The Salvation Army Chatham

It’s that time of year again. The Salvation Army, throughout the UK, is right in the middle of the Annual Appeal.

collecting at the door

If you receive a collector at your door please give generously to support our work with those in desperate need. But please don’t be afraid to ask for ID which all collectors must carry by law.

Following the ‘hype’ of last weekend we have experienced a much quieter time this week. Perhaps that has not been the case for Steve and Mel as they experienced their first Sunday at William Booth College. We have asked that they keep in touch and let us know how they are getting along and we’ll let you know in due course.

Cadets Steve & Mel Scoulding

Our Sunday morning meeting returned to the Fort Pitt Grammar School and was led by Major Drew McCombe

Drew

The theme for the meeting was again on the ‘Impact of the Cross’, particularly on the matter of ‘I can love my enemies’ Songs chosen were 281, 705 and 324 from the Salvation Army Song Book together with 129 from Songs of Fellowship and the chorus ‘Guardian of my Soul‘. Scripture used was from Ephesians 2:13 and 1 Peter 2:21-25. The music provided by the Singing Company and the Songsters was ‘With You, Jesus’ and ‘Come to Me’ respectively.

Two new local officers were appointed. Kate Boughton is to become Junior Soldiers Sergeant in succession to Mel Scoulding and Paula Butterriss-Dean is becoming Young People’s Record Sergeant.

Kate Paula

In his message Drew said how many amazing pictures of the cross have you seen? At Oberammergau perhaps? Or the steel beams at Ground Zero? This latter image can help us to make sense of ‘love your enemies’. Some of us still want Christianity without the cross but we need to relize it is the essential element of our faith. We need a saviour! We should follow in his steps and copy his example even when people work against us. But this is not without its problems. It is often unfair or unjust but we must not retaliate even if we feel we want to. We must learn to forgive , however difficult that might be, because our place is not to judge or punish, only to follow Jesus’ example. To do this we need to understand how much we, ourselves, have been forgiven first. Then we will begin to know about the power of the cross which can cancel our sins and give us a life of holiness so that we can play our part in the salvation of others.

In the evening we returned to the Emmaus Church Centre in Clover Street to be led by Major Beverley

Beverley

The study of Elijah continued with the topic ‘A God who Provides’. Songs included were 741, 763, 736 and 12 from the Salvation Army Song Book and 496 and 892 from Songs of Fellowship. The Band and Songsters both brought musical contributions, ‘Stracathro’ and ‘With Wings as Eagles’ respectively. Three portions of scripture were used, Psalm 105:1-5, John 9:1-7 and 1 Kings 17:7-24.

Beverley led a period of prayer for specific needs. We thanked God for:

Adequate provision for our needs day by day

Our minds and the stimulus they receive

Provision for our spiritual needs and for our ability to trust in it and have hope

Loving us

We prayed for:

Those in physical need and those receiving treatment

Those dying from lack of food and water

The Homeless

The elderly who sometimes lose their ability to communicate

Those with no access to education

Those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Saviour, that they will come to know Him

The message was brought by Rev Brian Adams who recounted again the story of Elijah featured in the chosen scripture and said God showed His power through the faith of Elijah and the widow woman. That power is available to us all and God longs to provide it. He makes demands on our lives but our trust in Him is rewarded. He rewards those who are faithful.

Brian

As far as our building works are concerned all is proceeding well. There are no delays to record as yet, but we mustn’t get complacent, there’s still a lot of work to do. The demolition work is substantially complete and the new steelwork is in place. Walls are beginning to appear and heating and electrical work is well under way. One third of the contract period has already passed, just eight more weeks to go providing the good start is maintained.

Next weekend we look forward to our Harvest Celebrations and will reflect again on God’s goodness to us in providing for our needs. Suddenly, it seems, the long days of summer are coming to an end as the sun slips once more into the southern hemisphere. But we know that this cycle is a necessary part of God’s provision as we begin to prepare for winter and all that it means. We have forgotten all about the millennium ‘bug’ and the disaster that we were supposed to be threatened by. Well, that was all of ten years ago and the world did not come to a frightful end as was forecast in some circles. No surprise really, God’s in charge after all!

Enjoy your week and, if you’re fresh into University, be assured of the prayers of all who care about you.