Faith in a Changed World

Faith in a Changed World Antony Mugford

January 2021

Page 1

The Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

© Antony Mugford First edition compiled and edited by David White Published by BrancoPrint © Majors Antony & Fiona Mugford The Salvation Army Westgate Guisborough TS14 6AW https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/guisborough-citadel

31 January 2021

Cover photograph - a view of Guisborough taken from High Cli on 09 January 2021

ff

Page 2

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from?

Prologue In 2020 the whole world was struck with Coronavirus pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China.

Countries were a ected in every way of life as lockdowns were advised and imposed, meaning that normal life could not continue. Business, travel, and family life were severely curtailed with impact on so many activities that were just taken for granted.

All expressions of Faith ceased in the traditional rituals and formats; impacting greatly on shared fellowship. Fortunately technolo y was available, and expanded, that allowed some virtual contact during social distancing. New expressions of Faith service blossomed not only to the individual, regional, national and, indeed, international congregations but, perhaps more importantly, also to the many new contacts within the wider communities.

The world-wide Salvation Army took virtual reality to its heart. Majors Antony and Fiona Mugford, the Commanding O cers of Guisborough Citadel, UK grasped this opportunity with daily ministry to both the Corps Fellowship and a much wider community via Facebook, YouTube and Zoom; reaching many hundreds of people, not only locally but nationally and internationally. Each Sunday, and other special Christian occasions, online services were also produced.

This booklet is a collection of those daily “letters" shared to an audience that remarkably grew exponentially; thus contacting, and helping, many hundreds of people during the Coronavirus lockdown. What an opportunity of witness these ‘letters’ proved to be! Although initially it was never expected that this period would be so extended. We can only hope and pray that the short-term bene t will lead to a longer-term commitment and blessing.

David White

fi

g

ffi

ff

Page 3

Sunday services

E

ach Sunday, rather than having another reading, Majors Antony and Fiona lead online worship, Together in Worship.

These services including Good Friday 2020 are all added to the Guisborough Salvation Army Church Youtube channel and are all still available on:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCvu76j4HqGWe9B2cDXK6tvA

LIGHT, LIFE, LOVE’ WAS THE INSPIRING THEME AND FOCUS OF THE SALVATION ARMY’S TERRITORIAL CONGRESS SATURDAY 24 AND SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2020.

With Chief of the Staff Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham supported by Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill.

There was no Together in Worship on Sunday 24 October, so we invite you to watch the Congress Youtube Saturday and Sunday meetings and share with others seeking to grow in their faith and be equipped to share the good news of God’s love in their lives and local communities.

Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill chose the inspiring theme for the Congress weekend after reflecting on the words of General Albert Osborn, found in The Salvation Army Song Book (number 742): Light, life and love are in that healing fountain.

All I require to cleanse me and restore, Flow through my soul, redeem its desert places And make a garden there for the Lord I adore.

Commissioner Anthony says: “Light, life and love are powerful words that will be reflected in many ways across the weekend. With so much uncertainty in our world, our congress will be an opportunity to be refreshed in God’s presence as we worship, pray and study his word. There will be time to give thanks for who and where we are as a church and to mobilise and equip us for being part of God's plan for his Kingdom here and now.

“We are called to be a Salvation Army where God is glori ied and visibly at work, shaping us into disciples of Jesus Christ. If you are ready to ind out more about this life then share in the Congress. And share it with others, too!

“Be ready to receive and be open to the speaking of the Spirit. Congress really is a life-changing opportunity to deepen our relationship with God and to introduce someone to the gospel message for the irst time. It is exciting to look ahead and imagine what God has in store!” https://www.youtube.com/user/salvationarmyvideo On Sunday 27 December 2020 worship was provided and lead by Major Jane Cowell (Divisional Commander), Major Rachel Price (Divisional Of icer for Leadership Development) and Major Wayne Price (Divisional Mission Enabler) https://youtu.be/A3F9dFTEu7A On Sunday 03 January 2021 worship was provided and lead by Commissioner Anthony and Gill Cotterill (Territorial Commanders) with Colonels Paul and Jenine Main as they launched a 4-week series of Going Forward Together - living in God’s Covenant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQUZif3gabg&t=908s

f

f

f

f

Page 4

01 January 2021

D

ear all, Happy New Year! Welcome to 2021 from Major Antony & Major Fiona!

Has there ever been a more anticipated new year? Well, we know that nothing has changed that much in the hours that we cross from December 31st to January 1st, but it's a symbolic new start; and my goodness are we determined to make a good go of this year!

I'm actually writing this yesterday afternoon. It's 4.24pm, and I'm watching the last golden glow of 2020 dying away above the rooftops, clouds spreading their whispy ngers across the sky as if slowly, almost apologetically, waving goodbye. The year is fading away, perhaps knowing it won't be missed...

And here we are anticipating the new morning, the new day, the new month and nally the New Year.

Now, of course none of us believe in fate.

We believe in the providence of God, we trust the plan of God, but rather than a resigned 'que sera sera', accepting whatever will be, we are also active, proactive even, in that plan. Where decisions are there to be made, as far as it lies with us, we are determined to make those decisions. Is that not why we make those resolutions? What are yours? I have decided to read more, to take up my running again, to lose weight, to sleep more (no comments please :) ) These are my resolutions; I am resolved to put them into action. And now they are public, you can challenge me on them in future weeks...

To resolve is to fully decide, to be determined to carry something out, to complete a plan. And as I thought of this word 'resolve' a Bible verse came to mind that reminded me that there are spiritual resolutions we need to make; actions we can take in the realms of faith.

St Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth that whilst he was visiting them he 'resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him cruci ed.' (1 Corinthians 2 v 2). What a resolution: to focus his knowledge on Jesus who died for us. Now, I'm quite certain Paul had other things on his mind. He wasn't a monk; he didn't spend all day and every day doing 'religious' things - and neither do we. We live in a real world, and other things rightly demand our attention; people are worthy of our love, and responsibilities claim our time. But what Paul is saying is that beneath, above and around everything in his life, he is determined to know Jesus more. There was a day when he consciously made that decision, and he resolved to keep that decision in view.

At the start of this new year with its unknown days stretching ahead of us, why not add one more resolution to the one (or ten?) that you have made? It's good to focus on physical and emotional wellbeing, but why not resolve to build up the spiritual; to know Christ more, to make his love the centre of your life, his word the foundation for your thinking. That's a resolution that will not be waistlinechanging, but will certainly be life-changing.

Fiona and I pray that each of you will be blessed this year, that you will, in the words of Richard of Chichester, make this prayer your resolution: Day by day, dear Lord, Of you three things I pray: - To see you more clearly, - Love you more dearly, - Follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.

fi

fi

 

fi

Page 5

02 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone. Welcome to the rst Song Saturday of 2021, and a song that I think is highly appropriate. Depending on which music you use, this song is either entitled 'It's as High as the Sky', or 'Everywhere'.

It's a song that has been chosen for tomorrow's worship video provided by our Territorial Headquarters to introduce a 4-week series on 'Covenant'. A covenant is a type of agreement, a promise between two people of groups.

It's a commitment, and we're going to see God's commitment of love to us. There's a lot of singing in tomorrow's meeting, but I have chosen this morning to preview this song because the words are particularly appropriate: Have you ever stopped to think Wider than the human mind can realise, How God loves you?

His love is unlimited and never dies; It sounds quite incredible, and yet it’s true.

Though we don’t deserve it, every day it’s new – Nothing on this earth or in the heavens above That’s the love of God for me and you.

Is as sure and certain as God’s love.

Chorus Everything is changing in the world today; Oh, it’s as high as the sky and it’s as deep as the sea, There’s one thing reliable in every way: And it’s as wide as the world – Other things may alter but it’s clear and plain God’s love for you and for me.

That the love of God is just the same.

We can’t escape His love, Or take ourselves out of His care, So where could we hide from His love?

His love is everywhere.

I look at these words and to be honest I'm not sure that any comment I make could add to them in the slightest. The words have been sung for years to what I might call a 'bouncy' tune, in such a way that they are sung joyfully, in perhaps a carefree manner. It's almost a children's song.

In recent years a new tune has been written: slower, more re ective; and where the original tune is kind of celebratory, the new setting is more of a gentle invitation to consider God's love, it's perhaps even more 'persuasive'.

There's a time for both styles of tune, but lyricist John Gowans' words are very appropriate however they are sung. Just consider the second verse; seriously, they could have been written yesterday, not over 40 years ago!

Everything is changing in the world today; There’s one thing reliable in every way: Other things may alter but it’s clear and plain That the love of God is just the same.

Just think of that for a moment; think not of the changed world nor the uncertainty of the future, but of the love of God for you that, whatever you think about it, whether you receive it or not, will never be withdrawn. God's love is available in a continual supply because God wants us to experience it, be surrounded by it. His love is 'sure and certain', and what makes Gowans' words authentic and authoritative is not just that they re ect the Bible, but that they have been proved by countless people whose lives have been changed by the love of God, and whose circumstances have been lled with that love demonstrated perfectly in Jesus.

