CHRISTMAS DAY

Once again we opened the doors of East Stour School on Christmas Day. We started the morning with a carol service led by Mark and Emma with our band accompanying the carols.

With military precision a wonderful meal was cooked and served by our fantastic volunteers. An afternoon of entertainment and activities followed. We even had a visitor from Graceland, who sang a few of his famous hits including 'Blue Christmas'.

We like to thank all our volunteers who gave up their day to make Christmas Day 2009 a day to remember.

Ashford Auction - 7th November 2009

We are holding our second auction in aid of Ashford Salvation Army's community work. We have guest auctioneers from KMFM Ashfords Breakfast show, Kirstyn & Webbo and refreshments will be available too.

We have loads of great Lots including items from Arsenal, Liverpool and Man United football clubs as well signed memorabilia from the 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa. A copy of the 2009 Winning Ashes team Picture and signatures from the ECB and tickets to sporting events and attractions as well as a year's supply of chocolate from Green and Blacks and loads more.

Please check out the Auction Catalogue at our website please see the link below.

It would be great to see you on the day, come and get that treat for yourself or a great once in a life time gift for somone else.

http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/ashford

A GIFT FROM ABOVE - SUNDAY 26th APRIL 2009

Today is a very important day for us as we dedicate the life of our daughter Lillie to God. We truly believe that she is a gift from God and one that has brought so much joy in the five months since she has become part of our family. We want to thank God for his graciousness in trusting her little life into our hands and accept willingly the responsibility that comes with parenthood.

We recognise that Lillie has been entrusted to us while she grows and develops, and want to teach her that God is her heavenly father and that he loves her very much. This, of course, is true for each of us and God regularly gives us gifts, because he wants to remind us of this love, a love that we saw ultimately in the Easter story.

This week, while at our review, we were reminded that each new day is a gift, and we were challenged to have the attitude that every morning provides us with a fresh start. This means learning from past mistakes but not holding them against those around us – forgiveness is so important. I wonder how good we all are at choosing to forgive others quickly, so we can give them a fresh st

art each day too. After all, if we want to be forgiven we must forgive. Part of this attitude is not only forgiving others, but also asking God for our own forgiveness and believing that we are free from these past situations

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Mark & Emma

Our celebration meeting was led by our Territorial Adult & Family Ministries Officers Majors John & Lorna Smith, who also happen to be Lt Emma's parents.

During the meeting John & Lorna, dedicated to God Lillie Eva Scott. Both of Emma's and Mark's families took part in the service, Mark's parents read from scripture and Emma's sister sang a song written by Emma & Mark and she was accompanied by Mark's brother on his trombone.

SUNDAY, 1ST MARCH 2009 - THE EVENT

Today, the first Sunday in the month, was our monthly all age 'Event' and was led by Carl Whitewood. We began today's worship with singing, songs included Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Saviour; King of Kings; Here I am ....; Jesus Hope of the Nation.

We took the next view minutes to pray for burning issues affecting members of our corps; Jan, one of our soldiers is due to return to hospital for a last hope operation on her knee. Viv's sister due to have medical tests on Tuesday. Sue Wall's step-mother and finally that Diana's daughter is able to find employment.

Rachel & Joel Whitewood sang 'They need Christ' while we collected our boxes & envelopes for Self Denial and the children wrote or drew how this money will be used.

Jasmine, one of our newest junior soldier performed the Pom Pom Dance, all together now; 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? SALVATION ARMY. 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? JESUS !!!!

Carl put on his quizmaster hat and we had 2 rounds of 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' The first team children (Mike, Hayden, Imogen and Lucy) lost the money on the last question despite phoning Emma who gave them the correct answer. The second team (Ben, Hannah, Jasmine and Caleb) won the million pounds, their reward is waiting for them in heaven.

It was the adults turn to be quizzed, we were all asked to bring 2 questions with us today, the 1st a question I would ask to help me understand God and the second understand the world. So a team of four (Patricia, Emma, Gavin & Rachel) were chosen to attempt to answer them.

The questions chosen and the answers given were:

1) Why does God allow suffering, particularly to children?
God does care & we need to ask ourselves how can we relieve that suffering? Senial Denial money can help. This was not God's perfect plan for the world. Most suffering is man made, ultimately we have freewill, if we didn't we may live our lives dangerously and expect God to save us. We have to take reponsibility as christians to help people in a practical way, we need to know our 'neighbours'.

2) Why does 20% of the world have 80% of the wealth?
Again God gave us freewill and some people are just plain greedy. Gavin reminded us of the Good Samaritan, we often walk by and don't see what is happening around us. This is sometimes due to the media but ultimatelywe need to see where the needs are.

3) Why do you have to say prayers outloud & not in your head?
Caleb said that in church we often pray aloud so others are aware of needs.
It can allow those on our hearts to hear our prayers and it can uplift them.

4) Did God make the world in 6 days or is it symbolic?
God does not work in our timing, God's ultimate timing is eternity. The world was made in 6 days but not our 24 hour days.

The meal at the end of the Event saw a good number of people enjoying a really lovely meal thanks to Elsie and her team.

SUNDAY, 22ND FEBRUARY 2009

To begin the service we were reminded that prayer should be our breath of life and God's love comes from North, South, East & West.

During This Time Tomorrow Carol Monk shared how at 11.10am tomorrow she would be at the Salvation Army Hall at our weekly drop-in GLOW. She will be making drinks or chatting with folk, the people that come along are mainly elderly and live alone, so spending time talking is a vital part of her role. We took time to pray for Carol and thank her for her commitment.

Today's reading was Psalm 103:1-14.

Lt Emma Scott led the sermon, this month we have been looking at fear, love and this week anger. What do we get angry about? Emma shared that in a previous job she had worked with 29 fitfteen to eighteen year old, who had either offended or likely to offend. She shared how in her four years on their unit she had seen them learning to manage their anger. Even God gets angry but his anger is different to ours, it is righteous anger. God gets angry at the world, why does 20% of the population have 80% of the wealth? We need to channel our anger into righteous anger.

Songs used in this morning's worship were: Great is the darkness; It's rising up...;Purify my heart & In Christ alone.