News

Territorial leaders celebrate Easter via YouTube

THQ

TERRITORIAL leaders Com missioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill led an online Easter meeting, which has attracted more than 11,000 views.

The meeting opened with a clip of Govan Songsters singing ‘Hallelujah! Jesus Is Alive’. Com - missioner Gill welcomed viewers and invited them to join in the song ‘Christ The Lord Is Risen Today’.

People from across the territory took part: Captain Karen Symonds (Cwm) and Major Chris Connolly (Glasgow airport chaplain) brought Bible readings, and junior soldier Lucy Kerr (Lurgan) and Lieutenant Tony Kakande (Gateshead) offered prayers.

The International Staff Band played ‘He Is Lord’ and the International Staff Songsters brought ‘I’ve Just Seen Jesus’, both with words and images displayed on the screen.

In his Bible message the Territorial Commander asked the viewers to imagine what it must have been like for the early disciples to discover the empty tomb and encounter the risen Jesus. ‘The risen Christ still today invites us first to Calvary where our sins may be washed away,’ he said, ‘but he also draws us into resurrection.’ The power of Jesus’ resurrection ‘enables us to be reflectors of his love and his grace as we offer our lives to him’, he concluded.

The meeting closed with an opportunity for viewers to join in singing ‘Thine Be The Glory’. – JR

The 50-minute meeting is available to watch at youtube.com/user/salvationarmyvideo

NORWAY

Captain Ester Danielsdottir van Gooswilligen (Egersund) has been encouraging households to place teddy bears in their front windows so families can use their exercise time during quarantine to take part in a teddy bear hunt, looking out for the bears as they walk around the neighbourhood. With schools, play schemes, cafés, restaurants and non-essential shops closed, parents having to balance working from home with full-time childcare can often struggle to find ideas that will occupy them. ‘A teddy hunt in the neighbourhood is easy,’ said Captain Ester. ‘It helps with being active and can be a great motivation to go out and do something together… a safe distance from other people.’ Similar teddy bear hunts have also sprung up in other countries. – AR

DUNSTABLE

Corps officers Majors Lindsay and Steve Brevitt continue to publish weekly news and Stay Connected, a home worship resource. These are sent to corps via email or through the post to keep them up to date with news and prayer requests. Senior leaders are also contacting people to identify needs and ensure that they feel healthy and connected in this time of self-isolation. – JB

CIRENCESTER

As the Churches Together open-air service on Good Friday could not take place, corps leader Territorial Envoy Kim Whyard produced an online service with the Rev Canon Graham Morris of St John the Baptist parish church and the Rev Matt Frost of Cirencester Baptist church, which was shared on YouTube. Sunday club leader Corinne Walters kept the YP work going via email and the corps Facebook page, using materials from the Youth and Children’s Ministries Unit, and each participant received an Easter egg on their doorstep. On Easter Day corps members and friends joined an online meeting organised by Territorial Envoy Kim. – MG

SALE

The corps continues to distribute food to people in need or in self-isolation. Individuals or family groups are tending to the community garden to avoid anything going to waste; recently, rhubarb was distributed to those within the fellowship and the community. Children from the corps and community have also been emailing their rainbow pictures to corps officer Major Ann Montgomery to stay connected and share the message of hope with those who pass the hall. – AM

MORRISTON

Making use of the strong corps presence online, corps officers Majors Neville and Yvonne Andrews are uploading Sunday worship meetings weekly. Video conferencing software Zoom has been used for virtual coffee mornings, a quiz night and practices for the songsters, who also receive weekly devotions through email. The young people involved in the Salvation Kid’s Rock project continue to receive music tuition from their leaders through social media while rehearsals are suspended; these have included weekly challenges where video submissions are judged by corps members. The food bank continues to support those in need. – SR

Universal credit will create ‘coronavirus debt crisis’, warns Army

UK

THE Army is calling on the UK government to replace universal credit advance payment loans with grants to avoid thousands plunging into debt after losing their livelihoods due to the coronavirus crisis.

Under the present system, people who apply to receive universal credit have to wait five weeks for their first payment, and the only alternative is to take out an advance payment loan. For many, this bridging loan is almost impossible to pay back as universal credit only covers their basic living costs.

Even before the pandemic, the Army noticed an increase in people using food banks to feed their family so they could pay back universal credit accrued debt. Unless immediate changes are made to move advance payments to a grant system, thousands could face the choice between buying food and repaying their loan.

In recent weeks 70,000 people have applied for advance payment loans and the debt spiral is a particular risk for people with mental health issues who struggle to access universal credit even when the system is not under high demand. More than a million new universal credit claims have been made since the middle of March and that number is expected to rise significantly in the coming months.