Today, think of how much God loves you - it's the rst thing we should know about God. Think of how he demonstrated his love in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus. And then consider that this loving God, our heavenly Father, is with us all the time, faithfully and constantly 'through all the changing scenes of life'.

May that thought bless you today. Enjoy the worship tomorrow - there's a lot to look at and listen to at your leisure - and may God's unfailing love ll your heart. God bless you đ&#x;™?

fi

 

fl

fi

fi

fi

fl

 

 

Page 6

04 January 2021

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

Today the news will be full of the sad death of the singer Gerry Marsden who, of course, popularised the song from the musical Carousel, 'You'll Never Walk Alone.' It was already a popular song on stage and screen but Gerry and the Pacemakers made probably the most famous version of it, though others also made versions of it almost immediately.

The most recent incarnation was the one done by Michael Ball and Captain Tom who, you'll remember, walked 100 laps of his garden to raise money for the NHS. Here's a fun fact: At the end of a concert by the rock band Queen, the audience spontaneously sang You'll Never Walk Alone, according to lead guitarist Brian May, and this inspired him to write We Are the Champions. So there you go :) The word 'inspirational' can be used of many non-religious songs: Bridge over Troubled Water, You Raise Me Up, What a Wonderful World, Stand by Me, etc. You'll Never Walk Alone is in that category of course.

It's been appropriated by the fans of Liverpool Football Club and I guess that they're going to sing it with great emotion tonight before the match with Southampton. It's a song that has lifted spirits, allowed emotions to be expressed, and brought a sense of community, a feeling that we're in this together.

Of course this inspirational experience wasn't invented by Rogers and Hammerstein, nor by Gerry Marsden. People have longed for the knowledge that life isn't lived 'alone' for countless years. It's a very human desire; and to know that Someone is walking with us through life, someone greater than us yet down to our level, is at the heart of our spirituality.

In Jesus we believe that God himself does walk with us. We don't just believe in him, we experience his presence. Nobody is ever alone when they know Jesus. It's in that lovely Easter Day story of the road to Emmaus that Christians have found comfort. Two followers of Jesus had witnessed the cruci xion and seen their hopes die with him. But as they walked home in dejection, 'Jesus himself came up and walked along with them.' (Luke 24 v 15) Their hopes were restored, their joy was unrestrained: Jesus was with them.

Today we still know the experience of having Jesus beside us. When we trust him, we will never walk alone.

Lord Jesus you promised you would never leave nor forsake us. Today I claim that promise so that I can know that you walk beside me.

As you walk with me today you might comfort me, teach me, even challenge me, correct me .

Help me to hear your voice, through your word or in my heart, and help me to follow you in the way in which you lead.

Draw near to me and help me Lord, to walk close beside you in faith. Amen.

We hope you have a good day today. God bless you đ&#x;™?

fi

 

Page 7

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

I received a lovely phone call yesterday and for two or three minutes shared new year greetings, enquiries about health and our boys, and how our Christmas had been......with a total stranger.

I had answered the phone with 'Hello, Salvation Army', as I always do, but the voice at the other end that I didn't recognise, spoke over my words: "Hello, it's Jean!"

Well I know a couple of Jeans, and although the voice was unfamiliar I thought 'Poor Jean, she's got a cold.' So I went with it. 'Hello Jean, how are you?' And there followed questions and answers about how Christmas had been, how the family was. Were my boys able to come home ... And when I said that one of them could only visit for a walk outside, she said, 'So Jonathan couldn't visit...? It was then I thought, this isn't a Jean that I know!

I stopped her and we realised that she had phoned a wrong number. I KNEW I didn't recognise her voice!

It was two or three minutes of Antony and Jean sharing a friendly conversation, and I said to her that I'd really enjoyed talking to her, even though we didn't know each other.

I will never know who Jean is, where she comes from, what her life is like; but that brief meeting of voices was a highlight of my day. She was a bit embarrassed about the wrong number, but I said it had been lovely to talk to her and wished her all the best. I can believe that somehow it was meant to be.

In these di cult times, communication is so important. A friendly voice is going to be even more important now that we have entered another strict lockdown. If a brief, unintended, accidental conversation can brighten a dull morning, how much more a conversation with a familiar voice or reading familiar words?

Jesus said that he is the Good Shepherd and that his sheep know his voice and follow him. It's such a familiar image, but I think today, as we wake up to harder restrictions on our lives, with potential nancial, social and health consequences, it has a lot to o er us. If we know him and recognise his voice, it's not just words that we will hear, it's a sense of care, of provision. If talking with someone is an encouragement, and lifts the spirits, how much more will the voice of the Good Shepherd be a welcome relief, a source of strength and hope?

You will of course know the words of the 23rd Psalm. I o er them to you here today because maybe they will be much needed words for someone to read. Listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd today, don't let it be the voice of a stranger.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;

Your rod and Your sta , they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

We're both always here if you need anything - practical help or a listening ear. Just let us know.

God bless you đ&#x;™?

ff

ff

 

ff

 

ffi

Page 8  

fi

05 January 2021

06 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone! It's a celebration day. It's Epiphany!

OK, so for a lot of people nowadays that announcement would be met with a quizzical look: 'What's that then?

Put simply it's the day that the Church traditionally celebrates the arrival of the Magi, the Wise Men, which took place anytime up to two years after Jesus was born. So if you've still got your Christmas tree up, well done you!

I'm actually sat here with my co ee, with our tree still resplendent with 1020 lights, and a glowing angel gazing down on me.

An epiphany means a moment of realisation and revelation - a light bulb moment if you like. The light comes on and you see the truth!

For the Wise Men - and the whole world through them - today is the day when Jesus is revealed to the world. The world is represented by those men who travelled from far away to tiny Bethlehem to worship the one born to be King of the Jews. Actually, these men, giving royal gifts and worshipping Jesus, are showing that Jesus is King of the World These are dark days for us all. The Christmas lights will nally be turned o today (though if you want to, they can o cially stay up until Candlemas on 2nd February!). But after these lights are o and we look at the dark days of January; as we live through this frustrating lockdown and the uncertainty of the future, let me remind you that the days are getting lighter.

It was drawn to my attention yesterday at exactly 4.10 in the afternoon: had I noticed that it's not as dark now as it was at this time last week? And it was true. The days are getting lighter and staying lighter for longer.

And in the darkness of Covid only the most cynical are not hopeful that the vaccines will make a huge di erence to our lives over the Springtime. It's as if in these darkest of days - literal and gurative - hope is well and truly dawning.

When the Wise Men found Jesus it was really a ful lment of Isaiah the prophet's ancient promise: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." (Isaiah 60 v 1 3) That's an epiphany.

People might indeed ask what that is. Some might ask who is Jesus?

We reply: Tis the Lord! O wondrous story, 'Tis the Lord, the King of Glory!

At his feet we humbly fall, Crown him, crown him Lord of all!

When Christ is worshipped, when Jesus is honoured as King, when we yield our heart and life to him, then the light shines upon us. Happy Epiphany!

May the light of Jesus shine upon you today, whether in joy or in sorrow. God bless you đ&#x;™?

 

ff

fi

ff

-

fi

fi

ff

ffi

ff

Page 9

07 January 2021

M

orning everyone đ&#x;–?

Well I never thought I'd see the day when I would see a mob attacking and storming into the American Capitol building. Even the newsreaders were shocked. I'm not going to comment on politics and personalities, but my goodness what a change has come over what some people might have called at one time 'the civilised world'!

Psalm 46 is as relevant to us today as it was thousands of years ago.

"Nations are in uproar" declares verse 6.

Well yes, the scenes last night certainly point to an 'uproar'; but what else can we expect in a world where Godlessness and lawlessness increases?

A common feature of the Bible is to use images of nature and Psalm 46 speaks of the earth giving way, and the mountains falling into the heart of the sea, "though its waters roar and foam...and the mountains quake with their surging."

Well, it's a picture of uncontrolled nature alright but the Psalmist con dently declares that, although this is all going on, "God is our refuge and strength, therefore we will not fear."

Notice: "we will not". In other words, it's our decision, our intention to not be afraid. We are not going to be bowed down nor throw our hands up and wonder where this is going to end, where is God? Let me take you to verse 10: "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;" Now, this is a favourite verse of many, and it's often read in the context of being quiet and meditative, being relaxed and peaceful. And quite rightly.

But there is another meaning. Let me complete the verse: " I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.�

This is God asserting himself, he's telling the nations to be still before him. He's raising his voice: "Be still!

Know that I am God!" How can this world know peace if they ignore the Prince of Peace and try to live outside his laws?

Let us pray for the peace of nations, for elected leaders and for the well-being of our communities; but let's also pray for a returning to God, a recognition that he is indeed the world's refuge and strength.

Today may we all take time to be still in order to know his peace, but also to pray that our world in turmoil may recognise him and acknowledge that he is God. It's the only way to peace.

May God bless you đ&#x;™?

fi

 

Page 10

08 January 2021

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona. Welcome to a very wet, gloomy Friday.

