Monday Spot (24 March 2008)
Easter means that our account of the week-end begins on Friday. Our meeting was led by Commissioner Norman Howe who is currently the Pastoral Support Officer at the Regent Hall Corps in central London
Commissioner Norman Howe
The Commissioner’s theme for the morning was ‘nothing but the cross’ and he chose some favourite Good Friday songs including 112, 124, 136 and 115 from The Salvation Army Song Book and 120 and 780 from Songs of Fellowship. Musical ministry was provided by the Singing Company, who brought ‘Thank you for the Cross’ and the vocal group which repeated its song of Tuesday evening, ‘Come to the Cross’.
Commissioner Howe read from 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 and 2:1-5 and spoke about Epiphany moments. The apostle Paul experienced a number of these. ‘Scales’ fell from his eyes and his mind became open to the life of Jesus. It was because of this that he preached about the cross with such conviction in Corinth. The cross is a symbol of brutal oppression and is turned into a symbol of love. When we lose our focus on it we become spiritually weak and ineffective. In Salvation Army terms this happens when we turn worship into entertainment or presentation into performance. The cross of Christ must not be emptied of its power. Wise and persuasive words are not required but a demonstration of God’s power is. As we re-focus on the cross we will regain spiritual strength. Nothing but the Cross!
Following the meeting the corps joined with other churches in central Chatham to make a public witness for Good Friday in the High Street as the pictures below show.
Floral decorations on our Altar Table represented the transition from Good Friday to Easter Sunday
‘On a hill far away……..’
‘Christ has burst the gates of hell…………’
Our arranger points out that the tulips forming Christ’s body on the cross on Friday are intermingled with all of us on Sunday, representing Christ alive in the world.
Commissioner Norman Howe was again or leader for the Easter Sunday meetings. The hall was buzzing in the morning with the excitement of the occasion and the Commisissioer began with the Easter Hymn and the account of the resurrection from Luke 24:1-12. Other songs included were 59 and 179 from The Salvatioin Army Song Book together with 877, 736, 897, 544 and 646 from Songs of Fellowship. The Singing Company and Songsters conrtibuted to the musical ministry with ‘Yes, He has Risen’ and ‘A Jubilant Song’ respectively. Rachel Horwood beautifully sang ‘In the Name of the Lord’.
Rachel
Commissioner Howe based his teaching on Acts 1 emphasizing that Jesus appeared to his disciples over a period of 40 days. He asked what happened to them as they were exposed to the risen Christ? This was the very first time when the church experienced the Spirit of Jesus. There was both instruction and initiation. The company of disciples was brought again and again to the scriptures for instruction. God not only gives instruction through scripture but also through prayer. He is calling the church back to corporate prayer and many of us can and should join in this activity. This is part of the initiation into the risen Lord Jesus. He asked who has authority in your house? Don’t pursue this too deeply! In the church there can be only one authority, the Lord Jesus Christ. Leaders can only act in that authority, not their own. Sometimes a church loses the power of the Holy Spirit, becoming routine and mechanical. When it does it must rediscover the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Let go and let God take possession. Let the gifts of the Spirit be seen in your church, constantly renewed and regenerated. Then ‘you will receive power and you will be witnesses’.
The evening meeting featured three passages of scripture to augment that chosen for the bible message. These were Acts 26:12-18, Luke 24:1-6 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-55. Songs used included 109, 152, 59, 591 and 64 from The Salvation Army Song Book and 755 from Songs of Fellowship. The Songsters brought two songs, ‘God so Loved the World’ and ‘Written in Red’ and the Band two numbers, ‘Hallelujah! Christ Arose’ and ‘Such Love’.
The Commissioner spoke on 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and quoted ‘I want to remind you of the Gospel’. Christ died, was buried, rose on the third day, appeared to Peter, the twelve and many more. Easter goes on emerging generation after generation and it is the ‘appearing moments’ of Christ which make this possible. He spoke about the times when we can meet with the Lord. At any time of day – why not. Anywhere – why not. Epiphany moments. In the Spirit. The epiphany moments, like Easter itself, go from generation to generation. New believers continue to emerge. I pray for continual blessing in your corps ministry.
As readers would expect, this has been a fine week-end of worship and celebration.
Let us finish with a reminder that next week-end sees the start of British Summer Time (although you could be excused for finding this funny after the snowfalls of yesterday). Please remember to set your clocks forward one hour next Saturday night or you will be arriving when we are finishing and that would never do. God Bless and have a good week.