NORTON NEWS - January 2022

JANUARY 2022

NORTON NEWS A monthly

newsletter for Norton Corps

A MESSAGE FROM GILL Happy New Year! to be! after

And what a wonderful year it is going

You might think I'm being a little too optimistic, all,

Omicron

is

expecting a cold winter.

spreading

rapidly

and

we're

But it is not optimism I have.

Rather, I have hope!

Hope

is

what

we're

focussing

on

in

our

worship

January, as we explore what holiness means.

this

In Jesus

Christ we have a living hope that overcomes darkness, the darkness that says we can never be holy.

Him, we can and will 'be holy, because I [God] am holy' (1 Peter 1:16).

Brian

Johnson

and

Phil

WORSHIP ......4 CONNECT......6 EXPLORE ......8

But if we have

Jesus living in our hearts, and we seek relationship with

Songwriters

WHAT'S IN THE NEWS

Wickham

penned

words that talk about exactly that: How great the chasm that lay between us.

CREATE ......10 CARE ..........14 WHAT'S ON..16

How high the mountain I could not climb.

In desperation I turned to heaven And spoke your name into the night.

Then through the darkness Your loving kindness Tore through the shadows of my soul.

The work is finished, the end is written.

Jesus Christ, my living hope.

As we enter into this year, let us be full of hope that Christ WILL overcome the darkness, both in our own lives, and in this dark world.

God bless you!

a

h

e m o

f o ll u f ve o l

PAGE 2 - SAFE MISSION

SAFE MISSION KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE It

is

the

responsibility

of

The

Salvation

Army,

locally,

nationally and globally, to ensure that our activities are undertaken

in

the

best

interests

of

all

who

attend.

Therefore, we seek to continue worshipping together, and providing

services

for

the

community

emotional and spiritual wellbeing. must

put

measures

in

place

for

personal,

In order to do this we

to

ensure

of

our

the

physical

wellbeing of those who attend.

We

do

not

want

to

stop

any

activities,

government restrictions force us to do so.

unless

However, we

do want to ensure we follow guidance in order to keep everyone safe.

Therefore, the following procedures will

be implemented:

Windows and doors

will

be

left

open

when

the

building is in use, in order to create a through-draft., so please come dressed appropriately.

Please take a

lateral flow test

hall

are

(these

available

before coming to the

online,

or

via

your

doctor/pharmacy). Please do not attend activities if you or someone in your household test positive.

Please

wear

face coverings

when

in

the

building

(exceptions apply).

social distancing.

Please use the hand sanitiser provided.

Please wipe down surfaces in the toilets after use.

Please maintain

SUNDAY WORSHIP Seats

will

additional

be

placed

further

apart

to

distancing.

Please continue to wear face coverings for For

Brunch Church

whole

body

of

the

in

particular,

hall

to

we

allow

allow

singing.

will

for

for

use

the

additional

distancing. You are permitted to remove face coverings while eating and drinking, but please ensure you replace your face covering when you're finished.

Additional

at the drinks table.

hand sanitiser

will be available

KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE - PAGE 3

TODDLESONG Adults

should

around.

wear

face coverings

when

moving

They are not required when sat playing with

your children.

Please maintain social

distancing.

DIGGING DEEPER For the time being, digging deeper will meet

online

via zoom. This will be at the new time of 2:30pm.

Meeting ID: 743 8077 2481 Passcode: nortonsa

BAND PRACTICE Please wear face coverings when moving around.

Please use bell covers provided.

Please bring a cloth for emptying your spit-valve.

Seats will be placed further apart to allow for greater

distancing.

SONGSTER PRACTICE Please wear face coverings when moving around.

Seats will be placed further apart to allow for greater

distancing.

CORPS COUNCIL / MISSION FOCUS GROUP Please wear face coverings when moving around.

Seats will be placed further apart to allow for greater

distancing.