'You have to laugh really, or else you'd cry. 'How many times have you said or heard that? I chuckled yesterday when a friend posted on Facebook, 'I'd like to cancel my subscription to 2021. I've experienced the free 7-day trial and I'm not interested.' đ&#x;˜„ We started with high hopes, but those who thought giving the month a new name and the year a new number would make everything better are disappointed, and the more realistic people who knew we are still walking uphill have been surprised at just how rocky the path has become. The beginning of 2021 is bringing challenges with it that appear to be worse than 2020.

I'm not going to list the challenges, I've depressed you enough already! But as I've said before, there is hope; and as I quoted from Psalm 46 yesterday, 'we will not fear.'

Yes we've had 7 days of 2021, and the joker lightens the mood by asking can they cancel their subscription, but despair and resignation are not a necessary response.

Some see darkness - and we are realistic and mindful about the challenges, we recognise some real hardships - but as God's people we would want to remind the world what we spent over a month telling them: the light has come! 'The darkness has not overcome it.'

There really is 'Joy to the world, the Lord is come' And whether that is an inner sense of joy and light, or whether it's seen in practical solutions to our needs or circumstances, what we know is that God personally, or through his people, can transform a situation or walk beside us with his reassuring presence.

Psalm 139 v 12 declares, 'Even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.' You can pair that with Daniel 2 v 22: 'He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.'

Remember when you were a child and in the darkness the shadows and dark shapes became scary monsters with malevolent minds and wicked intentions? Oh how I hated that dressing gown on the back of the door! But our parents soothed our fears. They knew the truth about the darkness. And they reassured us.

It's day 8 of 2021. God knows what's in the darkness. He knows the days that lie ahead. Remember the New Year words: So I went forth, and nding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

May your day be brighter because God is there.

May he bless you đ&#x;™?

 

fi

Page 11

H

ello everyone, welcome to another Song Saturday. This is where we look at one of the songs or hymns from tomorrow's Together in

Worship. This week it's a Salvation Army song entitled The Wonder of His

Grace. The words and music were written in the late 1960s by Howard Davies an Australian Of icer, after he was inspired by the sight of the stars above him. He thought of Psalm 8 which asks, 'When I consider your heavens, the work of your ingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? He turned that thought into a contemplation, not of the created world, but of the spiritual world - O the wonder of his grace - which was higher than the stars that reach eternity. The refrain repeats, O the wonder of his grace.

I think it's all too easy to lose the wonder of God and his love and grace. A former General of The Salvation Army, Albert Orsborn, once wrote, 'I have long since discovered the truth that no man is so much in danger of losing the rapture of religion as the man who deals in it every day.’ Can I say how true that is? And how sad.

For a person's faith to become less interesting to them, less exciting, seem more tiresome, or to take on an 'optional' feeling, I think is perhaps a tragedy.

Jesus called it losing your irst love (Revelation 2 v 4), and one of the signs of that is that we are no longer impressed by the message, not interested anymore. Perhaps we've become jaded; we've heard it all before.

Maybe some might become cynical.

This song, to me, captures and encourages the feeling of the wonder of God's grace, his boundless love that is more than I can ever comprehend. Does that grace still amaze you? Does his forgiveness still move you? When you sing about it, do you desire more of it?

There's a phrase in 1 Corinthians 13 that once I wasn't sure about; it's 'love believes all things.' Really? That sounded a bit gullible to me. You can't believe everything, you could be taken in, fooled, taken advantage of. I now believe that it means this: love is not cynical.

It believes what is good, and right and true; it embraces what's lovely and exciting. It takes time to consider the truth, and then it allows it to make an impression. Love that is not cynical and which 'believes all things' is willing to look at the grace of God and to be awed by it, amazed by it, even overwhelmed by it.

God's grace and his love are never 'take it or leave it', never commonplace. With another song writer we might sing with an overflowing heart: O the wonder of it all, the wonder of it all, Just to think that God loves me.

How could that truth not mean anything? How could it pass us by and not stir the heart? Think again to yourself, 'God loves me!'

We are moved by beautiful music. We are awed by landscapes. We are inspired by acts of human devotion and courage. How much more could we wonder at the depth and the height and the richness of God's grace?

Many are the things I cannot understand; Passing understanding is His boundless love, All above me mystery I see; More than I can ever comprehend; But the gift most wonderful from God’s own hand Jesus, in His mercy, left His throne above, Surely is His gift of grace to me!

All to be my Saviour and my Friend.

When I came to Jesus with my sin and shame, And to Him confessed my deepest need, When by faith I trusted fully in His name, God’s rich grace was granted me indeed.

Chorus Higher than the stars that reach eternity, Broader than the boundaries of endless space, Is the boundless love of God that pardoned me; O the wonder of His grace!

Join us tomorrow as we sing this lovely song, and allow your soul to be illed again with the wonder of it all.

Have a great day, God bless you đ&#x;™?

 

f

 

f

 

f

f

Page 12

09 January 2021

11 January 2021

M

orning all, welcome to Monday!

Well, the need for exercise being evident I went for a walk yesterday. I put my boots on and went out, across a eld and down a country road. It was hard to walk because of the ice. The elds were greener because the snow was melting fast. Someone wrote 'Send us pictures of the snow'. Well there was no point. This morning it's all gone from the pavement and we have wind instead.

What amused me today was a video clip of an American pastor friend of mine in Texas. He's there with his family shouting, 'It's snowing in Texas! It's snowing in Texas!' Such delight and unexpected joy.

I believe we ourselves are due more snow.

We've had lots of rain, it's often windy, Facebook is full of snowy pictures when we get it. The British do like to talk about the weather. We comment about the 'nice day' to complete strangers, we talk to friends about the rain, we take great delight in pictures of our cars and lawns with snow on them...

It's not just the British though. The Bible is full of weather! From Noah's ood to Jesus stilling the storm, there's a lot of meteorological detail! There are droughts and winds, prophets who pray for rain, and when good things happen they are described as showers of blessing.

Even Jesus knew the saying about 'red sky at night...' though in Biblical language he says, 'When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' (Matthew 16 v 2) But, re ecting the joy of my Pastor friend, my favourite weather verse is, 'though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' Isaiah 1 v 18 Why scarlet? Well, it's an indelible colour; even today it would be impossible to make a deeply dyed red cloth white again.

But God is saying, let's talk this over. Your sin might seem an indelible, permanent, 'stubborn stain', but I can make your heart, your mind, your soul as white as snow. There's nothing whiter than snow. Nothing cleaner. What a promise given to those who believe, who give their sin to God so that he can wash their heart clean.

King David sinned in a way that none of us have and yet he was able to pray, 'Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow'. Whiter than snow? That reveals a wonderful truth, that when God forgives it's a deep, thorough forgiveness that can't be found, can't be matched anywhere.

Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!

Saviour divine, to whom else shall I go?

Thou who didst die, loving me so, Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!

Oh, for a heart that is whiter than snow!

With the pure ame of the Spirit aglow; Filled with the love that is true and sincere, Love that is able to banish all fear.

Oh, for a heart that is whiter than snow!

Calm in the peace that He loves to bestow; Daily refreshed by the heavenly dews, Ready for service whene’er He shall choose.

Oh, for a heart that is whiter than snow!

Then in His grace and His knowledge to grow, Growing like Him who my pattern shall be, Till in His beauty my King I shall see.

God bless you đ&#x;™?

fl

 

fi

fi

 

 

fl

fl

Page 13

12 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone.

We hope you are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning! I like that phrase - it makes me think I'm a squirrel or something...

Anyway, are you well-rested, or are you amongst the many who don't sleep too well?

Some don't sleep because of illness, because of young children, noisy neighbours, a busy road outside; but some of us don't always sleep because our minds are busy or preoccupied, or even troubled. I've written before about worry, when little details swirl round your mind and rob you of sleep. And then there are times when, for no reason you can identify, you just can't sleep.

For Christmas Fiona bought me one of those watch-things that tell you what your heart rate is, how many steps you've taken, how many calories you've burned. I think she regretted it when I asked her a few times if my heart rate was normal...

Anyway, it also tells you how much sleep you had. I can tell you that last night I slept for 6 hours 10 minutes (which I know is not enough) out of which 2 hours 56 minutes was light sleep and the rest was deep sleep. Fascinating. I shall have to make up for it with a nap later on. Apparently, a day without a nap is like a cupcake without icing - so there you go. It's compulsory.

Now I'm no sleep expert and I can't say I have conquered 'the disturbed sleep due to over thinking things at 4am' problem, but like you I think any help would be useful. One great tip is to be at peace with yourself. The saying goes, 'a clear conscience makes the softest pillow', and so knowing that we are forgiven, and knowing that we're 'Ok with God' is the foundation of what one of our songs calls 'a heart at leisure from itself'.

But I have read that a study suggests the secret of a good night’s sleep is having something worth getting out of bed for the next day. So perhaps going to bed with a plan for a positive activity tomorrow, something to look forward to, is going to help.

