The Salvation Army Chatham

Yesterday we welcomed back Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe from their summer vacation.

Majors Drew & Beverley McCombe

The day’s meetings took a topical theme, ‘Run the Race’, inspired no doubt by the Olympic Games which concluded yesterday in Beijing.

Its London next time!

Major Beverley was our leader in the morning and she chose songs 290, 1105, 443 and 1534 from Songs of Fellowship together with 449 and 366 from The Salvation Army Song Book. She used two passages of scripture, Colossians 1:15-20 and Hebrews 12:1-11. Musical ministry was provided by the Songsters who brought ‘Lord you know that we love you’  and the Singing Company with ‘Lord, you are more precious than silver’.

In her message Major Beverley spoke about parallels between the Christian life and the Olympic concept. She said I guess we have all been watching the Olympic Games. Its marvellous what people can do. But every medallist confessed to years of hard work which meant that agony had to be endured. It is hard to understand the work and discipline required to achieve the best. Years of training and effort. The same is true of the Christian life. It is not easy. The reality of the truth of the gospel is that we will get fulfilment and enjoyment but it will be hard work. God brings us joy and peace that we can find no other way but the human life is a race or a struggle and requires hardship and suffering as well as discipline.

Paul used the metaphor of the games as an illustration of the Christian life. The things athletes are required to do in preparation and to be fit to compete. Sometimes we expect to succeed as Christians without any kind of discipline but we must throw off anything that hinders, even things which are not necessarily sinful in themselves. Don’t give too much time to irrelevant matters.

Support of other Christians is also important as it helps them to live their lives well. Look to Jesus. Consider who we are doing it all for. Discipline is often painful but it will be good for us and those we are responsible for. We must accept the discipline of our heavenly father so that we can be transformed into his image. God loves us and wants us to be more Christlike.

The evening meeting, led by Major Drew, took the same theme and initially dwelt around the idea of lighting the flame. Testimonies were included, a frequent feature in our meetings, and the songs used were 203, 206, 696 and 474 from The Salvation Army Song Book supplemented by 42 and 1346 from Songs of Fellowship. The band played ‘I can think of Him’ and the Songsters brought ‘Grant us thy Peace’.

Major Drew, in his address, which was based on 2 Timothy 4:1-8, said the Olympics have been good for sport and good for Gt Britain. However, on Thursday Michael Rimmer ran in the 800m but failed to qualify for the next round. He really did not want to be interviewed afterwards because he knew he could have done better, That’s a bad feeling to have. Who am I to disagree with what Beverley said this morning or, indeed, with Paul? However, I do feel that many people are restricted because of things that have happened in the past. Guilt and business are areas for concern here. If we want to make progress in life we must stop rehearsing the past. Give up on the guilt because God has forgiven you. Don’t let the past distract you. Winners don’t give up or become diverted from the objective. This is about our own discipline but the key to winning is surrender, giving up what holds us back. Surrender is not a ‘once and for all’  act. It is about who I am. I am only able to win in direct correlation to my surrender. Our mission cannot be completed by human power alone, only if Christ is within us. He will equip us with all we need and he is utterly faithful. He calls us to join him in the race so that we can ‘cross the line’ together. The Christian race is not about who finishes first but about how well we finish.

Songster Leader Adrian Horwood added  poingancy to the end of the sermon by playing the tune ‘All to Jesus I surrender’ as a euphonium solo.

Adrian Horwood

It was good to have our officers back with us and we look forward with anticipation to the future praying that God will take our corps forward under their direction.

Last Friday the funeral took place of Dot Parkes. This was conducted by Major Kathy Woodhouse at the Medway Crematorium.

Finally a point of interest, perhaps, for older members of the corps. A former colleague, and pupil, of Ron Symonds phoned the corps (from Spain) this week having just discovered Ron’s passing earlier in the year. Reg Carter wishes to be remembered to those who knew him.