13 minute read
Quotes from the media
FAITH GROUPS WERE SIDELINED AT COP26, SAYS BISHOP OF NORWICH
The bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham Usher, has criticised the government for its lack of engagement with faith groups at the COP26 climate summit and urged it to make climate change a priority over the coming year.
Bishop Usher, who is the lead bishop on the environment ... said ... ‘There was a powerful sense of solidarity across the faith groups and denominations at COP26. All faith traditions value the sanctity of creation, and before the summit many of us met at the Vatican to present our call to COP26 President Alok Sharma, where there was probably 85 per cent of the world’s population represented.
Bishop Usher applauded the efforts of Mr Sharma, however. He said: ‘I want to praise the commitment of Alok Sharma and his team, who have worked incredibly hard. The UK has the presidency of the COP for the next 12 months, and I would like to see them making use of this in the lead up to COP27 in Egypt.’
Church Times
NI SCHOOLS TEACHING TOO MUCH CHRISTIANITY, HIGH COURT HEARS
Schools in Northern Ireland are teaching too much Christianity as part of religious education, the high court has heard.
The law requiring faith-based Christian religious education (RE) and collective worship in schools in Northern Ireland has been challenged by a non-religious family in Belfast...
The core syllabus for RE in Northern Ireland ... covers the revelation of God, the Christian Church and (Christian) morality.
While a world religions section has been introduced for pupils aged 11 to 14 and schools are permitted to teach material outside of the core syllabus, it’s argued many schools teach from a weighted Christian perspective.
Premier
ELIMINATE POVERTY TO FIGHT CHILD LABOUR, SAYS POPE
Extreme poverty, the lack of employment that can support a family and desperation are the major drivers of exploitative child labour, Pope Francis said.
‘If we want to stamp out the scourge of child labour, we must work together to eradicate poverty [and] to correct the distortions in the current economic system, which concentrates wealth in the hands of a few,’ he said ... during a meeting with people taking part in an international conference on Eradicating Child Labour, Building a Better Future.
‘We must combine our efforts to promote quality education that is free for everyone in every country, as well as a healthcare system that is equally accessible to everyone,’ he added.
The Tablet
‘TRUTH IS UNDER ATTACK,’ BBC CHIEF TELLS CHURCH SERVICE
Truth is under attack like never before, BBC director general Tim Davie told a special church service in London, attended by the Duchess of Cornwall.
Speaking at the annual commemorative service for journalists, held at St Bride’s, Fleet Street – the journalists’ church – Davie said: ‘In the disinformation age, truth is under assault like never before. Those who stand up for it most strongly have never been more targeted’...
Davie explained: ‘We know that the physical risks faced by journalists no longer come solely from the front line. Reporters all around the world face escalating dangers, increasing levels of harassment and ever more subtle modes of intimidation’...
Davie told the service ... that journalists share key beliefs ‘that truth is the foundation of democracy, that power must be held to account, that those who abuse that power must be exposed, and those who are the victims of that abuse must be given a voice’.
Christian Today
SALVATIONIST
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TELLING THE STORY
THE singer-songwriter Adele has just released her latest album, 30. A large proportion of people buying it will do so through an audio streaming service such as Spotify, listening to it via the internet rather than buying a CD. However, one feature of streaming services annoys Adele – the shuffle option, which plays album tracks randomly. She asked Spotify to hide that feature so that people can listen to 30 in the right order. And Spotify did. Adele later tweeted: ‘We don’t create albums with so much care and thought into our track listing for no reason. Our art tells a story and our stories should be listened to as we intended. Thank you Spotify for listening.’ In response Spotify tweeted: ‘Anything for you.’
Whether it’s a novel or an album, following a story in the correct order makes sense of it. Seeing how characters and their experiences develop, putting events in context and building up to the part where everything falls into place helps us enjoy a story. It’s always best to resist the temptation to read the last chapter first!
