SPRING DINNER

The End of Term Dinner for our Home and Family Meeting was a great celebration, with a full hall of about thirty people celebrating Spring, and enjoying an amazing meal prepared for us by the community catering team. Special guest was our Divisional Leader, Major Gillian Cotterill, who spoke after dinner, and judged the Easter Bonnet Competition, which was won by Carol Monk. As part of the event, we welcomed the enrolement of new Home and Family Members - the first time such a ceremony has been used at this church. It was a real celebration because some years ago the future of this group was in question. Now, we welcomed 27 members, and some were not able to be present, for which we look forward to in the future! Thank you to everuone who helped us out in making this such a special event, and to the Major for sharing with us.

THE HOPE OF GLORY

HOLY WEEK is always a special time for us at ashford salvation army, and we would love to see you throughout the time, if you can share with us at all. See below for further information. Our focus throughout this time is THE HOPE OF GLORY - Deeper.

Monday - Wednesday from 7.30pm

MEDITATION AND REFLECTION, PRAYER AND WORSHIP at our Church Centre

Thursday from 7.30pm

UNITED SERVICE AT THE SOUTH ASHFORD BAPTIST CHURCH, Brookfield Road. This will be a special time of celebration with many Christians from all denominations. As part of this event there will be a celebration of believers baptism, and will include the baptism of some of our members who have felt this is right for them in going deeper with God. We look forward to celebrating this significant time in their spiritual journey

Good Friday

We meet at 11am at the St Marys Parish Church for the Churches Together United Witness, which will then move into the town centre bandstand area

We meet for refreshments and fellowship at 2pm, and start our united meditation at the school at 2.55pm. This is always a powerful time, and we encourage you to give your time to share in this. A childrens programme is also planned for this time.

Easter Saturday

We engage in outreach and mission throughout South Willesborough with cadets from the William Booth College in London

Easter Sunday

We start at 7am at the Wye Downs with Reverend Alan Dinnie and Churches Together for the annual sunrise service, and our own senior leader, Ian, will be speaking. At 8.30am we meet at the school for our Easter Breakfast. At 10.30am, we share in our celebration meeting, to be led by Cadets from the William Booth College, followed by an Easter Feast (a buffet meal). The day concludes with a Praise Party led by the Cadets. During the day we will be welcoming new Soldiers of Jesus Christ in The Salvation Army

Easter Monday

We always have an amazing day, and we will be using the school this year to make it bigger and better. We will be welcoming anyone to enjoy a day of Easter Egg Hunts, childrens activities, stalls, car boot stuff, games and more. We start at 10.30am and conclude at 2pm. This will be a great day to be part of, and is FREE. Come and share with us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US BY COMMENTING BELOW, OR EMAILING US AT ashford.corps@salvationarmy.org.uk

NEXT WEEKEND

Don't miss next weekend and make sure you share this new widely. Marilyn Baker, international song writer and worship leader will be visiting Ashford and sharing the whole weekend with us. You are warmly invited to share with us.

Saturday Evening at 6pm, at the East Stour School will be Marilyn in Concert and this is of course open to everyone and anyone. This is free admission, refreshments will be available. A love offering will be taken so we can bless the ministry of the team that are giving of their weekend to share with us.

Sunday we start at 10.30am when Marilyn will be speaking, following this we will enjoy a family celebration meal for Palm Sunday, which will then flow into THE EVENT and Marilyn will be sharing music, her testimony and more through this.

