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)
