10 minute read
Quotes from the media
FAITH LEADERS ‘HORRIFIED’ BY IMPACT OF NATIONALITY AND BORDERS BILL ON REFUGEES
The Bishop of Dover, the Most Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, and former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, are among the more than 1,000 faith leaders who have signed a letter to the prime minister expressing their horror at the implications of the Nationality and Borders Bill for people seeking asylum in the UK…
The faith leaders warn that this … will create a two-tier system…
‘Criminalising and punishing vulnerable asylum seekers who have little choice but to arrive in the UK through “irregular routes”, when the majority are subsequently able to prove that they have a legitimate basis for their asylum claim, is a disgraceful and dishonourable policy, and should be abandoned…’
They urge the government to recognise the ‘desperation’ driving asylum seekers to the UK, and to keep the values of ‘family life, community service and respect for human dignity’ at the forefront of its policy decisions on refugees…
‘It is a sad fact that in our broken world, forced migration is not a temporary crisis; it is an ongoing reality. While there is still conflict and injustice in the world, there will always be desperate people needing to seek sanctuary from war, persecution and suffering,’ the letter ends.
Christian Today
SALVATIONIST SALVATIONIST
salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist Issue No 1849
EDITOR EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
MANAGINGEDITOR MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford
EDITORIALASSISTANTS EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, Melita Day-Lewis, George Tanton, Major Margaret Bovey
ARTDIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden
GRAPHICDESIGNERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips
PROOFREADER PROOFREADER Chris Horne
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.
CHARITIES HELP LONDON CHURCHES LAUNCH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT CAMPAIGN
Churches in London are partnering with three charities to offer more mental health and isolation support to their communities…
Working with Renew Wellbeing, churches will be empowered to create quiet safe spaces where it’s ‘OK to not be OK’.
The charity Restored will equip churches to understand and challenge domestic abuse and create a safe place for survivors.
The third partner charity, Headstrong … works with churches to support young people around mental health and anxiety.
Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, said: ‘Churches are ideally placed to provide mental health support in their communities, supplementing the work of local services and the NHS.’
Premier
NATIONAL TRUST HUNTS FOR ITS MISSING SAINT IN CHASTLETON HOUSE’S FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
At great expense, the Fathers of the Church in historic Chastleton House have been restored.
The work by the National Trust has exposed a problem, however. One of the saints, which are more than 400 years old, has gone missing.
The trust has launched a search for St Ambrose, last seen at the Jacobean house in 1919. As yet there is no clue as to what happened to the painting by an unknown artist working in the early 17th century.
The best lead the trust has is the Flemish engraving on which the painting was based…
Research is continuing in the records of auction houses at the British Library and archives in Oxford.
The Times
POPE DECRIES WAR IN SURPRISE VISIT TO RUSSIAN EMBASSY
The Pope has made a remarkable intervention in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pope Francis visited the Russian embassy … in Rome on Friday morning to express his concerns about the war directly with country officials…
At his General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope called on the faithful to join in a day of prayer and fasting for the war...
He decried the invasion and called on ‘those with political responsibility to examine their consciences seriously before God, who is the God of peace and not of war’.
In a message posted to the Pope’s Twitter [account] in both English and Russian, he … condemned war as a ‘failure’.
‘Every war leaves our world worse than it was before,’ he said.
Christian Today
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HOPE AND LAMENT
AMONG the many reports coming from the Ukraine-Russia conflict in the past couple of weeks were two that gave moving insights into the faith of the people affected by the situation. BBC journalist Clive Myrie ventured out from his bomb shelter in Kyiv to visit St Sophia Cathedral. He introduced the report by referring to the millions of people in the city ‘seeking shelter and refuge as the air raid sirens ring out’ and said: ‘Many seek solace in the Church, with their faith a rock upon which they’ve built a defiance and a will to win this war.’ He attended a prayer service for peace and afterwards interviewed a military chaplain and Ukraine’s interior minister. What came through strongly was their hope in God.
Another BBC news report featured Marina, a refugee in Moldova who had fled Ukraine with her 12-year-old son. She had worked in a coal mine in the Donbas region in the east, but when fighting broke out in 2014 she moved to the southwestern city of Odessa. Then, when bombs started falling there two weeks ago, she and her son went to Moldova. With tears in her eyes, Marina said: ‘If only God would help us and give us peace, everyone could live a normal life. But now everyone in the world is trembling.’
Hope and lament – two very different responses to the crisis, but both expressions of faith in God. We see them in the psalms, many of which express praise and confidence in God, while others lament the psalmist’s dire situation and often include a complaint to God. Psalm 13, for example, begins: ‘How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?’ (vv1 and 2).
Lament on behalf of people adversely affected on both sides in the current crisis is a legitimate response. Soon after the outbreak of Covid-19, Tom Wright wrote God and the Pandemic, in which he said: ‘When we are caught up in awful circumstances … we are to lament, we are to complain, we are to state the case, and leave it with God.’ It is right to express our feelings of outrage and sorrow to God. That sincerity and openness is an aspect of our faith relationship with him.