Please be mindful that, in the current climate, activities are subject to change at short notice. to

keep

you

convenience. understanding.

informed We

thank

of

changes

you

for

We will endeavour at

your

the

earliest

patience

and

PAGE 4 - WORSHIP THE LORD WITH GLADNESS

WORSHIP

Sunday 2nd January, 10:30am. BRUNCH CHURCH. As we join together for worship for the first time in 2022, we begin exploring the Living Hope we find through the resurrection of Jesus; as Christians we have a better hope that anything the world has to offer.

Sunday 9th January, 11am. ALL-AGE WORSHIP. On this Covenant Sunday, The Salvation Army in the

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

United Kingdom and Ireland Territory joins together to

As we join together as

covenant with the Lord.

God's people from

Sunday 16th January, 6pm. EVENING PRAISE.

different Christian

We worship together as God's people, we continue

traditions, we will be

exploring the Living Hope; as part of this living hope,

following this year's

Christians are called to be holy before God—not just as

theme from Matthew 2 where the Magi visit Jesus saying, 'We saw His star in the east...' This year, we will be holding a prayer meeting on

Wednesday 19th January at 7:30pm at Norton Baptist Church, and worshiping

Sunday 23rd January at 6pm at together on

The Salvation Army

We Saw His Star in the East…

consider Being Together: Living in God's Covenant. This is an opportunity to consider your personal commitment to God, renew your Soldier's Covenant, or make a new

individuals but as a church.

Sunday 23rd January, 11am. ALL-AGE WORSHIP. Holiness and an assurance of the living hope will carry you through much suffering, for Christ suffered like you, and it is through him that hope is found.

Sunday 30th January, 12:30pm. CELEBRATION. Join together for a bring-and-share lunch as we worship over food and conversation.

WORSHIP THE LORD WITH GLADNESS - PAGE 5

PRAYER FOCUS For our church may we be 'sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people' (1 Corinthians 1:2)

For our community that God's people will be visible and vocal, sharing the message of

As we look back on our worship in this last year there are

reconciliation.

many things to be grateful for:

For our country

We are back to worshipping together in our building; We

are

worshipping

together

in

different

ways,

appealing to different interests and preferences;

may we come together to stop the spread of the virus; may our

We are giving God the glory in all we do.

leaders make right

There are things, also, to mourn: Some have not returned to worship with us in person since the pandemic hit.

Specific names will come to

reasons.

your mind; some have moved on to other churches,

For our world

others do not feel able to come out, and many have

Come into our world,

other

reasons,

so

I

invite

you

to

pray

for

those

individuals and families; Worship doesn't look how it used to - we do not have the band and songsters every Sunday, and we are only having one service on a Sunday - however, we must remember that all our lives are to be lived in worship to God: we do not have to be at the Army to worship the Lord.

Still, as we begin this new year, we look forward to the opportunity people.

to

continue

worshipping

together

as

God's

We may not know exactly what this will look like

in the coming months, but we can continue to praise God together in different ways. our

decisions for the right

worship

online,

And we continue streaming

reaching

around

150

people

every

week; this is a great opportunity to share the gospel with others

who

worship.

might

not

otherwise

have

opportunity

to

now, Lord Jesus.

PAGE 6 - CONNECT WITH GOD AND WITH OTHERS

THREE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU CONNECT WITH PEOPLE AT CHURCH

CONNECT Deep

down,

I

think

we

all

desire

a

real

form

of

connection. We want someone to know and accept us as we

are.

Even

though

we

have

friends

in

real

life

and

friends online, why would someone look to the church for connection?

Here’s what I know to be true about finding connection through church versus finding connection with friends inreal-life or online…

by The Rocket Company YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD WHEN YOU CONNECT WITH OTHERS AT CHURCH Have you ever sat in a circle with other Christians and shared your life stories?

Or have you ever sat across from

someone over coffee and heard about what God had recently done in his or her life? strengthened. inspired.