I'm going to suggest that a twofold prayer would be an answer: a prayer of thanksgiving for the day just spent, including asking forgiveness for mistakes made, and then a prayer that asks God to bless the coming day, giving tomorrow to him even as this day is still ending.

What we certainly need is his presence and peace in every part of the day, so let our evening prayer not just look back, but also seek out the joy and gladness of a new day. And may that bring peace - and a good night's sleep!

Father God, I thank you for bringing me through another night. A new day dawns with di erent experiences for us all.

I give this day to you in whatever form it takes and pray that whether I be busy or whether I'm searching for something to ll my hours, I will know that you are there.

And when I come to the end of this day, may I know your grace, and the peace that comes with trusting, and the hope that looks forward to another new day.

Tonight may I indeed 'lie down and sleep in peace for you alone make me dwell in safety.'

I pray for all today who are weary and troubled, that they too will nd peaceful rest and the assurance of your loving presence.

I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God bless you đ&#x;™? Have a good day today đ&#x;™‚

ff

fi

 

fi

Page 14

13 January 2021

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

Will you have The Vaccine? Will you heed the call, the invitation when it comes? Isn't it strange that people are even asking the question?

Vaccines are a part of life from childhood onwards. I can remember the sugar cube with a polio vaccine on it, I can remember queuing at school for the TB vaccine, and everyone trying to scare each other with stories of 6 inch needles, and boys fainting. đ&#x;˜ą đ&#x;˜‰ All untrue of course. I don't recall ever hearing about anyone refusing it.

We do know about the scare stories to do with MMR and how they've been debunked; today there are those who see the Covid vaccine as unsafe, and they listen to Facebook comments that mislead and frighten people. People are scared of the virus. Now through scaremongering and cynicism they are scared of the remedy!

One reason for the fear is 'Oh it's too quick, how do we know it'll work, we're all still guinea pigs!' I was so pleased to watch The One Show on BBC1 last night and the interview with a scientist who said this vaccine has been developed over 10 years. It's safe because today's Corona vaccine is part of a range of vaccines already tried and tested. That's really reassuring.

We should not fear the remedy.

It's always surprised me how many people were afraid of Jesus. The old song says: Tell me the story slowly, That I may take it in— That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin; Jesus is indeed God's remedy. Our sin frightens us, has taken peace from the world, and yet people were frightened of him.

In the stilling of the storm the disciples were scared of the wind and waves, but they were also frightened of the man who said, 'Peace, be still!’ 'Who is this?' they cried, 'That even the wind and the sea obey him?'

Other parts of the Gospels tell us about people being amazed, of people asking Jesus to leave them alone or even leave the town because they were afraid. You could even say it was because of fear that they eventually arrested Jesus, tying his hands in front of him as if to prevent him using his wonderful power: 'Dear hands of Christ! And yet men feared them so that they must bind them as to death they go.'

So wrote Albert Orsborn, a former General of The Salvation Army.

I asked at the beginning, 'Will you have The Vaccine?' The General asks a more important question about God's remedy for sin, Jesus: 'Say, would'st thou bind, by pride and unbelief those hands that compass all thy soul's relief?'

Don't fear the remedy. God waits with such blessing for those who trust in Christ. Accept his love for you, his o er of grace. Nobody has ever been disappointed by Jesus.

Lord, man can offer so many remedies for our world - medicines, technolo y, political solutions amongst them; but only you can heal the soul and bring love, joy and peace.

I want to know those things in my own life, and would simply want to accept the remedy you offer - grace, forgiveness, and new life within.

Help me not to be afraid of trusting in you, but reassure me with your outstretched hands that you are indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Lord Jesus, because of the cross I accept your remedy, and I believe in you to save me. Thank you Lord.

God bless you today đ&#x;™? If there's anything you need or want to ask, please let us know. Have a great day.

 

g

ff

Page 15

14 January 2021

H

ello everybody, I'd like to share something that really warmed my heart yesterday.

We spent so much time on our Christmas Present Appeal in November and December. The volunteers were excellent and hardworking and cheerful, and we want to thank them and encourage them with this news. We also want to thank everyone who made the appeal so successful again this year - people who gave gifts, donated money, the band that spread the Christmas message and raised a lot of money...

Here's something that makes it worthwhile.

On Christmas Eve we received an email from divisional headquarters asking if at all possible we could take a gift to a young woman with special needs who lived in care in a village on the North York Moors.

She had contacted our London HQ saying she couldn't see her family, and the message has ltered down.

Could we help?

Well, family was arriving for a socially-distanced Christmas Eve walk together so we decided we'd all go to this village and deliver the gifts at the same time. I put together a bag with 5 or 6 small items - some toiletries, a scarf and some chocolate - things I thought appropriate, and we drove o in convoy, and eventually nding this remote place down a very snowy (and scary) downhill track, delivered the toys to a surprised care assistant for this young lady. Was it worth it?

Well, it seemed a long way to go and we just hoped that the gifts were OK. We just weren't sure. We enjoyed our walk later anyway.

Yesterday I was told that a thank you card had arrived at HQ from this young lady thanking The Salvation Army for the lovely gifts, including the scarf, that she really liked. It was lovely to know that she enjoyed the gifts, in fact she wrote that it made her Christmas. But it was the next bit that I really wanted to share with you. In her card she said that she had shared her gifts with her friends in the home who also had very little given to them.

Well I was amazed at that.

It was lovely to hear that someone who is in her situation, in care and far from family, would give to others out of the little she had received.

It seems that our little bag of gifts didn't just make one person happy, it made a little group of friends feel that someone cared. Christmas was di erent for them, but not simply because the Army gave small gifts, but because the recipient went on to share freely what she had received.

What an inspiration to us who have so much, that out of everything we have received, the abundance of our gifts and privileges, we too might also freely give.

Jesus spoke about giving to others freely because we ourselves have freely received. And when our giving results in great pleasure and an expression of gratitude we know that somehow God is honoured.

I guess that for every one card that reveals a story of gratitude and sharing, there will be many other stories that are similar.

We pray that those who received gifts will also know something of God's blessing too.

And may God also bless you today đ&#x;™? . Keep sharing, keep giving freely because we have all freely received.

fi

ff

ff

fi

Page 16

15 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone - welcome to Friday. It's so true that the days go so quickly!

The phrase 'fake news' was made popular by a certain soon-to-be-former President. A newspaper would report something and he'd make a speech saying, 'It's all fake news, fake news...' đ&#x;‘?

Well, I think we all know that you can't believe everything you read in the papers. We remember, of course, that they need to sell copies and so the headlines often bear little relation to the story. I think many will remember the famous 'Freddie Starr ate my Hamster' headline, which apparently wasn't true because he was a vegetarian!

There used to be a man in my home town of Blackpool who went round in the late 50s with a 6d newsletter with deliberately fake news on it. It was called 'Billy's Weekly Liar' and one famous headline was 'Liverpool Sensation! Mersey Tunnel stolen by Cat Burglars'. Another was 'Unconscious Skeleton Found on Beach'. Another was 'Two Men Burst. Boiler Killed!'' All complete nonsense of course but simply designed to raise a laugh.

I came across a headline this morning which told me that Prince Philip apparently made the Queen blush with a comment about her dress. 'Oh, what's he said now?' I thought. It took ages to read through all the peripheral story and, at the end, all Philip actually said was, 'Nice dress.' How is that news? Why did I bother reading it?

I read something earlier about an Archbishop who sadly died suddenly of Covid - but you read the small print, and actually the cause of his passing isn't yet known. So why mislead with a headline, especially when his family could read it? Sometimes 'fake news' isn't funny. In fact it can cause upset, ruin reputations, cause misunderstanding, and lead to serious consequences. There is so much information available to us, from newspapers, TV News, Twitter, Facebook and the wider internet. Nowadays we have to be so careful. Just because we read something doesn't mean it's true.

I've heard people say that about the Bible of course. The accusation is that it's not true and yet I'm not aware of any historical or archaeological discovery that has contradicted what the Bible records. In fact there are many instances where Bible history was believed to be ctional because there was no evidence; and then guess what? Someone found the evidence and the Bible was shown to be right all along.

But beyond that, how can words about grace and love, peace and forgiveness, reconciliation and mercy not be 'true'? When you read the Sermon on the Mount, or 1 Corinthians 13 about love is patient, etc, how is that not true? When you consider 'The Lord is my shepherd' or 'Love your neighbour', in what way are these things not 'true'?

Peter once said to Jesus, 'To whom else would we go, you have the words of eternal life'.

And Jesus himself said in a prayer, 'Your word is truth.'

In our world where so much information is simply not true, we might echo the words of Peter and Jesus.

The Bible is truth, it contains the words of eternal life. That's not fake news. That's Good News.

Lord, thank you for the Bible, for all its wonderful teaching; the history and stories, the poetry and prayers, the words of comfort and reassurance.

Especially I thank you for the stories of Jesus that tell us of One who taught wonderful things, treated people with compassion and love, and then died and rose again for us. Lord, here is truth that changes us. Thank you for it.

