Easter Monday saw our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day, this year held at East Stour School. Over two hundred people attended the day which included activity tables for children, refreshments of all sorts, a treasure hunt, childrens games, easter egg hunt, face painting and much more - and all for free. In addition there was also a bouncy castle. Stalls also were part of the day and some visitors brought things to sell as well. It was great to see so many people from South Willesborough and Newtown sharing with us, and wider. We are sincerely grateful to our assistant senior leader Carl, for all his arrangements for the day and for the mission support officers who over sighted the day. Thanks too to the many who came along, and the great team who helped clear up afterwards. Additionally to the school for allowing us to use their premises again. Monday, April 09, 2007
EASTER MONDAY
Easter Monday saw our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day, this year held at East Stour School. Over two hundred people attended the day which included activity tables for children, refreshments of all sorts, a treasure hunt, childrens games, easter egg hunt, face painting and much more - and all for free. In addition there was also a bouncy castle. Stalls also were part of the day and some visitors brought things to sell as well. It was great to see so many people from South Willesborough and Newtown sharing with us, and wider. We are sincerely grateful to our assistant senior leader Carl, for all his arrangements for the day and for the mission support officers who over sighted the day. Thanks too to the many who came along, and the great team who helped clear up afterwards. Additionally to the school for allowing us to use their premises again. Sunday, April 08, 2007
COMMUNITY MATTERS - 5TH EDITION
THE FIFTH EDITION of Community Matters is now available, and has been delivered to homes throughout South Willesborough and Newtown. If you would like a copy then please do contact us.
EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS
Our worship meetings were packed today with so many different people, including cadets and their families, from the William Booth College in London. The cadets led the worship meetings, supported by their assistant spiritual programme director, Captain Catherine Cotterill. During the morning meeting three new soldiers of Jesus Christ in The Salvation Army were enrolled by Captain Ian. A further report will follow above about this. After our morning celebration, we shared an Easter Feast, which was concluded with a Praise Party. We are grateful to everyone who has made this Easter time so special, and thank Jesus for being among us. The pictures reflect the beautiful lay out of our hall today, and note the sun rays first thing this morning in the picture to the left. EASTER SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Our catering team worked so hard in getting up early to get a brilliant cooked breakfast cooked for us. In addition there was also cereal, baked rolls and much more. Over thirty people gathered together to enjoy this, and we are thankful to Elsie, Lyn and the team who met first thing and others including Envoy Val who helped serve and sort us all out. EASTER SUNDAY SUNRISE SERVICE
As always we were pleased to start the day at Wye Downs for the annual Churches Together Sunrise service. Our church was well represented, and our musicians did an amazing job in supporting the singing of worship songs. Thanks to Carl for starting the mini bus run at 6am..... Reverend Alan Dinnie from Willesborough Baptist Church led the service as usual, and our own senior leader, Ian, spoke. EASTER SATURDAY
Easter Saturday was very special as we were able to get among the people of this community and wish them a Happy Easter. We believe in the importance of not keeping Jesus to ourselves, and its ideal time of year to remind them that Jesus loves them and so do we. Cadets from the William Booth College came from London to help engage in some door to door Easter Greetings, and then we were able to enjoy some games at the park.We are so grateful to members of the church who gave this extra time of their holiday weekend for Easter
Friday, April 06, 2007
IT IS FINISHED
It is Finished concluded our journey through Holy Week, which saw us share a meditation around the cross. The Kingdom Kids also enjoyed sometime in their own activities together. Captain Ian led the meeting, using music and reflections from throughout the Holy Week, leading us up to the point of recognising to go deeper, we have to surrender all. The day started prior to that in a unity act of witness, as churches throughout Ashford met for opening worship at St Marys Parish Church in Ashford Town, and then walked through the town to the performance area where an act of worship took place. The pictures above reflect of the witness in Ashford Town, and the picture towards the left is the visual impact of the school hall for Good Friday. Thursday, April 05, 2007
THE HOPE OF GLORY - SURRENDER
GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTION: IT IS FINISHED
Biblical Passages to Read:
Ezekiel 47 & John 19: 28 – 37
At the heart of the Temple is an altar – a place of sacrifice. The pictures of Ezekiel reflect a river that got deeper and deeper – and the prophet could no longer stand, but had to swim. Many of us have arm bands when we start to learn to swim, but we cannot wear them forever. We have to take them off, in order to really swim – we have to go deeper in order to really grow and go with God. We have to come to the altar and surrender everything there is, so that we are where God wants us, so we are moving on, so we are knowing refreshing and healing, from that river which flows from the altar of God. All Gods blessings must begin with the altar, and in reality that altar brings us to the death of Christ, to the cross. Here Christ cried….it is finished. Surrender is about dying.
A song written many generations ago shares these words:- “People want to go to heaven, but are not prepared to die!” Whatever we think about Easter, it is very much about Death as well as Life, and life only comes when we are prepared to die. When we too cry – It is Finished. Into the very hands of God we place our lives and we start then to really start to experience all God has for us, for we are totally in His hands and His will and His purpose.