I

bet

you

I bet your own faith was

walked

away

encouraged

or

That’s because God designed us to spur each

other on in our faith.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward

love

together,

and

as

good

some

deeds,

are

in

not

the

giving

habit

of

up

meeting

doing,

but

encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).

YOU

LEARN

MORE

ABOUT

YOURSELF

WHEN

YOU

CONNECT WITH OTHERS AT CHURCH There have been so many times in life where I gained insight

into

who

I

was

because

I

allowed

someone

to

speak into my life. I have a mentor who, over the years, has seen things in me—both positive and negative—that I couldn’t see.

When you open yourself up to others, you allow light to shine in some dark places.

Sometimes

we

need

encouragement,

advice,

wisdom,

direction, or a place to confess. God knew that finding connection with other Christians is the avenue for those things.

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).

CONNECT WITH GOD AND WITH OTHERS - PAGE 7

YOU

REALISE

YOU

ARE

NOT

ALONE

WHEN

YOU

CONNECT WITH OTHERS AT CHURCH I

think

the

language

two

are,

most

“Me,

powerful

too.”

I

have

words a

in

small

the

English

group

of

10

women. All of them are mothers, six of them have been

TODDLESONG Mondays at 9am (term-time only), resumes 10th January.

divorced, three of them have felt the sting of adultery, and all of them breathed a sigh of relief as another voice in the circle said, “Me too.”

CAMEO LUNCHES

In week three of meeting together, one of the women

Thursday from 11:30am

confessed that she was having feelings of depression and loneliness. Then she said, “But that knowing I would see other

women

changed

my

on

Wednesday

outlook.”

nights

That’s

in

small

because

group

has

connection

is

powerful. It has the power to pull someone out of the darkness of isolation.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV).

God never intended for us to do life alone. Relationships with other Christians reveal the power of the Holy Spirit in each of us, drawing us together and pulling us towards authentic community.

DECIDE TODAY TO FIND A PLACE TO CONNECT. Maybe that means coming along to an EXPLORE group, or volunteering to help at Toddlesong or CAMEO alongside other people. But here’s another, bonus step…

When you go to church, don’t hide in the back, stare at the Salvationist, then sneak out during the closing prayer (You thought we didn’t notice, didn’t you??)

When you show up, show up! Be fully present. Choose to be curious about the people around you.

One of the greatest catalysts that results in us growing in godliness and maintaining the course is whether or not we have authentic relationships with other people in our lives.

We need other people to push us, pull us, grow with us, and experience God’s love with us.

(weekly), do not resume until 3rd February.

PAGE 8 - EXPLORE GOD'S WORD WITH PASSION AND SPIRIT

As obedient

EXPLORE

children, let

In the first part of this year we will be exploring our values,

yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life

beginning with HOLINESS.

Our weekly Sunday worship

focusses on this theme as we take a look at Peter's first letter, but you may like to take time during this month to explore

God's

Word

with

passion

and

spirit

in

greater

depth.

This excerpt from the IVP New Testament Commentary*

energetic and

covers the themes of obedience and holiness in 1 Peter.

blazing with

Before

digging

into

the

commentary,

check

out

this

passage of Scripture:

holiness.

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who (1 Peter 1:15, The Message)

called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16, NIV) OBEYING OUR HEAVENLY FATHER The practical expression of the new way of life centred on hope,

or

rather

on

the

God

in

whom

we

hope,

is

developed in this section both negatively and positively.

As a kind of heading we have the phrase as obedient children.

Christians are God’s children, who know him as

their Father (1:17).

In the biblical world the characteristic

quality associated with a father was care for his children (Ps 103:13; Mt 7:9-11), and the corresponding characteristic of children was obedience to their father.

Obedience to God signifies negatively that his children will

not

go

on

living

as

they

used

whatever their sinful desires suggest. be

characterised

by

a

pagan

to

do,

moulded

by

The readers used to ignorance

of

God.

Consequently, they did not realise that their desires were evil.

