click on the image to enlarge

click on the image to enlarge

Click on the images to enlarge

The Parent & Toddler Groups’ combined Christmas Party and Nativity took place in the Hub coffee shop last week.

Is this the baby then?

Any semblance of order is hard to find when children of this age get together to enjoy themselves. But Parent & Toddler Groups leader Verna Smith tries to get across something of the Christmas story to both the children and the mums and dads who come to enjoy the event each year.

Some of the costumes are really good and represent a lot of time in preparation.

The children are reminded that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday

Then Santa arrives.

and distributes presents.

Now let’s get to the serious stuff!

That was good.

We run two Parent & Toddler Groups each week. For more information click here.

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

Over 200 people, young and older, packed the hall on Wednesday for the Medway District Cubs Carol Service arranged around the theme of ‘Great Stories’.

The evening was led by KAOS Leader Tracy Wood who held the attention of the large crowd of youngsters with great aplomb. The Young People’s Band (Three Kings Rock) and Singing Company (I like Christmas, don’t you’ and Midnight) brought musical items which the children seemed to enjoy very much.

Tracy

A number of different packs brought representation of famous stories:

25th Medway – Jack & the Beanstalk

28th Castle Medway – Beauty & the Beast

41st Medway – Sleeping Beauty

28th Bridge Medway – Goldilocks & the 3 Bears

27th Frindsbury Jaguar – Little Red Riding Hood

A highlight for many was the Christmas presentation by the puppets remind all of the true meaning of the season.

During the final carol Christingles were brought to the platform by a representative group of cubs.

The Chief Scout Award (Silver) was presented to Chloe by Assistant County Commissioner (Cub Scouts) Bunty Ridgeway.

A great evening much enjoyed by all the Cubs, their leaders and parents.

Click here to read about our scouting groups..

Most of the fellowship and relaxation events of our Christmas season are taking place next week.

Monday 12 December – Ladies Fellowship Christmas Meal

Wednesday 14 December – CAMEO Christmas Tea & Carols

Friday 16 December – Toddlers’ Christmas Party

Friday 16 December – Youth Christmas Party

Saturday 17 December – Children’s Pool Party

Enjoy yourselves everyone!

One of the great long-standing traditions of Chatham Salvation Army will be continued next Wednesday evening when the Cubs of the Medway District will gather in our hall for their annual Carol Service.

The evening will start at 7.00pm and will be led by KAOS Leader Tracy Wood.

Tracy

Our own Young People’s Band and Singing Company will be taking part and everyone will look forward to seeing the puppets make another appearance. A number of the local cub packs will also be featured.

the puppets

It promises to be great evening once again and we will report on it next week.

Click on the poster below to see what’s on for the children in December.

For the second day running we are able to pass on the thanks of a charity we have supported.

The following letter has been received from Macmillan Cancer Support following the event held last month by the Parent & Toddler Groups.

Dear Mrs Smith,

Thank you so much for all your work in hosting a World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event again this year. As ever, it really was a fantastic effort.

When all the expenses are added up, it costs around £25 for every hour a Macmillan nurse spends with someone living with cancer; offering them medical, practical and emotional support. Your event raised a total of £185 .46, so you can see for yourself what a valuable contribution every penny you raised will make yet again! Please pass on my heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make your event such a success year after year.

With more people looking towards Macmillan for support than ever before, we are hoping this year will be the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning ever. We are still collecting contributions from our hosts, but with fabulous events like yours held up and down the country, this year is sure to be a success.

By hosting events year in, year out, you personally have made a difference to someone living with cancer and their family.

They can’t thank you, but I can. So thank you again for everything you have done for Macmillan Cancer Support. Please take it from me personally that we will never take your efforts for granted. Quite simply, you are one of our most valued supporters and without the contribution of people like you each year; much of our work would simply not be possible. That’s something we will never forget.

I look forward to welcoming you as a host again next year.

Best wishes,

Hannah Redmond

Coffee morning team

Congratulations are due to Chloe and Laura for being the joint winners of the 2011 Mike Woodhouse award for sttendance at KAOS.

Well done!

Our own Parent & Toddler Groups‘ contribution to this year’ event was in excess of £185 raised last Friday morning in the ‘Hub’ cafe.

The official date for the event, in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support, was in late September but P & T leader Verna Smith decided to hold the event in the school half term break making it more possible for some of the mums from previous years (with older children) to be present.

Verna (foreground right) in conversation with a mum

Whilst coffee and cakes were enjoyed in the cafe P & T staff members, together with some of the mums entertained the children with play in our secondary hall, much to the delight of all.

Leader Verna and her team are always keen to see new members at the two Parent & Toddler Groups sessions each week. Click on the P & T link for more information or contact us.

This week was the YP Annual when the children of KAOS were presented with their prizes and they presented individual musical items in a morning meeting organised by YPSM Tracy Wood.  Congregational songs chosen were SA64, SA850, SoF1013 and, from Junior Song Book ‘You don’t have to be clever‘.

