Chatham Salvation Army

Our morning meeting on Sunday was entitled

                           ‘Remember, Remember’

To bring back to remembrance that for which God has done in our lives and will continue to do.

The notices were deliver by Nigel Day , and following this Major Ian talked about some new initiatives to link up with  New Rd School , and the Advent Food calendar

The congregation sang three very prayerful songs back to back with a time of prayer following afterwards

Song                   700             For the Joys and for the Sorrows

Tune          619             For this I have Jesus

Song         635             When the Music Fades

Tune         858             The Heart of Worship

Song                   601             Lord I come to you

Tune          868             Power of your love

The Singing Company blessed us with ” He Knows My name “

1 Corinthians 13  was read by Major  Ian

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal……………….

The Songsters message this morning was the Song

” Keep the Flame alive ”

and this prompted a memory from Major Ian , who when attending a Christian conference in Brighton some time ago,  was talking to one of the main preachers , John Wimber , a man who loved what the Salvation Army did, but he said at the time “You need to FAN THE FLAMES”

The Majors Message from the Word was entitled    ‘Remember, Remember

Major Ian began by saying ,memory makes us who we are.If we couldn’t recall the who, what, where, and when of our everyday lives,we would struggle to learn new information, form lasting relationships, or even function in most daily situations.Memory allows the brain to encode, store, and retrieve informationAll the time we are still finding out more about the brain and memoryWe know a lot more about Dementia – but still struggle to understand it.

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well

.So this morning we are looking at remembering what God can & has been done and continues to do in and through us, if we let him

Major Ian  quoted from various passages in the Bible , beginning with

Genesis 9.16

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

Psalm 137

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
    when we remembered Zion

Matthew 26,75

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

and

Revelations 2.5

⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent

We need to remember our faith and our covenant with God, and our commitment to bring Christ to the people & people to Christ … even the disciples needed reminding about miracles they had seen

Matthew 16.9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?

..so we probably need reminding as well

The Major told us that recently he had cause to be looking through the Corps document, including the Cradle roll, and he could see many family names he recognised, but it gave him  cause to think of all the promises made by Parents , for their children over the years in our hall . We need to remember them and their stories because it all plays a part in our faith today .

The meeting closed with the singing of the following two songs

Song:        739             Touch me with thy healing hand

Tune          339             In me Lord
Reflection

Song         497             I want dear Lord

Tune           573             Be gone vain world

The Benediction was given by Major Judith Payne .

Thank you to Ruth Hardy for taking the Photographs this morning

Following the meeting the Band continued with their regular ministry at the Wisdom Hospice

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                              Sunday Evening

                           ‘On the Sofa’ – with Territorial Envoy

                                              Anthony Mclure

Pre-music by the Band

Welcome on the Sofa to Territorial Envoy Anthony McClure

Tony chose the following songs, and the first one we sang was

Song                   25               God’s love to me is wonderful

Tune          130             “                 “                 “                                  

Sofa Part 1:  Early life inc: conversion

Tony was born in Swalecliffe , Whitstable and he has a younger Sister. The family, where Dad was a Carpenter and Mum was a housewife , moved to Australia  for 2 1/2 years when Tony was 7 years old , and after staying for a few years, experiencing some of his early schooling in Australia the family  moved back to Kent, settling in Herne Bay . At school when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up Tony remembers thoughts of being the Arch Bishop of Canterbury or failing that – The Pope

Tony’s 2nd song choice

Song                   466             I Stand amazed in the presence

Tune          769             My Saviours Love     

Sofa Part 2:        Family, work, calling

Tony first went to the Salvation Army  when a Salvation Army  Girl joined the  school Tony was at , and he first attended with her, he had tried the local Parish Church , where the Vicar was his Headmaster, but that had not worked out ..The Salvation Army however fitted in with what Tony wanted. A while later, when Tony asked how he became a Soldier, he was advised to Kneel & Pray at the mercy seat, and if asked any questions he should say yes.. and for two years after becoming a soldier it took a question from somebody who asked if Tony had asked Jesus into his life, and he had not . Tony gave his life to Jesus in the front room of the Officer Quarters 23/7/70 @ 20:30 .

Tony was working for the HMSO at this time, then 1978/79 he worked for the Reliance Bank.

In 1981 Tony was at an SA Congress in the Albert Hall when God spoke to him at the appeal, he was sitting “up in the Gods” at the time and the walk down gave him time to think, and when he spoke to a lieutenant he said     ” God wants me to be an Officer”..so they prayed and later (not being sure how these things worked) Tony wrote to the Candidates unit  and the process of officership commenced . Tony told us that he kept quiet about this until he was a confirmed applicant, and he remembers his Mother was pleased , and when he told his Father it was more a case of ” you won’t earn much , but  it’s your life “..  However the night before Tony was due to go to the training college he told us that his Father came to his room , kissed him on the forehead and  wished him well. That meant a lot to Tony , and on Commissioning day Tony’s Father was keen to follow where all the new officers were posted to , and kept the programme afterwards

Tony was at the college as a contemporary of Drew & Bev McCombe & Major Ian  and he took up his posting following training .

