Due to inclement weather this evening’s meeting (5 February) has been cancelled. This afternoon’s meeting of the Discipleship Group has also been cancelled as has the Mainly Music Group tomorrow morning. Further announcements will be made here when we receive more information.

Update: We can now confirm that the Monday Lunch will not take place tomorrow and the Hub Cafe will not be open. This includes the Foodbank Drop-in Centre. The Costa Book Club scheduled for Monday evening is also cancelled.

The ‘Fit for Life’ series in our Sunday worship programme will continue for the next three weeks.

Next Sunday (22 January) the morning theme will be ‘Exercising my Prayer Life’ (Jeremiah 29:11-12). The evening theme will be ‘Worship as a 24/7 experience’ (Romans 12:1-2)

On Sunday 29 January the morning theme will be ‘Sharing in Community and small groups’ (Acts 2:46-47). The evening theme will be ‘Stretching my faith’ (2 Peter 1:3-9)

Sunday 5 February will see the concl;usion of the series as we dwell on ‘Taking time to rest’ (Mark 6:30-32). This will involve the presentation of medals. In the evening we shall be ‘Celebrating Victories’.

Why not join us if you are able to. We meet at 10am on Sunday mornings and 6pm in the evenings.

Here’s how to find us:

Click on the maps to enlarge

There will only be one meeting on Sunday – at 10am. This will be led by Majors Alma & Jim Brown in the absence of Majors Alec & Andrea Still who are taking a few days holiday.

Sunrise

We welcome all who would like to share this coming Sunday with us.

18 December is the 4th Sunday of Advent and will be celebrated with two Carol Services. At 10am we shall meet ot share with our children in the KAOS (Kids Alive On Sunday) Carol Service. All the children will be taking part and there is no doubt that it will be a great morning.

At 6pm we shall gather for our Corps Carol Service with all the senior sections of the corps taking part. Taking the title of ‘The Word became Flesh the prophesy is fulfilled as recorded in John 1:1-14.

This is the final Sunday before Christmas and we expect to see the hall in Church Street full for both meetings. Why not add yourself to that number?

Here’s how to find us:

Click on the maps to enlarge

Major Alec Still was indeed angelic in his role as Able, the student angel, in our Carol Concerts which took place over the past weekend.

under instruction form Gabriel

The theme of  ‘Angels’ featured Nigel Day in the ‘senior’ role (Gabriel) as he attempted to train his young and inexperienced fledgling in the art of being a reliable assistant. We’re not sure whether he succeeded!

The four main music sections each provided a spot and all performed to their usual high standards. First on stage was the Singing Company with ‘Wake Up’, ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Midnight’.

Midnight

Up next were the Band with ‘Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells’ (Euphonium Solo by Adrian Horwood) and ‘Carol of the Bells’.

Santa made his usual call urging people to contribute gifts for disadvantaged children and enlisting the support of all the children in the audience to help with the singing of ‘Away in  Manger‘.

Lt. Col. Ray Steadman-Allen demonstrated his skill in a Christmas Medley on the piano which brought cheers from both Saturday and Sunday audiences. It’s hard to imagine, from his dexterity on the instrument, that next year he will reach 90 years of age.

a musical wizard

Other Carols included in the first half were ‘O come, all ye faithful‘, ‘The first Nowell‘ and ‘Ding Dong! merrily on high‘. The angels appeared from time to time to plan their Christmas schedule and provided much amusement for the audience.

Can I? Can I? Please, sir?

Angel trumpet?

The Junior Band featured early in the second half by accompanying the carol ‘O little town of Bethlehem‘ and following with ‘Three Kings Rock’. Five learners then joined the band for an important part in ‘Jingle Bell Jive’. Leader David Lockwood has engaged professional help in teaching these young people and there is much evidence of success. The children did really well and were greeted with cheers on conclusion of their item.

a ‘rock’ solid performance

My! That’s a long slide!

More from the angles and then the Songsters (‘Angel’s Carol’ and ‘Running with the Shepherds’) as we approached the climax of the concert.

‘A starry night‘ led us into a time of reflection as the Songsters sung ‘Joy to the World and the final tableaux developed. The baby Jesus was brought to the stage by Mary and Joseph. This year a real live baby just four weeks old added a beautiful touch. The Shepherds and the Wise Men gathered around as Major Alec brought his Christmas message asking us all to identify our role in the picture before us. During the final carol, ‘Hark! the herald angels sing‘, a group of bandsmen, dressed for outdoor Christmas witness, joined the group to bring it into the present day scene. The Mayor of Medway, Councillor Ted Baker, and Helen Gallagher, coordinator of the newly formed Medway Foodbank, also joined the tableaux to emphasise the need for the Christmas message right here in the Medway Towns

Medway Foodbank was the charity chosen to share the proceeds of the collection and Helen was presented with a cheque for £450 which will go towards the costs of setting up this much needed service to Medway people in crisis. Chatham Salvation Army will be opening one of the ‘drop-in’ centres, operating in our ‘Hub’ coffee shop, on Monday 23 January. The first opened yesterday at the Strood Community Project (High Street) and others are being planned in Gillingham and Rainham.

Helen looks pleased as she receives the cheque from the Mayor of Medway, Councillor Ted Baker, as Major Alec looks on.

