12 minute read
Quotes from the media
The government’s response to Ukrainian refugees has been criticised as ‘completely inadequate’ by leading British theologian Dr Anna Rowlands, who said it was still broadly configured towards a ‘policy of deterrence’ rather than ‘a fulsome enacting of the principles of international law’…
She said the treatment of Ukrainians fleeing conflict was ‘still within the kind of mindset of the “hostile environment” policy’ aimed at deterring immigrants from seeking out the UK as a desirable place to go…
Rowlands, who is a Refugee Hosts’ co-investigator and has worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in the UK, said she was also worried that there was a transfer on to civil society of some of the responsibilities of the state.
The Tablet
ANNUAL FIGURES REVEAL EFFECT OF LOCKDOWN ON CATHEDRALS
The effect of the [Covid-19] pandemic on cathedrals in England has been revealed as annual figures showed a 64 per cent drop for in-person worshippers in 2020, when the country spent months in lockdown and cathedrals and churches were closed.
Most cathedrals adapted quickly to move services online and, although emergency government funding helped cathedrals to survive their catastrophic loss in income, it is still today a ‘challenging environment’ for most, the Dean of Leicester, the Very Rev David Monteith, warned, particularly as cathedrals now face huge rises in energy bills…
Church Times
BISHOP’S BILL ADDRESSING GAMBLING-RELATED SUICIDE PASSES THROUGH HOUSE OF LORDS
A bill addressing suicide as a result of detrimental gambling habits has been passed through the House of Lords.
The bill was inspired by Jackie Smith, a young man who lost his life to gambling habits. [The Right] Rev Alan Smith stated that information and treatment of problem gambling had been ‘woefully inadequate’…
Public Health England has stated that the number of gambling-related suicides reaches around 409 people a year…
The parliamentary undersecretary of state, Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, said: ‘The NHS longterm plan commits to expanding the geographical coverage of NHS services for people with serious gambling problems.’
Premier
CHURCH JUDGE TO RULE ON PLAQUE CELEBRATING DORSET SLAVER JOHN GORDON
A memorial in a Dorset church praising a plantation owner for suppressing a slave rebellion is the next ‘contested heritage’ case to be dealt with by an ecclesiastical judge.
The chancellor of the diocese of Salisbury is to rule on whether to remove a large marble plaque to John Gordon, which heralds him for quashing an uprising in Jamaica…
The plaque, at St Peter’s Church, Dorchester, documents Gordon’s role in brutally stopping an uprising known as Tacky’s War, or Tacky’s Rebellion, in 1760 in Jamaica, then a British colony…
In 2020 the parochial church council voted to cover the text while applying for the removal of the memorial. They rejected an option to let it remain permanently with the text covered… If removed, it could go to Dorset Museum which said it was ‘in discussions about storing it on a loan basis’.
The Times
SALVATIONIST
salvationarmy.org.uk/salvationist Issue No 1853
EDITOR Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
MANAGING EDITOR Ivan Radford
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Simon Hope, Melita Day-Lewis, George Tanton, Major Margaret Bovey
ART DIRECTOR Hannah Holden
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Mark Knight, Louise Phillips
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.
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The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. FOUNDER William Booth
GENERAL Brian Peddle
TERRITORIAL COMMANDER
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY
Major Mal Davies
TERRITORIAL HEADQUARTERS
101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN 0845 634 0101
VALUING PEOPLE
WHEN I was a teenager I spent a couple of weeks one summer working with some fellow scouts in a store room at Luton and Dunstable hospital. The hospital kept old x-ray films there and we had been asked to help by removing them from their envelopes and placing them in a skip for recycling. Apparently there was a thin silver coating that could be recovered and reused. I was reminded of this when I heard that the Royal Mint is building a processing plant to recover gold from the circuit boards of discarded electrical devices such as mobile phones and laptops. The plant, which is due to open in south Wales next year, is expected to recover hundreds of kilograms of gold every year. The Royal Mint will use it to make commemorative coins and gold bars. It goes to show that something of value is sometimes found in unexpected places – it can easily be overlooked but can also be reclaimed.
Last week’s Salvationist included a report on the Homelessness Services Conference where the theme was Diamonds, and the ideas of ‘discovering, refining and honing’ were related to the work of supporting people. This week, Service Manager George Hockings describes the work at Witham Lodge Lifehouse in Skegness and how it values and transforms people’s lives. He gives the examples of Jonathan and Paul. Their lives fell apart in different ways, leaving them homeless. But with the Army’s support they began to rebuild and now live independently, working and playing an important part in the life of the town.