YPSM Tracy Wood

The whole meeting was planned by the children who volunteered to take part and agreed the  order of service.   Each item was announced by a different child and at least twenty eight took part.   There was a clarinet solo by Laura, a piano solo by Jamie, an electric guitar solo by Daniel, a vocal duet by Erin and Jodie entitled ‘Oh how I need you Lord’, Psalm 150 chosen and read by Chloe, and a powerpoint presentation ‘Who God is’ by Daniel Massey.   The YP band played ‘Walk Tall’ and the Singing Company sang two songs ‘On this Rock’ conducted by Florence and ‘Sing unto the Lord’ which was choreographed.   Ethan conducted the Band in ‘Merthyr Tydfil’.  In between the items the class leaders presented prizes to the children in their class, including the cradle roll.   Joe Scott received his final prize of a bible.   All the children who come to KAOS invited a partner to come to the platform and join in singing ‘Touch a finger, touch a thumb’ which resulted in a crowded platform of children and parents.   Each year the Mike Woodhouse prize is awarded to the child with the highest attendance record of the year and the prize this year was shared between Chloe and Laura – the award was presented by Asst. YPSM Vanessa Robinson.

In the Pause for Thought, Tracy used a baby as a comparison of the growth of a new Christian.  She said: A baby cries which proves they’re alive.  Parents get to know the types of cry and respond accordingly.  Christians cry out to God in prayer.  He hears us and understands our needs.  Babies feed and like babies, Christians crave spiritual food and receive this through reading and hearing about God’s word.   Babies make a mess.  Christians aren’t perfect but God has a clean-up system.  If we say sorry, God will clear up our mess.   Babies need love, and so Christians need love and God loves us.   We enjoy God’s love and care.  Is it always easy to be a Christian?  Not always.   Sometimes we need to be strong.     As a fragile egg can withstand pressure because of hidden strength, so God gives us inner strength just when we need it.

You can find a selection of photographs at the end of this report.

Major Alec Still

The evening meeting was led by Major Alec Still and began with a reminder of the greatness of God in the singing of SA37 ‘How Great Thou Art’, a reading from ‘Psalms Now 18′, SoF 226 and Psalm 47:1-2.  The qualities of a relationship with Jesus was found through singing SA70.   The main scripture verses were from Jude 1:17-23.  Songs SoF8, SA422 and SA820 were also chosen.    Music ministry was provided by the Songsters ‘Jubilant Song’ and Band ‘Ein Feste Burg’ with the associated words ‘A mighty fortress is our God’.   In his message Alec said:

We find times in our spiritual walk with God when opposition comes and we question what is happening.  Why is it happening?  How can we stop it happening?   When the opposition came the way of the Army in the past, in the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth kept to his way of service and lived to see the day when the Salvation Army would be honoured.   So much so that he was called to Buckingham Palace to meet the king who said ‘You are doing a good work – a great work’.   He asked William Booth to write in his autograph album and he wrote:  Your Majesty,  Some men’s ambition is art, some men’s ambition is fame.  My ambition is the souls of men’.     No such ambition is described in these days.   In fact, recently a newspaper report said ‘There are three passions in the modern day,  politics with a passion for power, business with a passion for profit, and society with a passion for pleasure.’   As I compared the two, I questioned why didn’t the modern writer say there is a fourth passion, that of the church for saving souls?   Are we still in the business of saving souls?   There is a great need for people with a passion for souls.   In Jude he talks about the time of the ‘scoffers’.   Is there any evidence that we are not living in that age?  Aren’t we surrounded by people who would scoff at our passion?   What is our passion – the souls of men or our tradition?   It is our call to be different, not conforming to the pattern of the world.   People will try and take us away from God but Jude says we must stand out from the crowd and be different.   God created us to be His children serving Him. Jude gives us three options:  v.20  Pray in the Holy Spirit.  Pray often and regularly, seeking Him with all your heart and you will find you are praying in the Spirit, not for your perceived needs but Spirit-led with a different emphasis.   v.21  Keep yourselves in God’s love.   We can become complacent once we are saved and think that the work is done and we just have to bide our time until we meet Jesus.   We take it for granted that Jesus will be always be there but we need to work at our experience of God so that we develop a relationship.   Relationships take work and don’t just happen.  v 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt.   Engage in ministry.   Having experienced the love of Jesus Christ, worked at the relationship with God, engage in ministry and try to understand those who have doubts, snatch them from the fire, but tread carefully.   The scoffers will try and divide us so beware.   Always be aware of His will and His intention.    We need to be developing our relationship with Him, praying in the Spirit and then we will receive more discernment and power to stand apart and work for souls.

As promised, here are some photos of the Sunday morning proceedings.   I hope you enjoy them and feel the spirit of excitement and opportunity felt by the youngsters.   Thank you for visiting the website.   May God bless you during the week and always.

Chloe and Laura receiving the Mike Woodhouse award

 

Florence conducting the Singing Company

Ethan conducting the Band

Once again the Parent and Toddler Groups are to hold an event in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support in its WBCM project.

This year’s event will be held in our Church Street premises on Friday 28 October between 10am and 12 noon (during the school half term break). Leader Verna Smith invites all readers within travelling distance to put the date in their diaries so that more money than ever can be raised for this very worthwhile charity.

Verna

Here’s how to find us:

Click on the maps to enlarge