Quotes from the media

NEW TOOLKIT EQUIPS CHURCHES IN WALES TO TACKLE COST OF LIVING CRISIS

The Bishop of Llandaff has launched a new toolkit to assist churches through the cost of living crisis.

It gives practical information about setting up food banks [and] community pantries and tackling period poverty, as well as advice on how to speak out to influence real change.

It aims to resource churches in the diocese of Llandaff to support people in urgent need and to use their influence to fight for justice.

It is hoped that churches will feel inspired to get involved in community organising, campaigning, and advocacy to bring about change that lifts people out of poverty and hunger.

Bishop of Llandaff June Osborne said: ‘I am deeply concerned about the cost of living crisis, which is having a devastating impact on our most vulnerable people. The rise of food prices and other essential items is pushing more people into poverty. Families are facing a stark choice between heating their home or feeding their children’…

According to a 2020 report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, almost a quarter of people in Wales already live in poverty and the Welsh government states that up to 45 per cent of households experience fuel poverty.

Premier

COVID SHRINE BURNS TO HELP PEOPLE ‘HEAL’

A wooden temple built as a memorial for victims of the pandemic has been burnt to the ground in a ceremony to ‘help people heal’.

The 65ft-high structure, called Sanctuary, was designed by the artist David Best and built in the Miners’ Welfare Park in Bedworth, Warwickshire. Members of the public were invited to leave messages in the memorial...

It was set alight as thousands of people gathered to watch…

The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Sanctuary…

Asked what the burning would symbolise, he [said]: ‘It’s a symbol of our prayers and hopes ascending to God. And I think there is a beautiful picture of all that is held in people’s hearts. It’s not being destroyed, but is going up.’

The Times

CHURCH OF SCOTLAND APOLOGISES FOR ITS ROLE IN CAPTURING AND TORTURING ‘WITCHES’

The Church of Scotland has apologised for its part in the persecution and execution of thousands of people, mainly women, who were accused of being witches hundreds of years ago… [The] Rev Professor Susan Hardman Moore, principal of the Church’s New College, said the kirk needed to apologise for ‘feeding the witchcraft fury’ in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

She [said]… ‘Apologising for historic wrongs can be a step towards reconciling with those who are alienated from the Church now by what the Church has done in the past’…

Earlier this year, the first minister issued a similar apology on behalf of the Scottish government.

Daily Record

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TO SET UP HOUSING ASSOCIATION TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOMES

Plans are under way to set up a Church of England housing association to provide social housing on church-owned land across the dioceses.

In February of last year, the Archbishops’ Commission on Housing published its report, Coming Home, which described as ‘a national scandal’ the fact that eight million people in England live in overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable homes. [In May] members of the commission, church commissioners and other leaders met online to review progress on the recommendations in the report, which included using some of the 200,000 acres of land owned by the church for social and environmental benefit.

The Archbishop of Canterbury told the meeting that a radical approach was needed. ‘The housing crisis is getting worse rather than better because of high levels of inflation and very rapidly rising levels of poverty, with incomes rising far below the level of inflation and the likelihood of recession… If you are building a more just society, housing is one of the main building blocks.’

Church Times

SALVATIONIST SALVATIONIST

salvationist.org.uk/media/magazine Issue No 1862

EDITOR EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts

MANAGINGEDITOR MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford

EDITORIALASSISTANTS EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, George Tanton, Lyn Woods, Major Margaret Bovey

ARTDIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden

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Published weekly by The Salvation Army and printed on paper from sustainable sources by CKN Print, Northampton. © The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. ISSN 2516-5909.

