Our Sunday Morning meeting was entitled ‘the Light – Its almost here’
We began with a Bible reading
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
The Major spoke of the preparations for our Christmas Concerts, and the desire to pack the hall on both days
Our first two congregational songs were
Song 528 A Light came out of Darkness
Tune 230 Shall you shall I
Song 517 Purify my Heart
Tune 805 Refiners fire
Followed by a Bible reading John 1:1-14
The Singing Company Sang ” You can never be too grateful”
Our next Song was number 133 The Light has Come
Tune 859 , and following that The Songsters gave us the tune ” For thy Service”
The Majors Message was entitled ‘the Light – Its almost here’
Major Ian spoke of his need of a torch in the attic of Chatham Citadel this week , as the space was accessed during work on the sound system in the Building..it was pitch black up there apparently & empty apart from insulation. However Major Ian spoke of a time when he needed a good torch to see the far corner of a loft in a Quarters & he found a Bonnet in the far corner. His point was we need to shine the light in our communities
Major Ian reflected on a 1978 song by Joy Webb , ” Come into our World” and the fact the powerful lyrics could have been written today.
Much has changed since 1978, with Church attendance in our communities down & the percentage of people professing any Religion has decreased, so the Lyric ” If we needed you , we need you now ” is very relevant today ..
We must remember that the light of Jesus cannot be dowsed, but it does need to be shared. The Light of Jesus was shone at Bluewater yesterday, where the Band and the supporting collecting team ministered to those out shopping. Some great conversations were had..
Film Clip Come into our world
Reflection
Our final congregational Song was ” Shine Jesus Shine”
Sunday Evening
Our Evening meeting was entitled Soldier Making and included the enrolment of Christina Kearton as a Senior Soldier
The songs during the meeting were chosen by Christina
The Band began the meeting with a stirring rendition of ” on the Kings Highway”, and following on from that well received tune the congregation sang
Song: 843 I know not why
Tune 80 I know whom I have believed
and this was followed by
Song 1007 Let there be love Shared among us
Tune 730 “ “ “ “ “
Margaret Day led us in prayer, and then we heard from the Band
The Band Message was the Graham Coles arrangement of the Hymn tune – Lloyd , which is often put with the song , “Mid all the traffic”. This was followed by the Singing Company, who sang a recently published song – ” were gonna run the Race” written by our own Emma Davis
The next congregational song was
Song 795 What A Friend
Tune 385 “ “
Major Ian gave the Scripture reading Ephesians 6:10-18, and the congregation Read Together the Doctrines of The Salvation Army
We all read the Soldiers Covenant , and then sang
Song: 623 Take my Life and Let it be
Tune 241 All for thee
Following Christina Signing her Soldiers Covenant , a Prayer of Dedication was given by Heather Scott.
Christina then gave her Testimony
Christina read Psalm 23 which she has put into her own words, and then sang a song “Out of the fullness of my heart”
The Songsters sang ” We lift you up” which included a Solo by Louise Robinson.
Our final song of the day was
Song: 940 We’re an Army fighting
Tune 644 Happy Song
The Benediction was delivered by Major Judith Payne , who encouraged us all to remember the look of pure joy Christina had on her face today.
John 1: 1-14The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Ephesians 6: The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.