When I read your word today, speak to me through it, and help me to hear your voice of truth. Amen.

Enjoy your day everyone đ&#x;˜Š God bless you and your families. đ&#x;™? Stay safe

 

fi

Page 17

16 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone and welcome to an extremely windy Song Saturday! This is where we preview one of the songs or hymns that

will be in Sunday's Together in Worship, and today it's a good one; in fact it's one of the best! And Can It Be is only one of the 9000 hymns and poems written by Charles Wesley.

You can add to them the 40,000 sermons that his brother John preached and see for yourself why Methodism has had such an astonishing effect on the world church. Just as an aside, The Salvation Army, the Church of the Nazarene, and even the entire Pentecostal Movement have their roots and inspiration in Methodism, and Wesley's songs contributed to it all! Amazing. And actually, that's the word for today from today's hymn: "AMAZING love! How can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me?"

Wesley had a strict Christian upbringing, he was religious, he prayed, he read the Bible, and even did some missionary work in North America, but he knew he wasn't a Christian in his heart; he knew he was not saved.

And then one day he met a group of Christians and he realised that he needed to put his faith in Jesus. He wrote in his daily diary, 'At midnight I gave myself to Christ.' His brother John, who came to found Methodism, was converted soon after. The song, 'And can it be?' was written by Charles two days after his conversion to express how he felt about his new faith and the way that Jesus had saved him, but he nearly didn't inish it. He felt he was being too proud, perhaps he thought it was a bit pretentious to write a hymn so soon. He prayed that God would help him inish, but then when he showed it to a friend, there was another discouragement because his friend didn't like it! Wesley wrote, 'The devil threw in a iery dart, suggesting it was wrong and that I had displeased God.’ Well, eventually Wesley realised that this was just the devil trying to stop glory going to God, because how wonderful this hymn has been in doing just that; it glori ies God for his amazing love, and rejoices in the amazing truth that yes, even I can gain an interest, an advantage or pro it, in the death of Jesus.

Actually, that may have been one of the reasons people didn't like the hymn. It speaks about the truth that Jesus 'bled for Adam's helpless race' and that 'tis mercy all, immense and free'. What's amazing to us is that some church people didn't believe that; they believed Jesus died only for those who believe, not for all. And that's the amazing thing isn't it? That Jesus died for the world, the whole world?

If you ask a lot of Salvationists there is a favourite verse: it's verse three. It’s inspiration is the story of Peter who was imprisoned for preaching. The authorities had already killed James and so you can imagine that the church was praying hard for Peter. Acts 12 tells us of the miracle: an angel appeared, Peters chains fell off and he got up and followed the angel out of the prison to freedom. Charles Wesley used that picture to describe what it felt like for him to come to know Jesus for himself. It was as if chains had fallen off his heart and set him free! That's the amazing love of Jesus. That's why the song is so popular. It reflects the experience of every believing Christian. Oh the joy and the wonder of it all, to know that we are forgiven, set free and know follow Christ.

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour's blood?

Died he for me who caused his pain, For me who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; Thine eye di used a quickening ray; I woke; the dungeon amed with light.

My chains fell o , my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

He left his Father's throne above, So free, so in nite his grace, Emptied himself of all but love and bled for Adam's helpless race.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine.

Alive in him, my living head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.

Join us tomorrow for Together in Worship, from 10am or whenever you can after that. Join in with this wonderful song - and may that experience of amazing love be yours. Have a great day, God bless you đ&#x;™?

 

f

f

f

f

 

fl

 

ff

fi

ff

f

Page 18

18 January 2021

M

orning all, welcome to Monday.

Apparently, it's Blue Monday; well, so they say. Every day seems to be a day 'for' this or a day 'of' the other. Most of them have no relevance to us. 'Blue Monday', apparently is the 'most depressing day of the year'. Why? Because, so they say, it's the day when the spending over Christmas hits our wallets, the overeating of Christmas hits our waistlines, and the darkness and dampness of January hits our sense of joy. You'll probably hear about it on the news sometime.

Actually, it's a myth. It was dreamed up. According to the Mental Health Foundation, Blue Monday is a PR stunt that was originally dreamed up to sell holidays. Well there's a surprise. It's not actually true, and Mind have suggested that to label one day in a year as 'the most depressing day' actually trivialises depression and other mental health issues.

Depression isn't a matter of feeling fed up or being a bit 'blue'. Depression isn't being bored because you're in lockdown. Depression isn't helped, of course, by being cooped up, or by dull days - people are a ected by loneliness and darkness - but depression is so much more than what Blue Monday claims it is.

A couple of years ago I conducted the funeral service of a gentleman whose mental health issues led him to take his own life. It had been a long term situation for him and his loving family had tried to help. I suggested then what charities have been saying all along - especially to us men: try to talk to someone, share how you feel. It's not weakness to admit your feelings.

Depression can't be snapped out of. It can't be remedied by simply cheering up. Thank God for the medical help we can access, for the love and understanding of family, friends and work colleagues. We can all play our part in caring for one another.

Where does faith come into it all? Well, Christians are not immune to depression. The false thought that Christians shouldn't be depressed only adds to the struggle. But we do believe in the presence of God and the knowledge of his love; these can be something to hold onto when days are di cult. There is truth in the Bible verse, 'You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.' (Isaiah 26 v 3) The English word 'peace' is the Hebrew word 'Shalom'. It doesn't mean an absence of trouble, it doesn't mean the 'issues' disappear. It means 'well-being' or 'wholeness'. I'm going to paraphrase it and suggest that there's a sense of 'it's all OK'. Perhaps peace for some is that feeling of being held, that even when things are rocky there's something to steady us, a hand to hold. And when the hand we're holding is God's hand, then peace comes because we know that ultimately, he is the one doing the holding.

It's going to be OK. And when life's in a bit of a turmoil, whether it's something very real in our mind or whether it's a physical burden we carry, peace comes just in the knowledge that “nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.� (Romans 8 v 39) And of course, the help God brings can be in human form, the voice of a friend, the touch of the hand, the sound of a song, the sight of nature around us. Allow God to hold you. Perhaps you can be part of God's presence for someone who needs peace today.

Let nothing disturb thee, Nothing a right thee; All things are passing; God never changeth!

Patient endurance attaineth to all things; Who God possesseth in nothing is wanting; Alone God su ceth.

(St Theresa) God bless you today đ&#x;™? We're always here if you want to talk.

ffi

 

ffi

ff

ff

Page 19

19 January 2021

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

Perhaps this month of January has so far been for the country days of hope. The vaccine that was all of a sudden announced at the end of last year has been given in increasing numbers and by the end of this week, according to reports, in the borough where we live here in Redcar and Cleveland, all care home residents and all over 80s will have been vaccinated. That's due in no small measure to the dedication and hard work of NHS sta who live and work amongst us đ&#x;‘? đ&#x;‘?

I enjoyed listening to a radio interview yesterday with a nurse who was telling the interviewer what it was like in the vaccination centre where she was. There were no snags, no shortage of supplies, nobody refusing the vaccine; instead, she said, the older people who came for their vaccines were so pleased to be out, and so pleased to be receiving their vaccines, they were wearing their best clothes! I loved that thought! It was as if some people were making an occasion of it, a celebration. It was a rejoicing in the hope that the vaccine was giving.

Now, we've had the negative comments over the weeks, the people who don't see hope but only hindrances - and I had to chuckle at the news reporters questions because it seemed they were anxious for the nurse to tell them there were problems with people or with supplies. There were none, and to me it just seemed the nurse was full of joy because hope was in the air.

What's interesting is that, to be realistic, there are unknowns: how long does it last, etc? But even unknowns and uncertainties can't crush hope and celebration.

And it's a similar attitude that lies behind our prayers. We approach God's 'throne of grace' with hope, with trust because we need to, because we have faith in the one we're talking to. I doubt many can explain the vaccine but they still receive it in hope, and likewise, not understanding fully the whole concept of prayer, we still pray, we still believe.

And even when prayers are not simply granted like wishes, when answers are not clearly given, or situations reversed in the way we ask, we still hope, we still trust, because 'all things work together for good to to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.' (Romans 8 v 28) If people can dress in their best clothes and receive a vaccine that o ers hope, and do it joyfully, how much more can we pray joyfully in hope and trust that whatever we ask, he hears and will answer that prayer of faith even if it is in an unexpected way.

Let's have that “con dence in things hoped for, and an assurance about what we do not see.� (Hebrews 11 v 1) It will lift our spirits and add a sense of thanksgiving and celebration to life Father God, help me to put my trust in you, to have hope and faith in your power and your promise to answer prayer. Let there be expectancy in my requests, thanksgiving in my heart, as I speak to you, knowing that all things are in your hand.And when I feel that there is no answer, let your love, your strength, your own presence be all the answer that is needed.

I don't need to wear my best clothes when I pray to you, but I do want to clothe myself with optimistic faith and to come boldly with thanksgiving to that place where Jesus answers prayer.

Thank you Lord, Amen.