When it comes to the Christian story, there is also a sequence to follow. The big story is of creation, fall and redemption leading to ‘a new Heaven and a new Earth’ (Revelation 21:1). Within that are many other narratives that add detail to the big story. One of those is Advent. In the second of their seasonal reflections Ron Thomlinson and the Rev James Macfarlane consider the significance of the Advent narratives. Although these are familiar to most of us, they can come fresh each year, says James. That happens not only by reading them in the right order, but also by digging deeper into their meaning.
The meaning of the story of Advent is lost on many people because commercialism has obscured it, says Jeff Morton in his viewpoint article. ‘The message that God is with us has been buried and lost among the tinsel, gifts and music,’ he says. He takes a closer look at some of the details of the Nativity story.
Major Nigel Bovey helps us explore the deeper meaning of Advent in his Bible study on the opening verses of John’s Gospel. Unlike Matthew and Luke, John doesn’t tell the story of the first Christmas but, instead, reflects on its significance by referring back to the opening chapter of the big story: the creation of the universe. In that context Jesus is seen as the one who brings life and light into the world.
The Christian story is not just what we read in the Bible. It continues to be written, and we all contribute to it through the words we speak and actions we take in bringing something of Heaven to Earth. This week’s Salvationist includes many examples of that. For instance, in another of our features on chaplaincy, we learn about the ministry of Army airport chaplains. Whether in brief encounters with passengers or ongoing support for staff members, they live out the faith story.
As we read and reflect on the familiar Advent story again this year, may we gain new and deeper insights – for our own sakes and so that others might make sense of the story of Jesus and become part of it themselves.
From the editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
Quotes from the media 2
News 4 to 7
Prayer matters 7
Advent reflection 8
A familiar story
by Ron Thomlinson and the Rev James Macfarlane
Army snippets 9
by General John Larsson (Retired)
Feature 10 and 11
Seeking justice
by Captain Marion Rouffet
Feature 12 to 14
Where faith takes flight
by Shanelle Manderson
Viewpoint 15
Unwrapping the Incarnation
by Jeff Morton
Bible study 16 and 17
The reason for the season
by Major Nigel Bovey
Through the week with Salvationist 16 and 17
by Lieut-Colonel Ray Oakley
Retired officers Christmas greetings 18 and 19
New commitments 20
Adverts 21 and 23
Announcements 22
Quiz 24
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Scripture quotations in Salvationist are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
INTERNATIONAL
World leaders join 30th anniversary celebrations
RUSSIA
GENERAL Brian Peddle and World President of Women’s Ministries Com missioner Rosalie Peddle were guest leaders as The Salvation Army celebrated the 30th anniversary of work restarting in Russia after the fall of the Communist regime.
Officers, soldiers, friends and volunteers were delighted to have the opportunity to get together and celebrate the anniversary of The Salvation Army returning to Russia. The international leaders remained in London and shared online.
A large-screen meeting space allowed the General and Commissioner Rosalie to present their Bible messages and words of encouragement. Every day, reports from the congress were shared online and through social networks, meaning that people across Russia and farther afield could keep up to date.
After officers councils, a concert was held to glorify God for his care during the past 30 years. There were times of reminiscence but also a focus on present needs and consideration of where The Salvation Army might raise its flag in the future.
The next day was devoted to the development of the Army’s mission in Russia. Three meetings focused on themes from the General’s Call to Mission and resonated with those present.
At the Sunday morning meeting, Commissioner Rosalie shared a heartfelt testimony. She called on her listeners to put their hopes only in the Lord, who will always be with them.
The General called on people to be in tune with the word of God, ready for any changes and open to the Holy Spirit. Times change, he admitted, and the way that things happen in the world may become hard to understand, but constant communication with God, prayers and service will advance the mission of The Salvation Army in Russia and around the world.