Spend some time considering what it is we have not given over to God, for surrender is about surrendering everything. It is about bowing before the altar of God, the Cross, and giving up our all to do our Masters will.
Ezekiel 47 & John 19: 28 – 37
At the heart of the Temple is an altar – a place of sacrifice. The pictures of Ezekiel reflect a river that got deeper and deeper – and the prophet could no longer stand, but had to swim. Many of us have arm bands when we start to learn to swim, but we cannot wear them forever. We have to take them off, in order to really swim – we have to go deeper in order to really grow and go with God. We have to come to the altar and surrender everything there is, so that we are where God wants us, so we are moving on, so we are knowing refreshing and healing, from that river which flows from the altar of God. All Gods blessings must begin with the altar, and in reality that altar brings us to the death of Christ, to the cross. Here Christ cried….it is finished. Surrender is about dying.
A song written many generations ago shares these words:- “People want to go to heaven, but are not prepared to die!” Whatever we think about Easter, it is very much about Death as well as Life, and life only comes when we are prepared to die. When we too cry – It is Finished. Into the very hands of God we place our lives and we start then to really start to experience all God has for us, for we are totally in His hands and His will and His purpose.
Spend some time considering what it is we have not given over to God, for surrender is about surrendering everything. It is about bowing before the altar of God, the Cross, and giving up our all to do our Masters will.
SERVANTHOOD
Maundy Thursday took our journey from our church centre to join with Christians of many other denominations in an evening of worship and reflection. The evening commenced with a service of communion led by the pastor of South Ashford Baptist Church (the venue for the evening). Captains Ian and Susan led through a time of worship and The Word, and took the fourth section of our study this week - The Hope of Glory: Servanthood. Looking at how Christ came not to be served, but to serve, we too have been called to be like Jesus - and be servants of Him. Part of that was celebrated in what followed. A number of our church members had felt called by God to affirm their faith and celebrate a new start, by going through the water of baptism. This is not the norm in The Salvation Army for many people - but the army has always been about encouraging people to go deeper with God - Holiness - and that such things can aid such development. The Salvation Army does not believe that baptism is essential for Salvation - just confession of Jesus Christ as Lord. As a church, we of course affirm that. We also affirm the importance of blessing what God has asked of His People and would not want to stay in the way of that - indeed certainly if we are going to be servants of His. So, eight members underwent believers baptism this evening, shared with many other Christians of various denominations, and shared by Val Barkley and Lyn Farthing. Various friends offered Biblical verses and Prayer, which made a real big family celebration for all concerned. Please continue to pray for: Kevin, Nathan, Sara, Clare, Ellie, Elsie, Gary, Jan. THE HOPE OF GLORY - SERVANTHOOD
DO AS I HAVE DONE FOR YOU
Biblical Passages to Read:
Ezekiel 47 & John 13: 1 – 17
The passage from Ezekiel reminds us of the importance of going where it is that God wants to take us. For us all that means bowing before our Master, our God, recognising that He is bigger and greater than us – He is awesome, He is God Almighty, and we are His. He has set the example for us in everyway, and we are called to be like Jesus.
Servant Ministry is reflected in the whole ministry of Jesus. He said that He had come not be to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. We are called to, to serve God, to serve His people. To be a minister to God and a minister to His People. In order to do that, we need to bow before God and confess He is our God, and that we follow no other.
Obedience to our Master is essential. We should do what He did and does. The Scriptures outline very clearly the servant nature and ministry of Jesus. The life of Jesus is something we reflect in everything we do and say. We bear His Name if we say we are Christians. Being willing to bow before Him is an important essential when it comes to going deeper with God. Until then, we stay in that place where we go round and round in circles, and more often than not…end up going nowhere.
Spend some time considering who it is that you are bowing the knee before; who it is that you say is your god, and whether at times it might be our own desires and purposes that we want to fulfil instead of His.
Ezekiel 47 & John 13: 1 – 17
The passage from Ezekiel reminds us of the importance of going where it is that God wants to take us. For us all that means bowing before our Master, our God, recognising that He is bigger and greater than us – He is awesome, He is God Almighty, and we are His. He has set the example for us in everyway, and we are called to be like Jesus.
Servant Ministry is reflected in the whole ministry of Jesus. He said that He had come not be to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. We are called to, to serve God, to serve His people. To be a minister to God and a minister to His People. In order to do that, we need to bow before God and confess He is our God, and that we follow no other.
Obedience to our Master is essential. We should do what He did and does. The Scriptures outline very clearly the servant nature and ministry of Jesus. The life of Jesus is something we reflect in everything we do and say. We bear His Name if we say we are Christians. Being willing to bow before Him is an important essential when it comes to going deeper with God. Until then, we stay in that place where we go round and round in circles, and more often than not…end up going nowhere.
Spend some time considering who it is that you are bowing the knee before; who it is that you say is your god, and whether at times it might be our own desires and purposes that we want to fulfil instead of His.
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