The Salvation Army Chatham

Wow! What a weekend!

First cups served

As anticipated on Friday, handover of the new coffee area has now taken place and the area was used for the first time during the Community Gospel Choir rehearsal on Friday evening.

Singing

Drinking & chatting

Studying the score

Nigel in the kitchen?

Saturday saw the beginning of the 24 hours of prayer organised by the Discipleship Purpose Group. At the outset Major Beverley conducted a brief service of dedication of the new facility which was being used to host the various subjects set out for prayer. These embodied the full range of Purpose Group responsibilities together with the various activities within the corps’ structured programme. A continuous flow of people visited during the day and night to uphold the corps in prayer and ask for God’s continued guidance and empowerment in carrying through its vision.

Dedication

Meditation

Sunday morning was the final meeting to be held at Fort Pitt Grammar School and we are grateful to those who made this venue available during our ‘time out’. It will be good to be back home next week and we look forward to new beginnings in the life of our corps and the lives of those who will be enrolled as Soldiers. Why not join us to experience this meaningful ceremony if you live locally.

This week our meeting was led by Lyndall Bywater, The Salvation Army’s Territorial Prayer Coordinator, and included songs 1346 and 145 from Songs of Fellowship  together with 525 and 830 from the Salvation Army Song Book. Scripture used was Isaiah 43:10-21 and the musical ministry provided by the Singing Company and Songsters was ‘Lord,show me what I need’ and ‘Nothing but Thy Blood’ respectively. Helena and Erin were presented with Junior Soldier Awards

Margaret Day was acknowledged as the new prayer Coordinator for the corps.

Margaret

In her message Lyndall asked:

Have you ever tried to grow bamboo? It starts to grow extremely slowly but eventually accelerates to mature very quickly. When we start to pray God acts! We do not have to persuade Him. You have been praying and you are beginning to see ‘bamboo’ growth. Don’t stop, God is at work. Sometimes you may not feel ready for the answers to prayer but God can only move forward.  When God acts none of us can go back because He makes new ways for us to go, sometimes ways ‘in the desert’. New ways which won’t be the same as the ones you are used to. God knows this may be difficult for you and so provides new ‘streams’ to refresh you. He is saying ‘I have something new for you’. Don’t dwell on the past but allow God’s new ways to ‘spring up’ within you.

Lyndall with guide dog Croft

‘Journey of Discipleship’ was the theme of the evening meeting, held at the Emmaus Church Centre and led by Commissioner Dr Paul du Plessis together with wife Margaret.

Commissioners Margaret & Paul du Plessis

The meeting included songs 578, 685, 397 and 862, all from the Salvation Army Song Book. Three scripture references were used, Isaiah 35:1-10, Luke 9:51-62 and Hebrews 11:1-2 & 13-16 and the music chosen by the Band was ‘Fall afresh’ and the Songsters ‘Here am I, my Lord’.

a full church

A different feature of this meeting was the message being in the form of an interview conducted by Nigel Day, our Discipleship Purpose Group leader, with questions to follow. These tracked Commissioner Du Plessis’ experience throughout his life as a doctor and a Salvation Army officer, beginning with his appointment in charge of the Army’s 300 bed Chikankata hospital, where he felt that God was with him when dealing with tragic circumstances such as leprosy. There followed a 10 year appointment to International Headquarters which presented immense opportunities in managing Salvation Army health issues around the world. A period as Territorial Commander in India preceded his return to homeland South Africa just after Nelson Mandela had assumed leadership, leading to an involvement in the coming together of the different races in that country. Returning to International Headquarters to become the International Secretary for South Asia brought this wonderful journey of discipleship to a  close. Paul Du Plessis now works, in retirement, at the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester where he is the leading authority in the palliative care of cancer patients. Beginning and ending in hospital appointments his experience tells him that ‘God is doing His thing – we must be open to His leading’.

I can see God’s guidance but sometimes have been slow to respond. We need to take time to know His will and listen to others who help us understand it. Most importantly we must know what that will is.

Nigel Day

This was the final occasion of worship at Emmaus during our period away from the Hall and we would wish to thank Revd Brian Adams and all the members of his church for receiving us so willingly and being so welcoming. Next Sunday evening we have the privilege of returning the favour when our two churches will meet together at Church Street for ‘Songs of Praise’. This will be a joyous occasion and all visitors will be made most welcome.

Finally a thought for the week. According to a law made by Oliver Cromwell it is illegal to eat mince pies at Christmas. Hey Ho! Just visit me in prison!