Advent Worship Programme

Mornings will focus on Nativity Songs – Evenings on Promised Hope

Sunday 27 November

10am – Mary’s Song of Exaltation – Luke 1:26-56

6pm – A Prophesy foretold – Isaiah 9: 1-7

Sunday 4 December

10am – Zechariah’s song of  Salvation – Luke 1:57-79 (Toy Service)

6pm – The Wise Men, a prophesy revealed – Matthew 2:1-12

Saturday 10 December

6pm – Community Carol Service – Angels

Sunday 11 December

10am – The Angel’s song of Glory – Luke 2:8-20

4pm – Community Carol Service – Angels

Sunday 18 December

10am – KAOS Carol Service

6pm – Corps Carol Service – The Word became flesh – a prophesy fulfilled – John 1:1-14

Sunday 25 December

10am – Unto us – The song of Hope (selected scripture readings)

All are welcome to worship with us on any (or all)  of these occasons

Here’s how to find us:

Click on the maps to enlarge

We are delighted to welcome our neighbouring Salvation Army Corps at Gillingham to the world of SA websites. We have added its new site to the ‘Our Links’ page but readers may wish to click here for an introductory visit.

the Green Street hall

Talking of visits why not pop in to the Green Street hall when you are in the area. We know you would receive a warm welcome.

As an antidote to Halloween, Churches Together in Medway (CTIM) organise an annual celebration in Rochester Cathedral on the original theme of the day – the eve of All Saints Day (writes Nigel Day). Whilst the secular world is now overtaken by commercialism and manipulation on this day, Christians are called to unite against the forces of evil.

More than 400 people gathered at the Cathedral to join in singing praises to God led by Ruth Shopland and a composite band of musicians and singers after an introduction from the Chairman of CTIM, Revd. Peter Friday.

The guest speaker was Revd. David Tidy, Co-ordinator of Prayer Warriors International, who spoke on theme of “Power over evil”. He gave examples from Matthew, Mark and Luke to show how Jesus gave his disciples authority over unclean spirits, to deal with the evil powers in this world. David explained how the power is within each Christian, through the Holy Spirit and that it is a dynamic, spiritual power that needs to manifest itself in us through our living, loving relationship with God. These signs of power include healing and defeating demonic spirits which is so needed in today’s society where many people seek guidance from the evil spiritual world instead of through Jesus.

We were challenged to raise up the name of Jesus to show the power he has given us and be united as Christians around and in the Holy Spirit to overcome evil that is prevalent in a world that is getting darker.

A time of prayer followed as the congregation moved to different areas of the Cathedral to gather at prayer stations relevant to aspects of ministry within Medway. These were: Street Pastors, Medway Foodbank, Youth for Christ, Medway More than Gold and Medway Family Trust.

We left the Cathedral to the wonderful words of the song: “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord”.

This year’s Christmas Carol Concerts will be performed in the Salvation Army hall in Church Street, Chatham, on Saturday 10 December (6pm) and Sunday 11 December (4pm).

The theme of the concerts will be ‘Angels’. Tickets (£5, concessions £4) will be available shortly so watch this space or contact us for further details.

Maybe, but actually, its tomorrow night!

Put your clocks back one hour or you’ll be too early for the meeting on Sunday morning (10 am). Our hall is in Church Street. Come if you can.

Click on the maps to enlarge

For those of you who were unable to visit Maidstone Salvation Army on the week-end of 3/4 September when the Corps celebrated General Albert Orsborn and the LSE Candidates Farewell took place, we are told that two DVDs have been produced for sale through the Maidstone Band’s website.

For further details click here or here

Albert Orsborn Weekend / Divisional Candidates farewell – DVD

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Over the weekend of September 3^rd/4^th (2011) Maidstone Corps celebrated a weekend of music from ‘the Poet General’ General Albert Orsborn.  He was the 6th General of the Salvation Army, and was born in Maidstone.

They were also privileged to have General Shaw Clifton (retired) with them to lead the celebrations over the weekend.

• Disc 1 features the Saturday evening event, with Maidstone Band and Songsters, and the Sunday morning service with the addition of our divisional leaders, Lt.Col’s Anthony & Gillian Cotterill.

• Disc 2 features the Sunday evening service and Divisional Candidates Farewell, with General Shaw Clifton and our divisional leaders, and support from Chatham Songsters and Maidstone Band.

This double disc set with over six hours of video, is priced at £7.00 including 1^st class postage* and packaging.

If you have any problems ordering these, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will try and sort it out for you.

click on image to enlarge

It has been ‘end of term’ for many of our groups and sections during the last couple of weeks as we approach the main holiday season.

Some of our activities are shutting down for the summer break (music section rehearsals, Parent & Toddler groups for example). These will get back into full swing in September. Details will be provided by the section/group leaders concerned.

Our Sunday worship will continue as normal throughout the holiday period (10am and 6pm each Sunday for the whole family and 10.30am for the children)

Happy holidays to everyone!

Welcome Sunday for new Commanding Officers Majors Alec and Andrea Still, together with their family (Amy, Tom and Simon) will be 31 July.

Majors Alec & Andrea Still

The installation will be carried out by Divisional Leader Lt. Col. Gill Cotterill during our morning meeting (10am).

Lt. Col. Gill Cotterill

The evening meeting (6pm) will be led by Majors Alec and Andrea. Join us if you can for either or both meetings. Our hall is in  Church Street and here’s how to find us:

Click on the maps to enlarge

There will only be one meeting held in the salvation army hall on Sunday (24 July). This will be at 10 am and be led by Ruth Hardy.

The evening meeting will be held jointly with our friends at the Emmaus Church Centre and will be in their premises in Clover Street, starting at 6.30pm.

Ruth Hardy – morning leader

Rev Brian Adams – evening leader