Later Tony left Officership and went back to work for the Government, and during that time in his life he was attending at the Church of England , but still remained in touch with the SA, and that included being at the Albert Hall for the Installation of General Linda Bond . At That Event Tony told us he was wondering if he would get any sense that God was calling him back to the SA, but as he said today ” nothing happened” .

The Songsters  contribution this Evening was the Song  ” My Hearts Desire , by Albert Osbourne  / Jane Clarke

Sofa Part 3:        Coming back

It was while travelling to Durham on a train, and having prepared himself for some Bible study during the journey, that Tony heard from God again , that he should come back .. and when he told his friend David , who met him off the train at Durham , their was nearly a car crash. David explained that he had been praying for this as had many others.

Tony recently took up the post as Territorial Envoy at Strood Corps

We had another Song choice , but in Video form, I have put the YouTube link below if you would like to see it as well

Video;  Greatly Blessed highly favoured

Song         601             Lord I Come to you

Tune         868             Power of your love

The Band Message this evening was the Tune for Song 499  ” It is Jesus” – written by James Wright . who was a Bandmaster at Sheffield .

Sofa Part 4:        Favourite Scripture –  Prodigal Son  Luke 15:11:32

When asked about his choice of  favourite scripture , Tony explained that he mainly relates to the younger son, but see’s a bit of himself in the elder son as well . He said that he did walk away, but carried on attending Pentecostal/Baptist/Anglican Churches during that time

and a particular verse in the Psalms is a favourite as well

Psalm 18:19 New International Version (NIV)

our final song from Tony was

Song                   861            In Christ alone                                        

Tune          132            “         “       “

Benediction was delivered by Tony

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Excerpts from the Newsletter

Chatham Citadel Corps
Corps Officer
Major Ian F Payne
ian.payne@salvationarmy.org.uk
07813949773

Corps Website:  www.chathamsa.org.uk

 4^th November  2018

Welcome to Chatham Salvation Army, a Christian fellowship where we are attempting to bring ‘Christ to people and people to Christ’.

‘God doesn’t require us to succeed, He only requires that you try’ Mother Teresa

The nights are getting darker earlier, trick and treat has past, bonfires are raging, and we are on the cusp of the 100^th Anniversary of Armistice, 11^th day of the 11^th Month 1918. How things change and move so quickly from holiday and sunshine to silence and remembrance. I do love Autumn with all the colours and beauty that surround us. Again, evidence of the greatness of God and the seasons He has promised.

This morning our thoughts are focused on ‘remember, remember’ – bring back to remembrance that for which God has done in our lives and will continue to do.

This evening we have Majors Peter & Estelle ‘On the Sofa’ – I am sure that we will have an evening full of information and laughter and will travel around the world in the process.

Please see the additional notes in today’s newsletter, ‘Needs Board’, Carolling information, Final call for help with New Road School Project and the new Bible Study introduction on Wednesday. Exciting times ahead for all of us to engage with, if only in prayer. Also, we now have a Twitter account @ArmyChatham.

God bless you today as you seek Jesus more deeply. May you continue to know His blessings at this time.

God Bless Chatham Citadel Corps today.

Ian F Payne
Major

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray this prayer:
Father God, I pray for my church today, that you will fill each of us with your joy and peace, and that, in our worship, our fellowship and mission, we will overflow with hope, by the power of your Holy Spirit, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Corps Information

FLOWERS – We are grateful to Peter and Dawn Smith for the flowers which adorn our hall. (Thanks to Joan who arranges them) Please add your name to the list of dates on the notice-board if you wish to donate flowers

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) A letter will be circulated among you over the next few weeks. It is important (& Legal) that you complete the form, sign and return to the Major/Office ASAP. The letter is self-explanatory. Everyone in the Corps must complete one.

Wednesday 7^th Nov 8pm

We will commence a new bible study called the Bible Course, brought by The Bible Society. This Wednesday will be an introduction to what it will be about and how the course will develop. The course will run for 8 sessions. Why not give it a try?.

Sunday 25^th November will be the Young People’s Annual. The morning meeting will be led by the young people.   We will also incorporate a church parade with the Scout sections – it looks to be a great family morning. Well done to all our youth workers across the building – you are amazing.

Friday Night YOUFF Club If you are able to go on a rota to help out with the Friday Night Youff Club, could you please see Louise Robinson.

Carolling 2018  Collectors will be needed at various times throughout the Christmas period.  Please do see CS Andrew  or CT Andy with your name and time available – 1 hour will make all the difference.

If you are interested in joining a Craft Fellowship planning to design and make banners, then come to the meeting tomorrow, 17 October, at 10.30 am in the Bradbury Hall, Salvation Army, Church Street, Chatham.