Director of Employment Services Rebecca Keating said: ‘The government has made some helpful changes to help people access benefits… but requiring a loan to cover a five-week wait for financial support is the point of critical failure that the government must address. Not only will this add stress for people already struggling with the fallout from the pandemic, but also leave a lasting legacy if too many people are shouldering too much avoidable debt.’ – AR

SUNDERLAND MILLFIELD

Bandmaster Andrew and Louise Maycock wanted to support the NHS and invited the neighbourhood to donate Easter eggs for local hospital staff. Friends from other parts of northeast England also supported and, when the appeal was wound up on Maundy Thursday, more than 600 chocolate eggs had been accumulated. Andrew and Louise are pictured with their three daughters. – RB

SNETTISHAM

Soldier Marianne Fowkes made an Easter garden to remind passers-by of the Easter message of hope. Although the hall is closed, she placed it outside the building during Holy Week and, on Easter Day, rolled back the stone to reveal an empty tomb and folded grave clothes. – AK

A prayer tree outside the hall at Huddersfield allows people to hang requests for prayers from the corps

KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD

Corps officer Major Denise McGarvey has been continuing school ministry despite schools being closed to the majority of pupils. Major Denise has created content for the Edmodo app, which allows teachers to give virtual classes and stay in contact with pupils and parents. – AR

OLDHAM FITTON HILL

Staff and volunteers received a donation to support families and isolated individuals over the Easter holidays during the coronavirus pandemic. This enabled them to give out essential food, some fun activities and care packs that included an Easter egg. More than 170 gifts and parcels were delivered in partnership with the local housing association and health centre. – EB

STRATFORD

The corps and East Ham Project have been continuing work with Bonny Downs Community Association and Skills Enterprise on the NEWday homelessness day centre. The corps continues to support guests remotely and is still helping with universal credit and job applications, housing, food and clothing, as well as offering a pastoral listening ear. Nine people have been helped into housing from the night shelter. – LR

KILMARNOCK

The corps has received food donations from a nearby Morrisons, which will be used to provide emergency food parcels for people in need. Regulars at the popular weekly Soup and Sandwich café are still receiving snacks thanks to deliveries from corps officers Captains Emma and Les Heal and volunteers. On Easter Day Captains Emma and Les visited corps folk. Maintaining social distancing, they shared words of Scripture and prayer from doorsteps. – EF

NORTH WALSHAM

Corps officer Major Richard Durrant has organised for a weekly newsletter to be distributed by email and post for those without internet access. A small band of volunteers has also been delivering Salvationist and groceries to corps folk and members of the community who are in need. All corps members have been encouraged to phone at least three people from the corps every day and pray at noon. – JB

Luncheon club comes home

CLOWNE

THE corps is delivering more than 50 meals each week to some of the most vulnerable residents in the village.

When the weekly luncheon club was suspended to comply with government safety guidance, the parish council asked if meals could continue and be delivered to people who were self-isolating. The council donated a supply of food, which was augmented by donations from local restaurant The Treble Bob and Mecca Bingo.

A small team of Army volunteers cooked the meals and arranged the deliveries. Some volunteers had never been connected to the Army before and others were residents who had once belonged to the Sunday school or brought children to weekly activities.

Over Easter, everyone receiving a meal also received an extra treat thanks to a donation of Easter eggs from the junior school. The corps hopes to continue its luncheon club ministry at least once each week for as long as people need it. – EH

GATESHEAD

Afternoon tea baskets were delivered to members of Birtley’s older people’s Joy group. The members are self-isolating after the planned Easter visit to a tearoom was cancelled, but the baskets lifted spirits and the opportunity for a brief chat was much appreciated. A nearby Aldi also donated more than 400 Easter eggs to the corps, which were distributed to key workers in the town. – AH

FINDOCHTY AND BUCKIE

Corps officers Majors Bruce and Isobel Smith played Easter hymns above Findochty to mark Easter morning. People would normally gather to celebrate the risen Saviour at this spot, and several people listened from their doors. At Buckie, War Cry and Kids Alive! were handed out with food bank deliveries. Copies of War Cry, Salvationist and Kids Alive! were also delivered with ‘The Strange Times’, a newsletter for people linked to the two corps. Both corps live-streamed Sunday worship on Facebook, and provided a special online request service for the musical tots group and Messy Church. – BS

Prayer pointers

Secretary for Spiritual Life Development Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts introduces prayer topics for each day of the week

During these challenging days we are all invited to pause at noon each day to unite in prayer. This specific time will not be possible for everyone but whenever you take time to pray the following prayer subjects are offered, which particularly relate to concerns around the coronavirus pandemic. Different topics will be published each week.

Monday

Medical staff and scientists who are working to create a vaccine to protect us from coronavirus in future years. Thank you, Lord, for their skill and dedication.

Tuesday

Community volunteers who are shopping for food and delivering medication to people who cannot leave their homes. Lord, protect them and bless their service.

Wednesday

People for whom a Salvation Army Lifehouse is home and their support workers. Be near to them and guide them in the daily challenges they face.

Thursday

The residents in older people’s care homes and the staff who continue to care for them in these difficult days. Father God, may they have the physical and spiritual resources they need.

Friday

Those who have been bereaved of loved ones in recent weeks. Lord, bring your comfort and strength to those who grieve.

Saturday

We give thanks today for the beauty of God’s creation and the new life that continues to flourish in gardens, parks and the countryside around us. We pray for all the babies born during these days and for their families. May they find great joy in the precious gift of a child.

Sunday

We pray for corps and centres that are providing opportunities to unite in prayer and worship online and via printed matter. May the joy of Easter continue to be felt and the peace of Christ prevail in our hearts and homes.

This week’s link is to a helpful resource called Virtual Funerals from the United Reformed Church. It contains prayers and readings to use on the day of a funeral for anyone unable to attend a service under the current restrictions. Go to urc.org.uk/information-guides

Stay home if you can, stay safe and keep praying.