This will be an ideal weekend for those who are believers, and those who are not yet Christians. Please do spread the news and do all you can to be part of this. AND if you do not live in this area and cannot get here please pray for an Almighty Outpouring of God's Spirit on this time, and that God will be allowed to do just what He wants to do

BEING THE LIGHT - COMMUNITY CHURCH

Community Church Sunday, which is usually the last Sunday in the month, takes us out of the traditional church building to where the people are - where we live and have our being. We believe in encouraging our members and friends the importance not to rely on 'the church' for everything, and to live out our faith beyond our doors. Sometime ago we decided to use our usual Sunday evening meeting once a month for outreach and ministry, mission and more to the people where we live - getting to know them, serve them and more. Very traditional Salvation Army - open air ministry, but different to how it was once done, but still with the same heart and desire to reach the lost and beyond. Today all three community church areas (south ashford, kennington/ashford town, willesborough) met together in Farrow Court, on Stanhope, where South Ashford SA Community Church plan to meet together monthly. A great number of people from our church gathered with the residents and in all there was about 37 people. We shared some chat, sang some choruses and then enjoyed a tea together. More and more God is opening doors for us to be THE LIGHT of Jesus beyond where we worship 'normally' and to where the people are. We thank God for this, and for helping us to sow seeds as God has allowed us to know Him, the joy too, of sharing Jesus beyond.

HEARING THE WORD?

Everything came together brilliantly this morning at our celebration meeting. The call to worship was spot on with where God wanted to take us, our all age presentation was spot on with where God wanted to take us - and that was without conversing with our senior leaders who were leading and speaking. This morning we focussed on The Hope of Glory - our theme throughout Lent, and the importance of a passionate relationship with Jesus. We used the parable of the sower from Luke 8, and looked at the four different people who hear what God wants for them, but how there are four different responses:

People who hear but allow satan to lie to them and they do not accept God's Word

People who hear but are not putting down roots and remain shallow and not going deep enough with Him - too comfortable

People who hear but always want to be on the mountain top, and when they are not, they run from God, when it gets tough - the world is more important at times, the worries and pressures of the world rule us, ritual and tradition are too important and more

People who hear and people who respond - who trust - who embrace - who go where God wants them to go.

Being Spring Festival Sunday also, Pastor Sara shared a brilliant presentation about the work her and her team on the churchs community garden. Ian shared how that took time and investment, and how God wants us to invest in our relationship with Him - to water what God has given us - to nurture that life and to do something with it.

As we are all being encouraged more and more to invest in things for the future, for stability, for peace of mind - God wants us to invest in our future with Him, our eternal future - and to ensure we have Peace with God.

What are you doing with what you have heard about God, and what God has said to you?

GODS ARMY

A group of people met together this week to explore what the Bible teaches a Soldier of Jesus Christ is, and how that relates within the ministry of The Salvation Army. This course is aimed at helping people to understand the importance of the army of God, and what God has called us all to be involved in - active membership to the Church of Jesus Christ.

THIS SUNDAY (26th March)

Don't miss this forthcoming Sunday - 26th March. This is our annual Spring Festival. This is in preparation for our Harvest Festival! A couple of years back it was suggested we started a community garden/allotment, which had hours of work invested in it by Kevin and Sara Hayward, who still continue to invest hours of work into this project. This has opened many doors for evangelism and outreach/mission, and God has blessed the project. Some of the food that has been planted and thus grown has been used to bless others, as well as in our own community programmes. This Sunday the Spring Festival is our opporunity to contribute seeds and plants to plant in the garden so that we have a harvest this year - its about faith in many sense. We will be celebrating this Sunday morning, and opening God's Word around the subject of thanksgiving, faith, planting and more. And talking about planting.....Sunday afternoon is an important opportunity for us, as we hold our first major outreach event in South Ashford. Monthly we will now be meeting at Farrow Court in Stanhope, and holding a meeting of building friendships and relationships with those within this area. This Sunday - being community church Sunday - everyone is invited to join us from all three groups, as we will all meet together this month. 4pm at the centre. Everyone is very welcome, and please bring some food so we can share a tea with the residents. And above all, please pray for this forthcoming Sunday - and that we would be blessed as we share together as we so often are.

DEVOTED

Mothering Sunday saw two celebrations meeting. The morning was an all age celebration entitled DEVOTED. Captain Sue and our childrens ministries officer, Clare led this, along with the Kingdom Kids. There was so much for all of us to do and be part of, or we could just watch on and enjoy. It was a real family occasion, and as part of the event we looked at Jonah. The hall was packed with church family, with Kingdom Kids and Parents and so many more. As part of the event Captain Ian commissioned a new childrens ministry team, and welcomed new Kingdom Kids. The pictures capture some of the event, with a larger picture of the new childrens ministry team and Kingdom Kids. The morning concluded with the giving of flowers to all ladies, thanking them for their devotion to us all.