We pray you'll have a good day today. God bless you đ&#x;™?

ff

 

ff

fi

Page 20

20 January 2021

A

midweek welcome to you all.

Waiting has always been a feature of life and we Brits are famous for it.

There's something quite unremarkable about the way we queue or, as the Americans put it, 'stand in line'. It could be at a bus stop, outside a shop. A friend told me once that at his church on a Sunday night years ago there used to be a queue of people waiting to get in! Now THAT'S a queue I'd like to see.

The experience of waiting is being highlighted so much now. We wait to get into Sainsbury's, we wait for the Amazon delivery, we're waiting to get a haircut, waiting for the 'non-essential' shops to reopen. We're waiting for our name to be called on the vaccine list, waiting for other very important things - schools to open, the job to be back to normal, the delayed surgery to go ahead, to be able to visit let alone hug a relative, waiting to see if it's safe to book a holiday. Waiting to get back to church to sing our hearts out, play our music in praise of God and have fellowship together!

I quoted a verse recently from St Theresa that had the line, 'patient endurance attaineth to all things'.

I saw an article entitled 'What to expect in the Second Year of the Pandemic'. Did anyone think there would be a 'Second Year'?! The words 'patient endurance' are certainly going to apply but also the words of our Bible verse for today: 'But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.’ (Romans 8 v 25) Now, some might take that verse to mean we should just be passive and simply wait around for something to happen. I think it's more positive than that. There are things we hope for that we can actively pursue, we can do something, get things changed. There are those things of course that we can't do much about; but in both scenarios - whether we're trying to change a situation or patiently enduring it - Paul is showing us that there are two powerful attitudes that change us within that situation: hope and patience.

Hope can be a driving force, an inspiration, an encouragement. Hope is what makes us say, 'it can change, it will change'. Hope is what squares our shoulders and lifts our chin and focuses our eyes on the future. It's what inspires us to action.

Patience is about timing and trust. What is God's timing? Are we trusting him to answer prayer in his perfect time. Patience brings with it the bonus gift of peace. Patience doesn't struggle but it does have peace of heart.

Psalm 27 v 14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

While you wait, be lled with hope that inspires expectancy. And may your trust in God give you that patient endurance that attaineth to all things.

In his time, in his time He makes all things beautiful In his time Lord please show me everyday As you're teaching me your way That you do just what you say In your time

In your time, in your time You make all things beautiful In your time Lord my life to you I bring May each song I have to sing Be to you a lovely thing In your time https://youtu.be/aJeNUlNY7Iw

God bless you đ&#x;™?

 

fi

 

Page 21

21 January 2021

G

ood morning everyone! I hope you're waking up to a good day for you.

I was going to completely ignore the Presidential Inauguration in my daily thoughts but something came to mind. It's a verse from 1 Timothy 2 that says this: 'I urge, then, rst of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.'

What has the American president to do with us here? Well simply that such a powerful country a ects much of the world too, and our prayers for leaders is actually for our bene t - 'that we may live peaceful and quiet lives...'

And so, for that quiet life, we pray for President Biden, our own Prime Minister, other leaders too. I would also add our local MPs and councillors...

It doesn't mean we agree with them, or that we voted for them; after all, Paul wants prayers said for the Roman Emperor who at the time was persecuting Christians! but it does reveal that our faith in God is not just a personal matter. In faith we pray for others.

A phrase that was used a few times yesterday, and is often said at the beginning of a Presidential speech, was 'My fellow Americans.' It's a phrase deliberately used to a rm that whether we are leaders or not, we are all equal, we are all loved, all to be respected, all equally responsible. I like that.

It also suggests that we are all equally vulnerable, and that's why Paul says that he urges us to pray for all people, including those in authority. And 'all people', of course, includes you and me.

What a privilege it is to pray for each other, to be remembered in the prayers of others.

I need your prayers. I am sure you feel glad that others pray for you.

Our prayers for each other might include requests for healing, for wisdom, for peace. We might pray a simple blessing, or a prayer of thanksgiving for someone. We might pray for comfort, for strength, or for them to nd faith. We are all united somehow in our need for prayer.

Let's continue to think of one another in prayer because I am convinced that so much blessing comes to us simply because somebody prayed.

If a person's name comes to mind, it's quite possible that God wants you to pray for them. Just take a moment to do that and who knows what blessing will be theirs, what need will be met.

Today somebody will be praying for you.

Somebody went to the throne of heaven, Somebody lifted my name.

Bringing me into His holy presence, Saying what I could not say.

Somebody showed me the face of His mercy, When darkness was all I could see.

Somebody pleaded the Blood of Jesus, Somebody prayed for me.

https://youtu.be/pIf1-uH JWo

May your prayers for others be a blessing to you too. God bless you đ&#x;™?

ff

fi

 

ffi

-

fi

fi

Page 22

22 January 2021

H

ello to you, wherever you are just now, and whatever time it is as you read these words. For me it's 7.03 and it's dark outside as I sit with my co ee.

I can hear the clock ticking on the re place but I've just noticed it's wrong! It's telling me that it's 4.59, for some reason. I'm glad it's not! Actually, thinking about it, I have another clock upstairs on a shelf in my o ce that has been stopped for months. I should get a battery for it... When I remember.

I have a friend who seems obsessed with time. His house has many clocks, so he tells me. He has ordinary clocks - the type you and I have - and he has a number of digital clocks that are all connected to each other on a circuit. They are perfectly accurate. The problem is that unlike my clock which just needs a battery, when one of his clocks goes wrong he needs an electrician! Oh I couldn't do with all the fa ng around.

Mind you, even having a number of ordinary clocks can be literally 'time-consuming' đ&#x;˜„ I believe the Queen has a lot of them. At Buckingham Palace there are over 350 and Windsor has 400! She employs people called horological conservators who wind the clocks up every week.

Time is important, whether your house (or palace) is lled with clocks, or whether you glance at your phone every now and then. For many people at the moment with fewer appointments to keep, nowhere to be at certain times, and more time on their hands, perhaps a clock's importance is not what it was, and yet time marches on.

The well-known verse, 'To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.' (Ecclesiastes 3 v 1) is one of those 'basic' truths of our faith. It covers those who live by every pressured minute, and those who just go with a broad view of the whole day, not keeping strictly to time.

To both attitudes God is saying that he has a purpose and a plan to it all. Our role is to live in faith that 'he makes all things beautiful in its time.' (3 v 11). Can we trust him with that?

Often we try to restrict God to days, hours, even minutes, when his own purposes may be more relaxed, needing patience. He teaches us trust, and gives peace while we wait.

And instead of simply inhabiting the here and now, the urgent and pressing, God takes a measured view.

'He has set eternity in the hearts of people'.

Today, take time; a moment, a few minutes. Sit, walk, and believe that as the clock ticks the seconds away, or as the sun moves across the sky to mark the longer hours, God has our times in his hands. And we would respond 'My God, I wish them there. my life, my friends, my soul, I leave entirely to thy care.

My times are in thy hand; My times are in thy hand, why should I doubt or fear? whatever they may be; My Father's hand will never cause pleasing or painful, dark or bright, his child a needless tear. as best may seem to thee.

Whether your day is governed by the clock, or whether you have time on your hands, may God bless you đ&#x;™?

fi

ff

fi

 

 

ffi

 

ffi

Page 23

23 January 2021

G

ood morning to you, it's Song Saturday once again. We're looking at one of the songs that will feature in tomorrow's

Together in Worship. This week it's a joyful song: O Happy Day. It's old, very old, but it has been brought up to date with the use of new tunes. There's even the very famous version which is very freely altered, the Gospel-version by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. But that's not the version from tomorrow - ours is just as joyful.

O happy day that xed my choice On Thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its rapture all abroad.

'Tis done, the great transaction's done!

I am my Lord's and He is mine; He drew me, and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine.

Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away!

He taught me how to watch and pray, And live rejoicing every day; Happy day, happy day, When Jesus washed my sins away.

O happy bond that seals my vows To Him who merits all my love!

Let cheerful praises ll His house While to His blessèd throne I move.

Well those words cry out for a happy tune don't they? Just look at those words: happy, rapture, rejoicing, cheerful, The whole song is a defence against the accusation that Christians are solemn and sombre and joyless. Surely we should be the opposite. I remember a Christian book entitled, 'The Happiest People on Earth'. OK, we can't be happy all the time, but is it not often true? Why should we be happy? Because God loves us, because Jesus has saved us and we have the joy of the Holy Spirit within. That's why we are happy.

The man who wrote this song based it on the verse 'All the people were happy because they had made this covenant with all their heart.' He wanted to express the thought that belonging to God, loving him, living for him really does bring joy and gladness.

I discovered a very interesting fact about this song. The perception of Queen Victoria is that she was famously 'not amused'. Well, she did have a reputation for being a bit dour, she chose this song, O Happy Day to be sung at the Christening of one of her daughters, so maybe Her Majesty did appreciate moments of joy and gladness herself.

