Monday Spot (23 February 2009)
The meetings this week were conducted by Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe based around the themes in the morning ‘Follower of Jesus, to know and be known’ and in the evening ‘Model of Mission: Church growing in favour’. We welcomed friends from the Gillingham Corps who were joining us as some maintenance work was going on in their own building which involved closure for one week.
Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe
The songs used in the morning meeting led by Major Drew included: Song 24, SoF 1346, the chorus of Song 732, Song 730, SoF 646, SoF 1113 and Song 64. The scripture portion used was John 10: 1-21. Music ministry was provided by the Singing Company who sang ‘You’re my light’ and Songsters who sang ‘Vesper’. Major Drew in his message recapped on his previous message when he had stressed that when we follow Jesus it is not just about us believing in Him but that He believes in us. The whole point about following Jesus is that it is about our relationship. Jesus said ‘I know my sheep and my sheep know me’. Drew asked ‘How is your relationship with Jesus? Have you disconnected your belief from your relationship with Jesus?’ It is possible to know of a person but not to really know the person. However, Jesus wants us to know Him and be known by Him. He quoted, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’. Nothing is too much for Jesus, to know us and for us to know Him.
The evening meeting led by Major Beverley included songs as follows: Song 310, SoF 266, Song 489, Song 760, SoF 242 and Song 828. The music ministry provided by the Band and Songsters was ‘It is Jesus’ and ‘You know that we love You!’ respectively. Scripture used was 2 Sam 22: 1-4, 47-51 and Acts 2: 42-47. Major Beverley’s message focussed on the early church in which there was little structure or organisation as they were like a family, not very popular with the authorities but people were drawn to it because it was attractive and like a visual aid for the gospel. Previously the messages on mission had been that of scattering the seed with some seed producing fruit; keeping the right company and influencing others for Christ in the way we live; and the third message of the church being church and being a visual aid for the gospel. She queried what the gospel was according to Chatham Salvation Army and spelled out the three characteristics of the early church which helped them. She said that we, as a Corps, needed to be a beacon of truth and light and trust; a community where God shows up when we meet and a community which is generous and hospitable. We should not be deflected from our mission during our building project.
Next week, 1 March, the Missionary Appeal Altar Services will be held during the morning and evening meetings. On Sat. 7 March the Band and Songsters will be providing an evening festival at St. Margaret’s Church, Rainham.
During the week from 7-13 March Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe will be shadowed by two cadets from the William Booth Training College. They are Cadets Peter and Marloes Van-de-Venis who come from Holland.
Cadets Marloes and Peter Van-de-Venis
In Holland
Whilst in Chatham they will take part in the meetings on 8 March led by Cadets Rachel and Karl Carpenter and will lead the Cameo club on Wed. 11 March.
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