The Salvation Army Chatham

This seemed quite an unusual Sunday for us as we were without the Band all day. It was visiting the Coventry City Corps for the weekend and we shall be featuring a report later in the week.

Saturday evening concert

Nevertheless we had a good day although, naturally, our numbers were less than usual. There was also a dedication (similar to a christening) ceremony at Maidstone Corps  which a number of our own people attended in the morning.

Major Beverley McCombe

Following the theme of ‘Work and Unemployment’ Major Beverley led in the morning choosing songs 7, 352, 522 and 187 from the Salvation Army Song Book together with 208 and 236 from Songs of Fellowship. The Singing Company and Songsters provided the musical ministry (‘Nothing but Thy Blood’ and ‘You know that we love You!’ respectively) and the scripture chosen was Genesis 1:24-31.

Rod Tranah and Verna Smith gave personal testimonies relating to their experience in unemployment (Rod) and voluntary work (Verna).

Rod Verna

In her address Major Beverley said work occupies a significant place in our lives so we need to know how to think about it in Christian terms. Society tends to define people according to what they do. People often have a negative attitude to work, a necessary evil. But scripture says work is a blessing, not drudgery. It is a direct consequence of our creation in God’s image. God himself is a worker and He made us workers too. We are privileged stewards of His creation. It is not payment for work that brings satisfaction but the engagement in the task and knowing that our work is appreciated is important and is God’s intention. God bestows upon us responsibilities for work. Do we see the pay packet as the ultimate result of the completed task or do we do everything for the glory of God? The church needs to support full employment and seek to promote it because work honours God.

During the afternoon about a dozen of our ladies, together with other members of their families visited ‘Chainhurst’, the garden of Audrey Beeching would visited the Ladies Fellowship a few weeks ago. The weather was glorious and it was good to be part of the National Gardens Scheme even if it was only for a few hours. Mind you, the tea and cakes were just superb.

Major Drew led in the evening and chose songs 141, 773 and 705 from the Salvation Army Song Book as well as 1066, 721 and 1346 from Songs of Fellowship and ‘What does the Spirit say to the Churches?. The Band being away the only musical contribution was from the Songsters who brought ‘I will worship you’.

Major Drew McCombe

In his message, given in three separate parts Drew referred to Revelation 2:8-11 and said Christ introduced Himself to the suffering church in Smyrna in a very reassuring and comforting way. He is the first and the last. Their faith is not in vain because He came, He died and He rose again. He conquered death and promised that we could do the same. He knows everything about us.

God often says in scripture ‘don’t be afraid’. We have nothing to fear when God is with us. Fear can paralyse and suppress our thoughts and actions and we must manage it out of our lives. Do we have faith that things can change, that life can be better? We can have faith today that will determine the future.

Because Jesus overcame so can you. There is nothing to fear but we need the situations required to activate our strengths. We have that power in the Spirit of God.

For the next week Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe will be taking a break. Next Sunday our morning meeting will take the form of ‘Junior Soldiers‘ Day of Renewal’ and be led by our Junior Soldiers’ Sergeant. The evening meeting will be led by the Band.