothering’ God and prayer is important were the three points she made!

Major Kathy

In the evening we began to consider ‘Big Questions of Life’, again a theme we shall be pursuing for the next few weeks (during Lent in fact). This week we looked at the question of authority. and songs 141, 37 and 56 were used from The Salvation Army Song Book together with 40, 1498, 1383 and 478 from Songs of Fellowship. More good music was presented by the Band who played ‘I bring Thee all’. The Songsters contributed ‘Why I Love Jesus’. Kathy’s scripture reference was Mark 11:27-33 and in her message she said The Pharisees and teachers recognised the extraordinary behaviour of Jesus and questioned his authority to act in this way. They had a right to do so. But what was their purpose? It was to test Jesus and cause him to blaspheme. They thought they had outwitted him. This still happens today. People try to back Christians into a corner. But on this occasion it was ‘men of God’ questioning God himself and they soon became the questioned ones not wanting to face the truth. They stood self-condemned. How much more evidence did the Pharisees and teachers want? How much more do you want? Hear the truth! See the evidence! Claim Christ as King!

So, already the first month of the year has passed, at least as far as the week-ends are concerned. It is said that all New Year resolutions are forgotten by this time. Is that true for you? Being a Christian is about consistency and faithfulness. Not a bad thing to remember when we are tempted to go back to our old ways. Take time out to pray and listen in quietness to the voice of God because it speaks with authority.

See you all again next week.