Although we may begin with lament, we needn’t end there. In Psalm 13, as in other psalms of lament, there is a significant turning point: ‘But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me’ (vv5 and 6). No explanation is given for this change of mood. The most likely reason is that the psalmist has committed the matter to God and realises that, whatever happens and however he feels, God is with him, holding him securely. His circumstances have not changed but he sees beyond them to the faithfulness of God.
As we continue to pray for people in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries, including Russia – and when we face our own distressing situations – let’s not be afraid to tell God how we really feel. He is big enough to take it. But let’s remember, as the psalmist did, to also trust in God’s unfailing love.
From the editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
CONTENTS
Quotes from the media 2
News 4 and 5
Prayer matters 5
News feature 6
The Salvation Army responds to Russia and Ukraine crisis
Reflection 7
A word for our time
by Captain Alison Hutchings
Viewpoint 8
Learning to live with compassion
by Bandmaster Adrian Lyons
Reflection 9
What’s your attitude?
by Major Alistair Dawson
Viewpoint 10 and 11
Practising withness
by Jo Taylor
News feature 12 and 13
TYB and TYC students relish making music in person
Fundraising 14
Kiltwalk 2022
Preview 14
How Not to Be Afraid by Gareth Higgins
Reflection 15
What a privilege!
by Major Paul Robinson
Bible study 16 and 17
Apest: Evangelists
by Bethany Munn
Through the week with Salvationist
by Major Melvyn Knott
16 and 17
Reflection 18
Having our sins forgiven
by Brian Colley
Reflection 18
Grace for our weaknesses
by Major John Waters
New commitments 19
Adverts 20 and 21
Announcements 22 and 23
The Salvation Army and me 24
featuring Richard Boryer
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
Editor's note: Events reported were held in accordance with the Army’s Covid-19 safety guidance at the time.
EMERGENCY AID
Army offers support during Storm Eunice aftermath
UK
THE Salvation Army’s emergency response teams, including officers and volunteers, mobilised to offer help in the aftermath of Storm Eunice last month.
Homelessness centres in St Helens, Blackburn, Coventry and London opened up emergency beds for dozens of rough sleepers to help them stay safe and protected.
In Stockport, the Army provided food, drink and emotional support to fire crews, mountain rescue teams and Hazardous Area Response Team paramedics.
Major Nigel Tansley, Emergency Response Team co-ordinator for the North West Division, said: ‘We served around 60 emergency responders who were primed and ready to act due to the flood risk.’
The Army also distributed hot drinks, sandwiches, bacon rolls and hot dogs to people living in more than 60 homes in the village of Botesdale, Suffolk, where a tree crashed through a power line and left residents without electricity for three days.
Territorial Emergency Response Officer Adrian Clee commented: ‘Our role during major incidents is vital in supporting emergency services and communities. We also offer a listening ear, which can be essential when emergency responders are dealing with often difficult and developing situations.’ – AR PRESENTATION
WOKING Ruth Barker transferred to the songster reserve after more than 60 years of service. Ruth received flowers and a bird table for her garden. The meeting was attended by members of her family, and corps officer Major David House compared being admitted to the songster reserve to being a ‘substitute in a football team’. Ruth is pictured with Songster Leader Jo Cox. – MH
ARMY NEWS
Army issues new uniform minute
UKI
SALVATION Army uniform has adapted down the years as clothing styles in society have changed and the practicalities of the mission have developed. In response to this and the significant decline in demand for formal jackets (tunics), and as part of the territory’s ongoing commitment to being a good steward of all its resources, a new minute concerning uniform will come into effect on 1 May.
The summer uniform / white shirted uniform will be acceptable throughout the year for officers and soldiers and the wearing of a formal uniform with jacket will be a personal or, if participating in music sections, a corps decision. For officers, jackets will be required at ceremonial and other formal occasions, such as funerals and weddings, and external occasions, such as Remembrance Sunday, civic functions and ecumenical formal occasions. Headwear remains optional.
Formal jackets will continue to be available from Salvationist Publishing and Supplies as ‘made to order’. SP&S does not anticipate any disruption to lead times or purchase price.
The new approach to uniform wearing outlined in the minute is intended to keep Salvationists visible, relevant and able to be good stewards of the Army’s resources as they seek to love God and love others. – AR MUSIC
Members of the Music Man Project at Boston Corps show off their new instruments
MUSIC
PLYMOUTH The Devon and Cornwall Divisional Mission Band held an all-day open band practice, led by Director of Music and Creative Arts Stephen Cobb. About 60 musicians from corps, town and contesting bands across the counties played through traditional and contemporary arrangements. The band exists to provide opportunities for any musician to join in fellowship and support the Army’s mission within the division. Some musicians with no regular church attendance have joined the band and begun to attend and support corps across the division. – JS