But now as God’s children they have no excuse for

ignorance or for conforming their lives to the pattern of the sinful world.

BECOMING LIKE OUR HEAVENLY FATHER Positively, obedience to God necessitates becoming holy like him.

Whatever the original history of this word, it

came to express the essential character of God himself, summed

up

in

such

terms

as

purity,

righteousness and opposition to evil.

truth,

sincerity,

The holiness of God

himself is both the pattern for holiness and the reason for

EXPLORE GOD'S WORD WITH PASSION AND SPIRIT - PAGE 9

holiness. that

Peter quotes from Leviticus 11:44, a command

God

directed

to

journeyed

to

the

character

as

God’s

the

Promised people

people Land. in

of It

Israel

referred

keeping

his

as

they

to

their

commands.

Holy, therefore, includes the sense of belonging to God, a people marked off and separate from the world by their way of life.

Peter

does

not

feel

compelled

to

justify

command to the members of the church.

applying

this

Although they

are in large part Gentiles, they have come into the people of God.

What was said to Israel in the Old Testament is

now applicable to them.

To be sure, the way in which the

command is to be kept has altered.

In Leviticus, God was

concerned with the ritual of the sacrificial system as well as with ethical requirements. But Peter freshly applies it in accordance with the basic principle of living in a way that is appropriate for God’s people.

us

remember

that

holiness

Tuesdays at 2:30pm (twice a month), via zoom (for the time being), is a chance to explore what the bible says and how we can apply it to

HOLINESS AFFECTS ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS Let

DIGGING DEEPER,

affects

not

our own lives. Everyone is

only

our

welcome.

personal relationship to God but all of our relationships. It

11-Jan, 25-Jan

affects all you do (literally “your conduct”), and Peter is

08-Feb, 22-Feb

greatly interested in this theme (2:12; 3:1, 2, 16; compare with the corresponding verb in 1:17).

Every

other

Peter uses the noun, it is in the context of the public behaviour of Christians.

08-Mar, 22-Mar

time

Peter is concerned that the way

THE CHOSEN,

in which Christians live should testify to their faith in God,

Mondays at 8pm (fourth of

show the character of God and witness to the gospel; the

the month), at our hall, gives

behaviour of Christians should be an incentive for other

us opportunity to share the

people to believe.

television series of the same name, explore the Bible and what it means to be chosen

by God to be His followers.

24-Jan 28-Feb 28-Mar

*reprinted from the Olive Tree Blog (www.olivetree.com/blog)

PAGE 10 - CREATE USING OUR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS

Each month in

CREATE

our worship we

Our creativity needs Jesus. When we answer the 'why' of

have a song that will join us as we explore our theme. In order to assist in learning new music, you can access a recording via our

creativity selfishly, we get into trouble.

God

answer

Christ

it,

our

reframes

creativity—when

creativity

all

he

of

is

our

states

put

But when we let

in

its

right

place.

existence—including

with

elegant

simplicity:

our 'You

shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself' (Luke 10:27).

Christ’s greatest commandment unites our creativity to the source of transcendence that we’re seeking in every piece of art.

In short, it makes our creativity a chorus of God’s

glory and a song sung for the world.

Creativity, like love, is not a selfish act. vertical

and

neighbour.

horizontal

orientation,

It has both a

for

God

and

for

Our creativity is at its best when it lifts our

eyes to transcendence and forces the world to wrestle

Facebook page.

Additionally, the

with its Creator... Your creativity is bigger than you. It exists for God and for others.

For creatives, this means we love our neighbour practically

music is included in the following pages.

in creative ways.

Our lives and creative work are the

coloured glass that the Lord shapes and patterns for the world to see through the other end.

All we have to do is

hand the kaleidoscope to our neighbour. remind

them

that—just

like

the

But we have to

kaleidoscope—the

full

spectrum of their creativity is only seen when held up to

This month, our

the Light.