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DARING TO CARE

AT the recent conference of the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), Managing Director Trevor Caffull spoke about Su Lawrence, who manages the Shanklin charity shop on the Isle of Wight. She had contacted him with a question: ‘When somebody on benefits can’t afford smart clothes for a job interview, can I help?’ Trevor discussed the matter with some senior colleagues, and one of them remembered that at last year’s conference they’d heard about the donation centre in Braintree, where the manager, Liz Gunn, received a request to furnish a flat for someone who had been homeless. ‘Can you help?’ she was asked. And Liz answered, ‘Course we can!’ Trevor said that SATCoL couldn’t really write rules about these kinds of situations: ‘We just need to do the right thing. We are The Salvation Army, and we should be there to help.’

This week’s Salvationist includes a report of the SATCoL conference, where the theme, Dare to Care, reflected those two managers’ responses. ‘Care’ is also an acronym for the revised version of SATCoL’s values: compassion, accountability, respect and equality. As well as hearing about the development of the business, delegates were introduced to aspects of Salvation Army work, which SATCoL supports financially. In his address to the conference the territorial commander stressed that SATCoL does not just help fund the Army’s work but is an integral part of its mission. He urged delegates to live up to the values represented by the word ‘care’.

Daring to care also characterises the ministry of Lieutenants Shawn and Victoria Moye, the corps officers at Harwich, who are involved in a wellbeing lounge in partnership with other churches in the town. When they arrived as newly commissioned officers three years ago they encountered people with mental health problems arising from unemployment, social deprivation, isolation and other difficulties. The lounge was set up in response, to care for people in the community. It is a place for them to meet and take part in various activities, including prayer sessions. ‘We’re using our love of God to love others,’ says Shawn.

The Copper Beech Community Hub is a place that offers care to people in Bramley, Leeds. One person who has been helped is Alison Pannell, who talks to Harriet Whitehead about her experiences. She found friendship and a place to express her faith, then began assisting with activities at the hub. The article focuses on the way she uses her artistic talents for the benefit of others who attend.

This week’s Bible study, by Major Carl Huggins, encourages us to ‘take a reality check’ when it comes to our ‘inner world’. That means asking if our relationship with God is reflected in our actions towards others. ‘Properly motivated worship’ helps us overcome our own spiritual struggles, he says, and enables us to care for other people, joining God in his mission of ‘rebuilding and restoring broken lives’.

Although caring involves practical help and support for people, it begins with the heart. That’s clear from the parable of the good Samaritan. Before the Samaritan stopped to help the injured man ‘he felt compassion for him’ (Luke 10:33 New English Translation) – and that compassion led him to dare to reach over barriers of race, religion and culture. After telling this story, Jesus said, ‘Go and do likewise.’ So, may we care enough to care – and care enough to dare to care.

LIEUT-COLONEL JONATHAN ROBERTS

Editor Salvationist

CONTENTS

Quotes from the media 2

News 4 to 7

Prayer matters 7

News feature 8

Artist’s Last Supper mural goes on display

Army snippets 9

from General John Larsson

News feature 10 and 11

SATCoL delegates encouraged to ‘dare to care’

Feature 12 and 13

A place to belong

by George Tanton

Reflection 14

The miracle of his presence

by Major Alistair Dawson

On my bookshelf 15

Making connections, overcoming injustice

by Lizzy Kitchenside

Bible study 16 and 17

The reality check

by Major Carl Huggins

Through the week with Salvationist

by Lieut-Colonel Ray Oakley

16 and 17

Reflection 18

Praise replaces despair

by Brian Colley

Reflection 18

Strengthening faith

by Major John Waters

Reflection 19

You are the light

by Major Jim Bryden

Read with us 19

Called to Be a Soldier: Chapter 6

New commitments 20

Adverts 21

Announcements 22 and 23

The Salvation Army and me 24

featuring Songster Leader Malcolm Andrews

SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS

Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated

FUNDRAISING MUSIC

Officer steps up to raise funds

WATFORD

CORPS officer Captain Mark Scoulding has stepped up to take on the 30 Tallest Buildings Challenge this month in support of his corps.

Mark has joined people across the territory in raising funds for the Army by climbing the equivalent number of stairs of the tallest buildings in 30 different countries. Mark has recruited members of his community to join in, even approaching local councillors. His daughter has been undertaking a mini version of the challenge, by climbing 30 floors each day. Others taking part in the challenge include Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph.

