Monday Spot (23 March 2009)
A packed Hall greeted us on the morning of Mothers’ Day yesterday.
a full gallery in the morning
Major Beverley led our 10am meetng which included a Church Parade for our Scout and Guide groups.
Major Drew receives the colours
The theme of ‘We are Family’ was explored using selected verses from Psalm 36, portrayed in visual form, and the songs chosen were 324 from the Salvation Army Song Book together with 1607, 783, 299 and 520 from Songs of Fellowship. As is normal on a Sunday morning the musical ministry was provided by the Singing Company and the Songsters, the Singing Company bringing ‘My Marvellous Mum’ and the Songsters ‘Beautiful Christ’.
Facilities were provided in the meeting for the very small children, particularly those from our Parent & Toddler Groups, to have activity whilst the regular meeting was going on around them. Drawing, colouring and modelling kept them very quiet indeed!
Special Mothers’ Day items included three video presentations, each of about 5 minutes duration, which portayed the thoughts of some of our young mums, some of the children and some our older church family members on the subject of family. We hope to be able to bring you these videos on this website later in the week. An item from ‘You Tube’ was also included, ‘Mum Song’ set to the William Tell overture, showing a humerous version of a mother’s day, but one not so far from the truth in many cases!
Once again we were able to witness an enrolment, this time of Jonathan Lockwood who relinquished his soldiership two years ago but now feels able to recommit his life to God in this way. The ceremony was conducted by Major Drew McCombe. Jonathan spoke of his experience in returning to soldiership and referred to the song Casting Crowns in his testimony, quoting the words ‘I once was lost but now am found. so far away, but I’m home now. Now my life to you I yield’.
Jonathan recommits his life
with Major Drew
In her brief message Beverley said life is a journey. God loves everybody and reaches out to all of us. We must exercise our freedom of choice and accept or reject His love. But it makes no difference – God loves us all and wants a relationship with each one of us. He gave himself for us so that we might live in that relationship if we want to. What is your response to His love?
The meeting concluded with the traditional distribution of flowers by the children to the mothers in the meeting.
Amongst the many visitors present It was good to welcome Duncan and Julie Sutton and son Andrew, currently living in California and home for a short holiday. Duncan grew up in Chatham and will be well known to many present and former members of the corps.
Duncan, Andrew & Julie
In the evening we continued to study some of the sayings of Jesus on the cross under the heading of ‘Love speaks from the cross – I am thirsty’. Song 10 from the Salvation Army Song Book opened the meeting followed by a consideration of many of the things we are able to praise God for continuing with 980, 27, 1013, 935 and 1561 from Songs of Fellowship. For the musical Ministry the Band brought ‘We saw Love’ and the Songsters ‘Part the Waters’.
The scripture used for the message was John 19:28-37 and Major Drew spoke about thirst beginning with images on the screen depicting thirsty people, the effects of drought and the devastation caused.
He referred to Jesus’ agony on the cross being much more than just thirst. ‘I am thirsty’, the words of Jesus, are a demonstration of His physical suffereing but not the whole of it. There was much more as Jesus knew what it was like to have His body abused. He therefore knew what we sometimes have to suffer and can empathize with it. We can be like Him, truly God-like and, at th same time, can have our deepest longings met. Experiencing a spiritual thirst can be just as agonising as the physical one Jesus suffered on the cross. We need to experience that thirst so that we can be aware of our own ‘holy discontent’. Perhaps that is the need for us to make disciples; to be a better ‘Army’. If so we need to be involved. Let your thirst drive you to God.
The meeting concluded with the song ‘I dare to be different’ – by living like Christ.
Big Ben
We must finish this week with a reminder that British Summer Time starts next weekend and that the clocks go forward one hour on Saturday night. Don’t forget or you might be very late for the meeting next Sunday morning!