In the evening we met for Disciple College, which this week took the form of an evening of praise and worship. We used the passage from Romans 12 looking at being Devoted to One another - and in this we explored God, Us and Others. God came very powerfully among us, and we thank Him for touching us and challenging us in the way that He did. We also thank everyone for all that they brought to this day.

LIFE ESSENTIALS

We have now explored Essential Four in our Lent Series - Life Essestials. We have already explored Relationship, Faith, Prayer and this week Scripture. Many Christians would argue this is all basic stuff, but we make no apology for this, for so many Christians make it all very complicated, without helping people to grasp the reality of what Life in Him is all about - and that starts with Relationship, thats the only real essential - everything else flows out from that and grow. Sadly we have recognised that the longer some are Christians the less passionate they get about Jesus - and yet they have been in a place where they have had years to know more, and so should be even more excited about Him. As we have explored we have all recognised there are some things we cannot understand, and at this point do not understand, yet we understand that there is a God, we have experienced a God, and we understand that He wants a relationship with us. Thats the starting point. We thank God for the two discussion groups currently being held, and the opportunity to explore things that really matter in our lives!

EASTER MONDAY

Easter Monday is always a special event for South Willesborough and Newtown, and advance information is now available, so keep this day free. This year the annual Easter Egg Hunt and Community Day will be held at the East Stour School, and indeed the usual fun, plus car boot sale and side stalls. If you would like a stall, then please contact us. These are available for only £5.

CADETS TO VISIT ASHFORD

Cadets from the William Booth College in London will be sharing Easter Weekend with us at Ashford this year. They will join us on the Saturday for an outreach event, and then on the Sunday conduct our morning celebration and then lead a praise party in the afternoon. Cadets are men and women of all ages, training to be officers within the Salvation Army, and they will be accompanied by the assistant spiritual programme director, Captain Catherine Cotterill. Further information will be shared very soon about this event

THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday morning will be a very special event as we hold DEVOTED - an all age celebration. The event will feature the Kingdom Kids and Junior Soldiers, and the commissioning of our childrens ministry team. Being Mothering Sunday too, there will be a special presentation for all mums/ladies who attend. The event starts at 10.30am at the East Stour School. You are then invited to join us at DISCIPLE COLLEGE at our church centre at 6.00pm, 5.30pm for refreshments.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD.....

The following was recently posted on the Salvationarmy3 Yahoo Forum (which you can sign up to on the right links section)

Things you never hear in Church or the Army..............

1. Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew.

2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.

3. Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.

4. I've decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.

5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.

6. Forget the denominational minimum salary, let's pay our pastor so he/she can live like we do.

7. I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before!

8. Since we're all here, let's start the service early.

9. Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.

10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

11. I couldn't find space to park outside.

SUNDAY 11TH MARCH 2007

We shared a great day of worship together. In the morning a near full hall shared together in more reflective worship, led by our senior leaders Sue and Ian. Focussing on our Lent focus, we explored relationship with God, and the importance of being lost in His Presence. Many people testified to sensing a very strong presence of God among us this morning.

Disciple College was held Sunday evening. Worship was led by senior leader Ian, and included some sharing from members of the church. Bishop Stephen Vennerwas the guest speaker, and took the sharing of the morning further by also looking at relationship with God. He took the passage of Mary and Martha, and asked us questions to consider, starting from the first very - is our home a place where Jesus Christ is welcome, a meeting place together with Him? We were also considering the importance of friendship and how God has created that, yet it is so difficult for som many. Exploring how we are called to be in relationship and not alone, the Bishop said - It is actually easy, just me and God. But God asks us to love our neighbours - and challenged us to live a life in relationship with others. We were able again to explore servanthood, the importance of church, and the importance of sitting and learning at the feet of Jesus.

THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR

The wedding of the year took place at the Ashford SACC on Saturday 10th March, conducted by Captain Ian Woodgate. Gary and Jan became one and sought Gods blessing over their relationship. The pictures can be seen bigger by clicking on them, and they capture just some of the day. The event started by a team working hard at the school in the morning for the reception, then it was back to our church centre for the ceremony and celebration at 2pm. Carl Whitewood was best man, Envoy Val matron of honour and George Farthing gave Jan away. Sara Hayward and Lyn Farthing were witnesses - and most of our children/young people were bridesmaids and page boys. Our youth group took part by leading prayers, and the children sang Kingdom Kids. The reception, held at the East Stour School, included food and speeches, and concluded with a disco. We thank God for this opportunity of being family together and sharing with Gary and Jan on such an important day.

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME!

Todays the day. Gary and Jan will be married at our church centre at 2pm. We are very much looking forward to this celebration and pray God's blessing over their lives as they become one in the sight of God. The ceremony will be conducted by Captain Ian Woodgate, and the whole church family are supporting in many different ways. Already the reception hall is looking great and a hard working team is there getting all the food ready. Don't forget to come along if you can. This picture was taken when Gary and Jan became members of our church last Easter, and also includes our discipleship officer, Lyn

SOUTH ASHFORD SA COMMUNITY CHURCH

God continues to confirm to us His direction and we are blessed to have the Godly leadership of so many anointed servants of His. Some time ago God laid on our hearts to form community churches where our people lived to encourage them to live their faith out beyond the walls of our traditional church buildings. District Pastors were appointed to oversight the ministry in those areas, and today the three areas continue to be well served. One of the visions given was to establish a worshipping and outreaching community in South Ashford, and for some months we have been working to walk step by step with His Spirit as to what He wants us to do and be. Wisdom has been given to Envoy Val Barkley who has been appointed by The Salvation Army to head the work in this area as pastor/officer and more. It seems more and more God is directing all this, and doors are opening, some doors closed. We now wait with exciting for the future, and thank God for Envoy Val, and also others on the team. We are also about to appoint a further team member, Elsie Willis, as district pastor for south ashford.

GLOW TREAT

We love people at ASACC and we thank God for those who are a part of our family. Today we spent time blessing our members of the Glow Community Group, as we took them on a drive - thanks to Pastor Sara for driving the bus - and visited two places near Maidstone. We are grateful to Envoy Val for arranging the day, along with her assistant Caroline. It was good to get out and about, have time together, and enjoy some of the beautiful Kent countryside.

SPECIAL GUEST ANNOUNCED

Next Sunday - 11th March we hold the next in our series of Disciple College events. Our special guest speaker will be the Bishop of Dover/Bishop in Canterbury, Stephen Venner. We look forward to the bishops visit and hope that as many as possible will share with us. We start at 6pm, with refreshments served from 5.30pm (bring your own packed tea).

MISSIONARY WEEKEND

We thank God for an amazing weekend. We have been so blessed by the ministry and presence of Commissioners Margaret and Paul Du Plessis, who have brought so much to the weekend as a whole and helped us so much to focus on the needs of others, and the importance of giving. We started on Saturday evening with an INTERNATIONAL NIGHT, attended by about fifty people. A supper following the event featured food from throughout the world. As part of the evening the commissioners spoke a little about their international travels, and Jane, a member of our church, spoke about her Salvation Army Church back in Zimbabawe. They are curently seeking funding to build a new church building, and a love offering collected £500 for this. On Sunday we had a full hall for worship, led by the commissioners supported by our senior leaders. The commissioners again shared some of their travels around the world, as well as opening the Word with a challenge for us all. Our Family Meal was shared by over sixty people, and this was followed by THE EVENT which gave us a taste of the life of Salvationist in India. Commissioner Margaret dressed in Salvation Army Uniform for India to give us more taste of this too. As part of the day we gave gifts to bless the mission partners in other lands, and so far we have gifted £2500 to the national appeal. We thank God for this with all our hearts.