The money raised by Mark will help the corps provide its Holiday Hunger Recipe Boxes to people in the area facing food poverty.

‘The cost of living crisis will hit our community hard,’ he said. ‘Our friends and partners are helping us to raise funds so that we can meet whatever needs emerge.’

The challenge, which runs until the end of June, can be completed by using stairs at home, a machine in the gym or any other steps available, from shopping centres to workplaces. For more information on the challenge or to register and join in, go to bit.ly/30tallestbuildingschallenge CARDIFF After more than two years of not being able to celebrate Norwegian National Day because of Covid-19 restrictions, the South and Mid Wales Fellowship Band helped people of Norwegian heritage in Cardiff mark the occasion. The band, led by Bandmaster Adrian Browning, provided pre-music and the crowds joined in singing a Norwegian folk song. Unfortunately, weather curtailed the march to the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay, but the band played the Norwegian national anthem as the country’s flag was raised. – RP

COMMUNITY

Bandmaster Adrian Browning and Delyth Jewell receive food donations for Risca Corps food bank from Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths AS/MS

INTERNATIONAL

MUSIC

WOKING The Central South Youth Choir, led by Lieutenant Rob Westwood-Payne, visited the corps to lead worship after a delay of 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Before worship, the songs ‘How Great Is Your Love’, ‘Grace Like a Wave’ and ‘Thine Is the Kingdom’ were presented. Rachael Garnham (Reading Central) led a time of prayer and the congregation were invited to write prayers and stick them to helium-filled balloons, which were sent up to the ceiling. A Bible message by 13-year-old Esther Thompson (High Wycombe) commented on God’s message to Elijah. The day was a blessed one and saw a number of local residents attend for the first time. The enthusiasm of the young people and their leaders was evident and the Holy Spirit’s presence was felt. – MH READING CENTRAL The band sent music and equipment to friends in Ghana and the home corps of Bandsman Opoku OduroMensah and his mother Gladys. They arrived safely and were gratefully received. Pictured are the band and corps officer with the items.

EVENT EVENT

HADLEIGH TEMPLE The over-60s Silver Service Club celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by dressing in their ‘royal’ best, from fascinators to hats and suits. A red carpet was laid out for members to walk on as they approached the hall and a message from Her Majesty to the club was read out. It was a reply to a letter sent from the club congratulating and thanking her for her many years on the throne. A Pearly King provided entertainment and a team of 20 helpers served a cream tea to 140 members. Bunting was hung around the hall, some of which had been crocheted by members of the corps Knit and Natter group. – RB

EVENT

Captains Rodney and Lillian Bean represent Isle of Wight Corps at a Buckingham Palace garden party

ARDROSSAN For the first time in three years, members of adult and family ministry groups across the West Scotland Division met for a Spring Celebration at Seamill Hydro Hotel. The windows looking out across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran inspired Captain Clare Allman (Birmingham Citadel) to choose the theme Room with a View. The 140 guests were encouraged to look back and reflect on times in their lives when God had been faithful, then look forward as they built upon those times with fresh hope and optimism. The afternoon included singing, reflective prayers, vocal items and lots of fun and laughter. A spontaneous retiring collection for this year’s Helping-Hand Appeal raised more than £400. – PB

MUSIC

CRADLEY HEATH Birmingham Citadel Band visited the corps to hold the second in a series of united concerts. The guest for this event was Langley Band. After individual pieces from each band, ranging from Queen to classical music, they united for a finale. The joint bands presented ‘Glorifico Aeternum’, ‘The Triumph of Peace’ and an arrangement of the hymn tune ‘Manchester’ to commemorate five years since the Manchester Arena bombing. – RO PRESENTATION

Divisional Commander Colonel Sylvia Hinton presents a retirement certificate to Rushden corps officer Major Richard Crowe

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