Food for thought

Highlighting

the climate change crisis, Salvationist (14 January) asked: ‘What will do you about it?’

Last October, I invited expressions of interest in setting up a Salvation Army ‘plant-based’ network. Our Movement has a history of vegetarianism and with its current focus on caring for creation, I believe many people within the Army will have joined the global trend away from meatcentric diets and will welcome the opportunity to link up with like-minded others. You can join the network by sending your name, dietary preference (optional) and the nature of your involvement with the Army (officer, soldier, adherent, etc) via email to towardsveganism@ gmail.com.

Malcolm Dragon Maltby

the restoration of the dreaded ‘c’ word – commitment –which in many aspects of life has all but vanished from our vocabulary. It is known that she had a love for flowers. Appropriately she was a ‘busy lizzie’ as she continuously committed her life to the majestic and the ordinary. Commitment is an ally of discipline. You cannot have 75 per cent, 25 per cent or 1 per cent, neither does it have constituent parts to be juggled around. I quote from song 622 in the songbook: ‘Lord, with My All I Part.’

Gordon Archer Lurgan

A Multicultural Army

London. Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist, was the producer. The album was hailed by critics as one of the greatest records ever made, but it was a commercial failure. There is a choir on the record that David referred to as an ‘English Salvation Army choir’. Does anyone know which choir he is referring to, or are there any participants who remember those sessions? Please get in touch at mark.brend@btinternet.com

Mark Brend Devon

HOW LONG SHOULD A SERMON BE?

AN interesting discussion took place during the Sunday morning religious affairs programme on BBC Radio 4, prompted by the advice given to members of the Roman Catholic clergy by Pope Francis that sermons should not exceed 10 minutes. Members of the panel suggested that a sermon should have just one ‘nugget’ rather than a number of ‘boulders’. There is an interesting debate in some circles today as to whether a sermon should be a teaching tool or a presentation of scriptural truth designed to create an awareness of our relationship to God. I do wonder, though, how effective the sermon is in its present form – and if any nuggets could be presented bite-sized throughout the meeting.

David Newstead Tamworth

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ALTOS GONE?

I RECENTLY heard the comment that there is a shortage of contralto singers. I have noticed some songster brigades are short on the alto benches. The ISS has balanced parts, but is it harder to recruit altos even there? Is my experience at all typical? If so, can we or should we try to even things up?

Wesley Paxton Lockerbie

Busy Lizzie

LOOKING back at the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the one thing that I would like to come through from her lifetime of service would be

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MY 90th birthday has led me to think back on my life and how views, which I still hold to so strongly, were formed when I was young. I read Trevor Huddleston’s Naught for Your Comfort, which showed the wickedness of the apartheid system operated by the South African government. To me any form of racism became abhorrent, and I did not want anything to do with those who condoned it. I had been brought up in the Army. It became multicultural, and peace was restored to my soul. My corps just now suits me fine. We have folk from Hong Kong, Malaysia, India and African nations worshipping with us. I am so pleased that the leaders of the corps know that, to survive, these good folk need to become involved in all its activities, including the music sections. We give God the glory.

Michael Bennett Reading

WERE YOU THERE?

I AM an author currently researching a biography of the American singer-songwriter David Ackles, to be published in 2024. In 1972, David released an album called American Gothic, which was recorded at IBC studios in

On The Launch Of Salvationist Radio

Your Views

Many years ago General Frederick Coutts said letters for publication in the Army’s press should be ‘carefully thought out, logically presented and charitably expressed’. Letters may be edited and should ideally be no more than 150 words.