Some people responded by taking their prayers to the mercy seat and others shared testimonies about God’s work in their lives. – AR REMEMBRANCE
Cirencester Band provides music for the service of remembrance at the Royal Agricultural University; corps leader Territorial Envoy Kim Whyard led the wreath-laying ceremony
BIRTHDAY 30
years of ministry in Russia
SEE PAGE 4
3,000
poppies knitted and crocheted
SEE PAGE 6
ROMFORD The friendship club met to commemorate Armistice Day and celebrate the birthday of 103-year-old member Rose Marler, who was born the day after the First World War ended. The meeting, conducted by club chairman Tom Hoyles, commenced with ‘Abide with Me’ and Rose reading Ode of Remembrance from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen. A two-minute silence was preceded by the Last Post and followed by the Reveille, sounded by Bandsman John Sawyer, who brought the meeting to a close with a prayer. Birthday entertainment was provided by Ralph Berkley and Carl Pulman, who presented a programme of popular singalong songs. – RG
REMEMBRANCE
REMEMBRANCE
Bill Taylor, 92, leads a time of remembrance at Herne Bay Corps, helping people to consider what it would be like to live in true peace
Ramsgate Corps presents a display for Remembrance Sunday arranged by members Nicole and Heather
GOSPORT Veterans who are members of the corps, including Helen Outteridge (not pictured), took part in a remembrance service, with ex-Royal Marine Reg Plowman laying a poppy wreath on the holiness table. Pictured are Sue Colson, John Coard, Derick Warren, Bob Edgar, Paul Attrell, Reg, Mike Rowsell and Francis Plowman. – KS ST ALBANS Corps member Alison Perry was asked to sound the Last Post on Remembrance Sunday at the BT Centre on Newgate Street. She is pictured at the memorial alongside two wreath-layers who were there on behalf of the Royal Corps of Signals – one a veteran of the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers, the other a piper with London Irish Rifles. – BH
FELIXSTOWE Celebration and reflection were the themes of an evening of Music for Remembrance by the band. As well as attracting a sizeable congregation, which included many visitors from the community, the event was live-streamed. The programme included classic marches and variations based on John Bunyan’s hymn ‘He Who Would Valiant Be’. The simple chorus arrangement of ‘Whisper a Prayer’ introduced a time for meditation and an act of remembrance. After a performance of ‘Under Two Flags’, those present moved into the virtual Red Shield Club in the community hall to share fellowship and refreshments. On Remembrance Sunday, the band provided music at the civic wreath-laying ceremony on the seafront. This was followed by an open-air meeting in the town centre to remind shoppers of the day’s significance. – DA
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REMEMBRANCE
Ipswich Citadel Band takes part in the annual civic remembrance service
REMEMBRANCE
Ex-Royal Marine John Hopkins, a new attendee at St Mary Cray, blesses the corps by sounding the Last Post on a harmonica STAPLE HILL Working with a local councillor, the Royal British Legion and other interested parties, The Salvation Army was asked to lead the community service of remembrance. The band headed up a parade that included veterans, cubs, scouts, guides, armed service personnel and cadets, and corps officer Major Colin Hylton-Jones conducted the service. In the evening, the band and songsters took part in a festival of remembrance at the hall. Almost all the pre-booked seats were filled. The evening reminded the congregation that everyone has a personal responsibility to maintain peace. – VW
PRESENTATION
Divisional leaders Majors Ian and Jean Harris visit Yeovil to lead the retirement meeting of Major Paul Hardy after 34 years’ service CARDIFF CANTON The ladies fellowship was inspired by an online presentation of the knitted Bible project from War r ington Corps. A small idea to knit a few poppies soon led to a full project under the banner ‘Lest we forget’, with the initial aim of generating 1,000 poppies. Several months later more than 3,000 poppies had been knitted and crocheted by corps members, neighbours and friends from across the country. The team worked together to present a cascade of poppies from the cross and a rainbow of hope for the future during a meeting led by Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main and Territorial Secretary for Leader Development Colonel Jenine Main. During the week sur rounding Armistice Day the cascade of poppies was moved to the foyer, where it was on display to the public. The project has had a positive impact, with many connections made and relationships built with businesses and schools. – AW
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