Lt. Col. Joy Steadman-Allen

At the beginning of the day we were told of the Promotion to Glory of Lt. Col. Joy Steadman-Allen and of Heather Scott’s father, Peter Sharp, a soldier of Gillingham Corps.     We will publish details of the funerals when they are available.   Both Joy and Peter were faithful Christians whose lives will be long remembered as examples of God’s love in service.   Our prayers are with their families.

The morning meeting yesterday was led by Major Karen Ramsay and focused on the launch of the PALS programme of visitation (Pray and Learn Something).

    Major Karen Ramsay

Commencing with the Song ‘Joyful, joyful we adore Thee’ and the corporate declaration ‘I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me’ Phil 4:13, the meeting continued with a prayer time enhanced by the vocal solo ‘Befriended’ (Martin Davis) and DVD presentation ‘Blessings’ following which prayers were shared in small groups.   The congregational song ‘Do something beautiful’ was sung followed by the Singing Company who sang ‘He sought me’.   The Bible reading chosen was Romans 12: 9-21 highlighting love in action.   SA Song 645 ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ was sung and the Songsters‘ contribution to worship was ‘Take my love’ .

In her sermon, Major Karen said We are launching the PALS programme this morning and I could have asked you to sign up to participate in this but instead of that I am leaving it to God to speak to you and will set out before you what it tells us in God’s word.   We need to be rooted in God’s word.   Scripture says Phil 2:12 ‘work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you’.   We are responsible for our own salvation, nobody elses.   Love must be sincere and we need to be devoted to one another.   We will make the father’s joy complete by loving each other and being one in spirit and purpose, building each other up.   We should look to the interests of others – we can do this by visiting people in their homes and sharing God’s word with them and praying together.   Our attitude should be that of Christ.   He was God and he humbled himself and took on the nature of a servant.   We need to serve others, especially those who cannot get to church even though they want to.     Jesus’ life was one of compassion and service.   He sets us an example – we know he passionately loves us so we can do all things through Him.   Gal. 6:10 ‘As we have opportunity let us be good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers‘.   A verse to remember from 2 Tim. 1:7 ‘For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.’     A training session for PALS will be from 3-5 pm on Sunday 14 February for those who wish to be part of this programme.

The song giving opportunity for response was Magnify 27 ‘I will offer up my life’ and the meeting concluded with the playing of ‘Blessings’ dvd and the Benediction from Romans 15: 5-6.

Major Andrea Still  

The evening meeting was led by Major Andrea Still and commenced with a call to worship Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8 followed by SA Song 159 ‘Jesus comes, let all adore him’.   SoF 595 ‘When I look into your holiness’ led into prayer time.   The main scripture reading chosen was John 11: 11-27.     The band contributed to worship by playing ‘Fall afresh’.     A song of testimony SA Song 334 ‘I serve a risen Saviour’ gave opportunity for sharing.     The Songsters sang ‘Lead me Lord’   prior to the sermon entitled ‘Picturing Jesus – the Resurrection and the Life’.

Major Andrea said:   When we look at the pictures of our Heavenly Father in the Psalms they help us to understand.   Sometimes we don’t need to comprehend – we just know.   The message this evening is from John 11: 25 ‘I am the resurrection and the life’.   The message of the resurrection of Jesus is that it is safe to believe.   After Pentecost the church began to piece together the events of Christ’s life and death.   With the whole picture before them the resurrection and truth became doctrine – that God became man and dwelt among us.     In the bible we read many stories of how Jesus raised people from physical death and this is the best proof we have that death is not the end but through Jesus we have life.     Lazarus was dead but was raised from its decaying state.   Something decaying has little chance of recovery but Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life’.     The transformation of a life that is dead through sin but is changed through Jesus – this is the hope we have within us.   Through his Holy Spirit he lives in us.     There is a possibility of change and restoration.

Some people live without hope and are stressed with work and injustice and have no friends.   They cannot see where God is at work in the midst of their struggles.     Mary and Martha said to Jesus ‘If only you had come sooner Lazarus might not have died’.   Jesus demonstrated the truth of his promise that He is the resurrection and the life when he raised Lazarus from the dead.     Where are the areas in your life where you have negative feelings and angry questions?   Jesus promises to bring hope and we need to trust him to experience the reality of transformation.   ‘If I was the only sinner, a Calvary there still would be.’   That’s how much God loves us.     The Easter experience comes when we live victoriously even in difficult circumstances.     Holistic healing of body, mind and spirit means that death and decay can be defeated.       We have a choice – dare we take up the challenge to minister and be God’s angels to those who are hurting, trusting that God will make a difference.   There are people who have come to worship with us whose first contact with the Salvation Army was when they were in dire circumstances so we are trusting God to make a difference in their lives.     We come to a God who loves us and we come by the way of the cross.     Romans 8:1 ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.’ ‘ ¹¹  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.’

SoF 865 ‘Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice’   gave time for reflection and Song 142 ‘Christ is alive’ concluded the evening.

Thank you for logging onto our website.   May God bless you this week and give you hope.