5 minute read
We are The Salvation Army 14 and
PEOPLE
Talking of new life brings me straight to a quote from one of our newest attendees. After meeting our corps sergeant-major selling the papers in the village high street, she shared with him about the recent loss of her husband and trying to make sense of life without him. He encouraged her to attend the midweek fellowship group and Sunday meetings. After just a few months of spending time with people from the corps she commented on the love and care and support she had discovered, saying: ‘I didn’t know people like you even existed.’
I am immensely proud. Despite our corps being small in number, we believe we have got a lot of things right. Our people have been consistently great at serving as volunteers in the shop and programme and at committing to gathering on Sundays again after the disruption that was caused by the pandemic. One of our soldiers has volunteered at the shop for almost 25 years!
PRESENCE
People associated with the corps – its leaders, soldiers, adherents, friends, family and the many volunteers that give their time faithfully each week – ensure a continuing presence of The Salvation Army in the area. They have done so for almost 100 years.
This isn’t just the presence of another church building in an area already
Chris and Sylvia, two of the volunteers in the charity shop
Discussions take place at an Alpha course session
littered with derelict church buildings; this is a group of Christian disciples actively putting their faith into practice as they raise their children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. This is a group of people actively engaging with the needs of people through the provision of school uniforms and food bank vouchers.
We show the presence of God in the caring, compassionate way that we welcome and honour people with learning disabilities as part of our volunteer team. A special moment came when one of our volunteers with Down’s syndrome, Chris, celebrated his birthday on the day of the volunteer Christmas dinner. He received the seat of honour at the table and thanked everybody for coming to his party.
In all our relationships we are fleshing out God’s Kingdom on a daily basis. We pray that this will continue long into the future.
Are you satisfied?
Captain Andrew Manley reminds us that we only will be when we discover, believe and follow Jesus
JOHN 6:25–59
LOTS of people have a ‘bucket list’, derived from the idiom ‘to kick the bucket’ – or, to put it another way, a list of things they would like to do, see or experience before they die. My bucket list includes touring Canada, seeing the northern lights and, in retirement, owning dog kennels.
Why do so many of us have such a list? Is it that we want to satisfy some inner desire to experience events that will make an impression on us?
PAUSE AND REFLECT
What do you have – or what would you have – on your bucket list?
In our study passage, we find Jesus giving a discourse on the ‘bread of life’. On the previous day, he had fed 5,000 people. Today, once again, crowds are pursuing him. They chase after Jesus in boats, crossing Lake Galilee in the process (see v24).
When they find him in Capernaum, Jesus starts by pointing out to his listeners that they are empty – they are constantly in need of satisfying some inner desire.
Referring to the previous day’s events, he says to them: ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill’ (v26).
In our haste to get through the day or week, do we sometimes focus our prayers on the wrong things, hoping they will satisfy us? Here, Jesus reminds us to look to him not only for our basic physical needs but also for our spiritual fulfilment.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
What are some of your physical needs? What are some of your spiritual needs?
Jesus’ listeners try to fathom what he is saying and ask: ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ (v28). I must admit that I can sympathise. At times, I just want to know what exactly is needed – what I have to do. I don’t want to have to work it out or solve a puzzle.
Jesus answers them: ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent’ (v29). He speaks of himself – their Messiah, their Lord, their friend. While his audience is looking for a list of dos and don’ts and actions to take to satisfy their physical need, Jesus instead seeks to address their spiritual requirements – to believe in him and in his redemptive power.
Through the week with Salvationist
– a devotional thought for each day
by Major Melvyn Knott
SUNDAY
Break thou the Bread of Life,/ O Lord, to me,/ As thou didst break the loaves/ Beside the sea;/ Beyond the sacred page/ I seek thee, Lord;/ My spirit pants for thee,/ O living Word! (SASB 802)
MONDAY
(John 6:27)
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we praise you! You are the Bread of Life come down from Heaven that gives life to the world. TUESDAY
Spirit of God, thou art the bread of Heaven/ Come for my need in Jesus Christ the Lord;/ Broken in him whose life was freely given/ In deathless love he only could afford.
(SASB 291)