I think the world could do with some joy at the moment; I don't mean super cial laughter, or the humour that distracts us, but real joy, deep happiness and gladness. Well, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the source of joy. Jesus himself talked about his joy in us being made complete joy.

Well there's a thought - that we can have complete joy. And it's a 'useful' joy. The Bible also says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Maybe someone reading these words could do with some strength today.

The happiness God gives will indeed give us the strength we need to face each day. The song talks about the 'happy day that xed my choice on thee my Saviour and my God.' That's the source of joy, choosing to love and serve God, accepting his love.

There's no joy like it, for even when life is tough it lifts us, encourages us, and inspires us.

May the joy of the Lord be yours today, and may God bless you.

See you tomorrow for Together in Worship.

fi

fi

fi

fi

Page 24

25 January 2021

G

ood morning to you all on this very cold Monday morning.

We hope you had a good weekend.

Some dismiss social media for being divisive, and yes it can be; some people are quite hostile sometimes. But there's something a lot more positive about it I feel. It's quite a community builder, especially if you join a group or like a page. Sharing thoughts, memories, photos etc, really does create a feeling of togetherness.

I was listening to a man speaking on YouTube the other day. It was a recording made in the 1970s, and he was talking about two men who became friends by letter. It was many years ago and they were separated by the Atlantic Ocean, and so of course they had to wait a long time between letters. And yet they became friends. I thought of friends, relatives and colleagues that I have - that many of us have - that I can contact in a split second on messenger or by text.

And that's not to mention our phones where we can actually speak to someone instantly. It would probably surprise younger readers to learn that when I worked in the Post O ce in the early 80s, if you wanted to phone outside the UK from a public call box you had to come into the counter and one of us would book it for you and the telephone exchange would call the phone in the phone box and connect you to the overseas number. What a palaver!

There are no barriers now. We get to know, appreciate and love one another from a distance; but sharing thoughts, pictures, news and music as we do, we are making friends and feeling supported and loved like never before.

On Friday nights a few of us get together for a Zoom prayer meeting. It's only 30 minutes and in a gentle way the participants will mention someone's name - we might know them, we might not - and ask that we pray for them. There might be illness, a bereavement, a cause for thankfulness even. No private details are shared, just a basic request. And we feel that in that devotional environment, just mentioning someone's name before God is precious and valuable. There's a connection.

Some names recur each week. We might not know faces, places, or anything about the person except the reason for prayer, but it becomes a familiar name and we are glad to be able to lift him or her to God. To pray for someone, to give thanks for them, to rejoice in an answer to prayer on their behalf, is a lovely way of being connected with people. And when God is present in those prayer meeting moments, there's a fellowship that is unique.

It's the original social media.

Father God I do give thanks for my family, friends and colleagues every time I remember them.

I thank you for the contacts on Facebook that have become online friends. We share thoughts and 'Like' our photos, we reminisce together or tell a joke. Sometimes we share bad news and our hearts are warmed by the caring thoughts that our friends, old and new, send us.

I thank you for the fellowship of prayer.

I am encouraged to know that people - many of them complete strangers - pray and have a concern for me and for others.

That's what a Christian family is about and Father I thank you for it.

Today, as we pray for one another even just here on Facebook, may we feel part of that family.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a lovely day everyone. God bless you đ&#x;™?

ffi

 

Page 25

26 January 2021

H

ello everybody from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

If I had lots of money to invest, I would buy shares in Amazon. It's a very hard time for the High Street of course and we are sad for those shop workers who have been affected. Amazon has now become the main mail order replacement. We've always had mail order - do you remember those great big thick glossy catalogues - Freeman's, Littlewoods and Kay's? Well now it's Amazon.

Is it sad that I get a moment of satisfaction when I click 'Purchase Now' and it says 'Your Order Has Been Placed'?

I ordered something at 9.20 last night. I awoke this morning to a noti ication that my order was received and despatched at 3.40 this morning and I'll receive it today. Amazing. As I slept someone was scuttling round a huge warehouse looking for my item and putting it in a box that's probably too big for it đ&#x;˜„ and shoving it on a conveyor belt at the end of which is a delivery driver and his van. Yes, I'd buy shares in this growing company. Mail order and other companies will talk about 'satisfaction guaranteed' or 'ordering with peace of mind'; and of course you expect to receive exactly what you've asked for.

Peace of mind is also something we long for in other parts of life - how shallow would we be if peace only came through receiving 'stuff'? Peace is guaranteed when we make our requests to God, but there's an important distinction to be made.

Look at this verse that's often preached upon, frequently quoted: 'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 4:6 7).

I'm going to be very daring and reword it: 'Place your orders with God...' Paul is encouraging us to ask, to go to God with our needs, to tell God what we require. But here's something worth noting: Paul does not say, 'And the order you send will be delivered'. He says 'the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds'.

He is talking here about our mental and spiritual health while we wait for how God will respond to our needs and requests. Whatever we pray for, the greatest thing we can receive is a strong sense of peace guarding our mind, giving us peace, secure in the knowledge that God has heard, has listened, and is moving behind the scenes. He's not in a heavenly Amazon warehouse despatching exactly what we ordered, but he draws near in love and gives us peace through our trusting that his perfect answer to prayer is ours, if we believe.

We know that some prayers seem not to be answered. It's the biggest question we often have, if we're honest.

It's trite sometimes to simply say that God answers by saying 'no' or 'not yet' as much as he says 'yes', but there's truth in that. He answers prayer according to our faith, according to his purposes, and sometimes in ways that are different to our expectations. But he never withholds his peace from those who trust in him.

The beauty of prayer is not that we get what we ask for, but that we come to know better the One we are asking; and that's where peace of mind is assured.

Loving Father, all power and authority is yours, all things are in your hand. Nothing is impossible for you. How can I not trust you? I thank you that you have searched me, and you know me, and you have loved me with an everlasting love. How can I not love you in return?

Lord, I have many questions to ask, and many prayers to pray. Before I 'present my requests' to you, help me to look for your presence in my heart and life. Help me to seek your face before I seek your hand. And then Lord, as we share that relationship of love, I come to you with my prayers.

You know the best answers, so help me to trust in you, and so receive your gift of peace.

If I have you Lord, I lack nothing.

May today be a day of blessing simply because we walk together.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

We're here if you need anything. God bless you đ&#x;™?

-

f

 

Page 26

27 January 2021

A

midweek hello to you all from Major Antony and Major Fiona.

It's not long until February! Already? I hear you ask.

January has been a month of snow and rain and gloomy days, dark mornings and long evenings. Of course December was similar but we had lights and music and Christmas to cheer us. January? What cheer is there in January?

Da odils.

I bought 5 bunches the other day. I could have bought roses, I could have bought any owers from Morrisons, but those little bunches of tight buds in elastic bands were what I really wanted. As I sit here with my co ee I can see a vase with half of them opening and the other half promising me that they won't be long...

For me da odils are the promise of springtime in the gloom of January. They remind me that January is on the way out.

When I phone people quite often the small talk is about the weather and the dark evenings but almost without fail, there's also the mention of spring. It won't be long: the nights will be shorter, the days will be brighter and the air will be warmer. And if April, when it comes, is like last year we will be in for a warm month - it's not that far away!

I'm not really talking about the weather here, nor particularly the coming spring; I'm talking about hope.

Hope is not just a feeling or a wish. Hope is the knowledge that things will change, the certainty that this is not all there is.

For the Christian our hope is placed in a person - in Jesus. If he is 'the same yesterday, today and forever' (Hebrews 13 v 8) then that assures us of a faithful presence in our lives not just today but the future too; he is already there.

His message to us is to look forward, to look up, to follow and have faith. So many people live in January, as it were, looking only at the immediate situation. God encourages us to lift our eyes to his possibilities, and gives words like: 'I know the plans I have for you...' ( Jeremiah 29:11) 'Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?’ (Isaiah 43:18) '...forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead...' (Philippians 3:13), and 'his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.' (Lamentations 3:22).

These verses, and so many others like them, are encouragements to live in hope. God is with us, leading us on, taking us to future blessing and opportunities.

The Psalmist re ects what our response can be; it's a decision that he has made: 'As for me, I will always have hope.' (Psalm 71:14) Today, decide to look up, to look forward, and see the future that is bright with the promises of God. Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen; bright skies will soon be o'er me, where the dark clouds have been; my hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free; my Saviour has my treasure, and he will walk with me.

God bless you đ&#x;™?

fl

fl

ff

ff

ff

Page 27

28 January 2021

M

orning all, a new day stretches ahead of us.

Have you got plans, intentions, ideas? A dream perhaps of what you want this day or the coming days to hold?

I had a dream last night. It was one of those dreams that was almost tangible. It was 3D and colour. It seemed real. I dreamed I was o ered a place in The Salvation Army's International Sta Band. Yes, it's true; I can hear some of you giggling already. In my dream I accepted, and then found I couldn't tell anyone because Major Fiona was away and I needed to tell her rst. Well, she came back from wherever she was, I told her, she wasn't impressed, and I woke up.

The odd thing was I still felt that happy feeling I'd felt in my dream when I was asked to join...