Loving

song is Living Hope by Phil Wickham and

the

world

also

means

encourage

obedience

to

obedience”

sounds

a

like

we

Christ.

let

our

creativity

“Creativity

contradiction,

Obedience isn’t the opposite of freedom.

but

it’s

for not.

Captivity is.

Obedience is a choice. Captivity isn’t. The problem with submission is not the act itself, but the person to whom

Brian Johnson.

you must submit. Does this one hold the keys to your prison or the keys to a kingdom? This is one of the greatest deceptions

of

our

generation:

that

freedom

is

doing

whatever you want whenever you want, and that it is free of discipline, obedience, and submission. Yet everything we cherish and build our hopes on demands these things.

You don’t find love in marriage without

CREATE USING OUR GOD-GIVEN TALENTS - PAGE 11

can’t find wisdom in this world outside of obedience. Your

BAND PRACTICE

life depends on it, literally. That is why you stop at red

Thursdays at 8pm

deferring to the other’s good. You don’t find joy in your creativity without being disciplined in your craft. And you

lights.

Every

(alternate weeks) into

6-Jan, 20-Jan

But if the gospel informs your creativity, then

3- Feb, 17-Feb

time

captivity.

you

run

from

obedience,

you

run

your creativity will assault this worldview, too.

back

This is real

3-Mar, 17-Mar, 31-Mar

freedom—and the way your creativity serves the world at

Creative freedom, enlivened by the gospel, is not about

SONGSTER PRACTICE

doing whatever you want, but about wanting to do what

Thursdays at 8pm

God made you to do. Which means you have options, but

(alternate weeks)

large.

Your life and creative work become keys to the

prison doors of the world’s lies and idolatry.

you also need the wisdom, discernment, and counsel from God-fearers—not only creatives—to help you assess your gifts and your direction.

13-Jan, 27-Jan 10-Feb, 24-Feb 10-Mar, 24-Mar

If you are truly the Lord’s, then your creativity cannot help but speak his name.

Sometimes it will speak between the

dates subject to change

lines, and other times on the title page.

In the end, follow the Lord’s example. glory

in

general

and

special

creative

He presents his acts.

They

both

declare his glory and demonstrate aspects of his nature— but

he

doesn’t

limit

himself

to

one

genre

or

mode.

Everything he does in his world is for his glory and our good.

This is the model for your creativity, and it should

free you.

Not every creative project has to be a specific

testimony to God’s glory.

Some can be general, others

specific. The rule that should guide your creativity, then, is this: Let everything you create be for God’s glory and the world’s good.

Sing hymns.

Speak propositions.

Write stories.

Sing the

Psalms. Score new songs. Explore human complexities.

But do so in a way that you cannot run fast enough to lay your art at the foot of God’s throne.*

*written by Thomas Terry & Ryan Lister, originally published by The Gospel Coalition

PAGE 14 - CARE FOR COMMUNITY AND FOR CREATION

FAMILY NEWS

CARE WHAT,

A huge WELL DONE to

Joshua on completing

AND

HOW,

WE

BUY

HAS

AN

IMPACT

ON

THE

WORLD AROUND US Money and possessions belong to God and are held in

his junior black belt in

trust by human persons in community. Money and

karate.

possessions must be managed in the practice of justice, that is, for the good of the entire community.

(Walter Brueggemann, Money and Possessions, 2016)

Gill would like to express her thanks for cards, phone calls and well-wishes during her recent ill health. She is generally feeling better, but recognises that recovery may be a slow process. Thank you for

Our spending decisions as consumers have an impact on the world around us.

Are

churches

consumers?

We

may

shy

away

from

that

label, but to enable our worship, serve our neighbours and equip ourselves for the work of God’s kingdom, we spend money, we interact with companies and we take part in the wider economy.

From

the

tea

and

coffee

that

fuels

friendship

and

conversation, to the electricity that lights our buildings for

your continued patience

services

and understanding.

about what to buy, where to buy it from and when to limit

and

community

activities

–

we

make

choices

our buying. What do our purchasing decisions say about Congratulations to

Janet and Anthea who celebrate birthdays this month.

our beliefs and values?