Dreams. Sometimes they are just transient fantasies.

Sometimes however they can be life changing: pursuing a dream job, dreaming of starting a family, dreaming of retirement and all those things to be done. Dreams can inspire action. Dreams can encourage and help us to turn possibilities into realities.

The Bible doesn't deal with idle fantasies; even ctional stories like the parables of Jesus have very practical and useful truths within them.

The Bible majors on themes of faith and hope, qualities that are forward-looking, and that challenge us to look up and see the possibilities that God o ers.

We thought along these lines yesterday.

When God's Spirit inspires our thoughts, Acts 2 says, 'young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams'. (v 17). In other words, they will begin to see possibilities, they will see things as God sees them instead of merely as man sees them.

Faith after all is 'con dence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.' (Hebrews 11 v 1) We thought yesterday about the prospect of spring happening around us. That brings hope. Today, let's move further and actually be determined to 'see visions and dream dreams' of what the future could hold for you and me, for our family, our church and the world. Let's ask God to give us dreams and inspire us with visions.

What is God saying? Ask him. What is he inspiring you to do? Ask him. What is he wanting to do in the future? Can you see it? When you set the vision, when you dream that dream from God, check it ts with what the Bible says is true and then start to pray. Ask God to ful l that God-given, inspirational dream.

I'm never going to join the Sta Band, but there are dreams that through faithful prayer God will make come true. We often denigrate dreams and assume they are mere distractions, but God can give great dreams.

The son writer prays:

And to inspire our visions and dreams for today, an old Wesley chorus:

Like the arching of the heavens, Lift my thoughts above; Turn my dreams to noble action, Ministries of love.

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees and looks to that alone; Laughs at impossibilities and cries: It shall be done!

And cries: It shall be done!

And cries: It shall be done!

Laughs at impossibilities and cries: It shall be done!

God bless you đ&#x;™?

fi

ff

fi

fi

ff

ff

ff

 

fi

fi

 

 

g

Page 28

Y

esterday I listened to quite an interesting Radio 4 programme, with Melvyn Bragg and a handful of expert historians, about St Cuthbert.

This great man, a monk, a hermit, and now a Saint might have been embarrassed to hear his character and exploits – even his physique discussed at length.

Apparently, he was muscular and athletic, and able to do somersaults and back ips, (who knew?)

That was before he became a monk. It seems that, coming from a wealthy family he wasn’t that religious as a youth. When he eventually decided to become a monk, he turned up with his servant, and riding a horse and carrying a spear. It seems he had a lot to learn.

But a comment was made that surprised me, and even made Melvyn Bragg question the speaker. To paraphrase, it went something along the lines of, ‘At least he wasn’t one of those horrible pious children!’

To which Bragg immediately butted in: ‘Are all pious children horrible?’

The academic who made the remark – more of an accusation, I thought – seemed to believe that religious children are horrible. What I found strange was that a childhood faith could be seen as something so negative. Would that scholar think that a child with good reading skills, or with a working interest in ponies, or an ability indeed to do back ips at a very young age, mark them out as ‘horrible’ too? I read something else today that tied in with that; it said that when we talk badly about someone else, it actually re ects more on us than it does them. I have to wonder then about the person who believes religious children are horrible. What does it say about them as an adult?

I think none of us would brand any child as horrible, even if they are particularly interested in one speci c thing, whether it be reading, ponies, athletics or even Jesus! For us who pray for our children in all aspects of life, the physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual, we would want for them all a wellrounded experience of life that will indeed have a love for God. It is probably one of the downsides of modern life that so few children are sent, or better, brought to church or Sunday School. The last couple of generations have, in my opinion as a parent, failed children a lot because spirituality and faith has been such a low priority for so many.

We are rightly concerned for the education of our children, disrupted so badly as it has been; but let’s also think of the spiritual needs of our children, thank God for the little that we can do in the absence of Sunday School, and pray hard for the children we know and love that they will have a knowledge of Jesus for themselves that will develop into a mature, adult Christian faith.

I think we adults, especially the so-called ‘clever’ ones, have a lot to learn from the simple faith of a child; after all, “for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 19 v 14) Father, we for our children plead, The children Thou hast given; Where shall we go in time of need But to the God of Heaven?

But, in the all prevailing name, We ask eternal life.

We seek the Spirit's quickening grace To make them pure in heart, That they may stand before Thy face And see Thee as Thou art.

We ask for them not wealth or fame Amid the worldly strife: May God bless you and your families.

fl

fl

fi

Page 29 fl

29 January 2021

W

elcome to another Song Saturday, in which we look at one of the songs that will feature in Sunday's Together in Worship.

What can anyone say about Amazing Grace that hasn't been said or written before? Personally speaking, I could comment on the way that it was 'sung' at the Presidential Inauguration by that bloke in the cowboy hat. But I won't. I could talk about bagpipes. But I de initely won't do that. I could talk about the fact that every singer on earth has probably brought out a version, but if I did, I would probably want to ask why they never sing the middle verses?

Anyway, let's be positive. I love the word 'Amazing'. When John Newton used it, he was simply reflecting on the amazement that he felt because God had saved him, and that from now on even the word 'grace' was an amazing, sweet sound in his ears. He wasn't the irst to use the word. Charles Wesley had used it 40 years before when he wrote Amazing love! How can it be, that thou my God shouldst die for me?'

Another favourite song of mine, written 126 years after Amazing Grace is Charles Gabriel's I Stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, And wonder how he could love me, A sinner condemned, unclean?

So, the word has a good pedigree.

Do you ever feel amazed by the grace of God? Charles Spurgeon the great Victorian Baptist preacher once wrote: 'While others are congratulating themselves, I have to sit humbly at the foot of the cross and marvel that I'm saved at all.’ The depth of grace should surprise us; it should occasionally stop us in our tracks and, as we look back on our life, should make us feel amazed.

In 'And Can It Be', Wesley wrote another line that expresses a similar sentiment to Spurgeon’s: 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me!’ Can I be naughty and suggest that if I were to text that second line to a modern reader it might say, 'For, OMG, it found out me!'?

Such is the realisation of this 'amazing grace' it must surely stop us in our tracks sometimes and make us wonder. John Newton was a slave trader. He had engaged in that wicked and inhumane traf icking of humans that today, had he had a statue in his honour, it would no doubt have been toppled into a river somewhere by protestors. Would those potential protestors, were they to have done that, have been amazed by the grace that saved John Newton, who because of it all, described himself as 'a wretch'?

The amazing thing about grace is that it washes the penitent heart completely clean. Whatever we have done, whatever we have been, whether it's known to others or whether it's a hidden secret, it can all be forgiven and in the words of Newton, we can have our fears relieved. If he can do it for him, he can do it for us. For you.

John Newton's testimony includes these words: “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”

And in his inal years he wrote: "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour."

Here is the version of Amazing Grace we will use tomorrow: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

Was blind, but now I see.

Refrain: My chains are gone; I've been set free My God, my Saviour has ransomed me.

And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, amazing grace The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved, How precious did that grace appear The hour I irst believed.

We hope you'll join us tomorrow for Together in Worship from 10am. God bless you.

f

f

f

f

Page 30 f

30 January 2021

Index of Bible Verses - January 2021 Exodus 15 v 11

9th

2 Chronicles 15 v 5

23rd

Psalm 4 v 8 Psalm 59 v 17 Psalm 46 v 10 Psalm 71 v 14 Psalm 139 v 12

12th 2nd 7th 27th 8th

Ecclesiastes 3 v 1

22nd

Isaiah 1 v 18 Isaiah 26 v 3 Isaiah 60 v 1 3

11th 18th 6th

Matthew 10 v 8 Matthew 19 v 14

14th 29th

Mark 1 v 22 Mark 4 v 40

30th 13th

Luke 24 v 15

4th

John 8 v 36 John 10 v 27 John 17 v 17

16th 5th 15th

Acts 2 v 17

28th

Romans 8 v 25

20th

1 Corinthians 2 v 2

1st

Philippians 1 v 3 Philippians 4 v 7

25th 26th

1 Timothy 2 v 1

21st

Hebrews 11 v 1

19th

-

Page 31

O

riginally from Blackpool and Bristol, Majors Antony and Fiona Mugford, with 32 years experience as Salvation Army O cers, have served mainly as Corps O cers (church leaders), but also have experience of working in homeless services and in elderly care. Fiona is also a quali ed sta nurse working in hospice care in Newcastle and Stockton, and in 2019 Antony completed a Masters Degree in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies.

They have three adult sons and have been Corps O cers here in Guisborough since July 2014.

Guisborough

G

uisborough is a market town with a cobbled high street, Westgate, on the northern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors with a population of about 18,000.

The Salvation Army commenced initially in 1879 but the Corps (church) was o cially opened in May 1880 by Captain Martha Malthouse.

Since when the Corps has served the town of Guisborough and the surrounding area with Christian worship, outreach and compassion.

ffi

ffi

ffi

ff

fi

Page 32 ffi

Biography