What do we know about the businesses we buy from? We would not deliberately choose to give money to someone who

mistreats

their

workers

or

to

a

company

that

contributes to the destruction of the world’s rainforests, but if we don’t pay attention to our spending, we may be doing just that.

Developing an ethical purchasing policy is a practical step our church can take to connect our spending decisions with the change we want to see in the world. Whether that’s

a

commitment

to

sourcing

Fairtrade

products,

reducing our carbon footprint, or asking companies we buy from to put people and planet first – our actions can make a difference.

Over the coming months, we will be sharing thoughts from the Money Makes Change programme that will help us explore

ethical

purchasing

in

our

church,

and

helping

Christians connect their faith and their finances, for a fairer, more sustainable world.

CARE FOR COMMUNITY AND FOR CREATION - PAGE 15

TAKE ACTION

WHY DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE BUY? In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:12) Our discipleship as Christians is about the whole of our lives. We offer ourselves, our gifts and resources to God, the source of everything. We seek to love God and our neighbours more fully.

Our use of money should not be seen as separate from this. Our spending decisions are not neutral. We relate to

Take some time to look at our church's expenditure. Find out how much your church spends on goods and services each year.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

others through those decisions and it’s possible that the

How does our church’s

choices we make are harming those made in the likeness

spending on goods and

of God.

services compare to

Within local churches, our financial decisions are part of

other areas of

how we participate in God’s mission. We can love others,

expenditure like giving

restore

to those in need?

relationships

and

pursue

justice

by

making

thoughtful decisions with our purchasing, as we do with

How does our giving

our giving.

help us to love and serve

The

need

for

Christians

and

churches

to

make

ethical

considered the

choices with money is greater than ever.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made us increasingly aware of the complexity of supply chains and of our reliance on workers

and

producers

around

the

world.

In

local

communities, we’ve witnessed the impact of low pay and poor

working

conditions.

We’ve

seen

the

best

and

the

worst of how companies can behave.

We

also

face

a

climate

crisis

and

the

loss

of

natural

habitats. What we buy has contributed to that, and we all need to take steps to protect God’s creation.

Matthew 7:12 is clear that in ‘everything’ we do, we should treat others as we would want to be treated.

Our purchasing decisions, rooted in Biblical principles, can be a tool we use to shape a more hopeful, fairer future for everyone.

Collectively, millions around

of

churches pounds.

in

the

UK

Anglican

have

stewardship

cathedrals

alone

over

spend

£50 million a year on goods and services, including

maintenance and restoration work (Ecorys analysis 2021).

Imagine if churches’ spending decisions helped shape a fairer

society

and

protected

others? Have we

creation

for

future

generations. Imagine if churches consistently called on the businesses they buy from to work for the common good.

impact of our spending?

WHAT'S ON

REGULAR ACTIVITIES Sunday Worship (times as advertised) Monday, 9am (weekly) - Toddlesong Tuesday, 2:30pm (fortnightly) - Digging Deeper Thursday, 8pm (weekly) - Music practices

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Sun-9-Jan, 6pm Mission Focus Group

Mon-10-Jan, 9am Toddlesong resumes

Wed-19-Jan, 7:30pm Prayer meeting for

the Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity at Norton Baptist Church

Sun-23-Jan, 6pm Ecumenical service

for the Week of Prayer for

Christian Unity at The Salvation Army

Mon-24-Jan, 7:30pm Corps Council meeting

Thu-3-Feb, 11:30am CAMEO Lunches

resume

Sat-19-Feb, 4pm & 6:30pm Movie Night

The Salvation Army, Woolpit Road, Norton IP31 3LU 01359 231770 | www.salvationarmy.org.uk/norton 07341 571589 | norton@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army is a worldwide Christian Church and a registered charity (No. 214779)