A four-page pull-out section from the Personnel Service focuses on the ‘Valuing People’ framework, described as ‘a guide to helping us love God and love others’. Sadly, we can sometimes be so focused on helping the people we serve that we forget to value and support those we serve alongside. This framework reminds us that the Army should be ‘a movement where everyone feels valued and where everyone can contribute to the mission, whether they are employees, members, officers or volunteers’.
In a ‘Reflection’ to mark the start of Holy Week, Lieutenant Nazia Yousaf looks at an incident on Palm Sunday when Jesus cleared the Temple of merchants and moneychangers. They were devaluing people by extortionate practices and by ‘spoiling their ability to meet God and worship him’. Lieutenant Nazia asks us to consider whether any of our actions might be devaluing people by preventing them from finding God.
Clare Falvey provides a Holy Week meditation based on poems by Commissioner Albert Mingay. They focus on the cross of Jesus and movingly explore the love that led him there to reclaim and renew us, as well as the response it calls us to make. The redeeming love of God is also highlighted in the Bible study by Lieut-Colonel Edgar Chagas and a meditation by Major Alistair Dawson.
We are all precious to God – made in his image and, despite our sins and shortcomings, loved and valued by him. As we move towards Good Friday and Easter Day, may the wonder of that love revealed in Jesus stir our hearts and minds.
I am amazed when I think of God’s love, So wonderful, matchless and free; The love that could see, from eternity, Something worth saving in sinners like me. (SASB 170)
From the editor Lieut-Colonel Jonathan Roberts
CONTENTS
Quotes from the media 2
News 4 to 7
Prayer matters 7
We are The Salvation Army 8 and 9
We are transforming lives
says Service Manager George Hockings
Reflection 10 and 11
How clean is your temple?
by Lieutenant Nazia Yousaf
Reflection
Every day with Jesus
by Major Alistair Dawson
Valuing people 13 to 16
Viewpoint
God is patient
by Major Howard Webber
Meditation
Towards the cross
by Clare Falvey
18 and 19
Bible study 20 and 21 Look on the one they have pierced!
by Lieut-Colonel Edgar Chagas
Through the week with Salvationist 20 and 21
by Major Sheila Smith
Fundraising
Poetry corner
Announcements
New commitments 25
Adverts 26 and 27
The Salvation Army and me 28
featuring Lieutenant Loretta Garman
FRONT-PAGE QUOTE
The verse is from the 21st Century King James Version.
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version (2011), unless otherwise stated
MUSIC
INTERNATIONAL
A joyful welcome for international leaders
LIBERIA
GENERAL Brian Peddle and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Rosalie Peddle arrived to a warm welcome from a congregation of more than 300 Salvationists, students and teachers. The Rev M Emmanuel Nimely, religious adviser in the office of the president of Liberia, welcomed the General and other guests on behalf of the government.
The world leaders were joyfully received by the Reflectors of Holiness session of cadets as well as members of staff at command headquarters and the training college before visiting the capital building and office of the vice president of Liberia, Her Excellency Chief Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor.
An indoor programme at Paynesville began with a traditional Liberian welcome from the students at Len Millar High School before a visit to William Booth Clinic, which is situated among the slum communities of the red-light district.
The rooftop hall of command headquarters hosted officers councils and welcome meetings, with 87 active and 6 retired officers in attendance. Thirty officers rededicated their lives at the altar in response to God’s call to ministry.
Saturday involved rallies at the Ministerial Complex of Liberia with men’s and women’s meetings held simultaneously. An afternoon youth rally preceded a traditional festival of praise in the evening that featured performances from a variety of groups. Almost 2,000 Salvationists attended the three events.
Celebrations concluded on Sunday with a march of witness and a holiness meeting. Hundreds of Salvationists and students paraded through the streets of Monrovia led by the command band. The united holiness meeting saw more than 2,500 people in attendance, including the world leaders and Her Excellency Chief Dr Jewel Howard-Taylor. She thanked The Salvation Army for contributing to the education of the young people of Liberia, providing health services in the country and helping to deepen the spiritual growth of the people. The international leaders enrolled 17 junior soldiers and 147 senior soldiers, and 115 people answered the General’s altar call. – DM
Salvationist wants to hear your news
Corps press representatives can email salvationist@salvationarmy.org.uk. Good quality pictures will be included. CIRENCESTER The songster leaders organised a Big Sing for anyone who wished to spend a Saturday afternoon singing and enjoying tea and cake. Those gathered spanned a 70-year age range and music games were arranged for the young children, who also made their own instruments. – MG
OUTREACH
TWICKENHAM St Mary’s University student Kate stood in the town centre with corps officers Lieutenants Emily and Joel Watson to raise funds for local mission. The streets filled with people as England hosted Ireland in the Six Nations Rugby Championship and spirits were high. The trio were grateful to soak up the buzzing atmosphere, chat with people and be a presence in the community. – EW
MUSIC EVENT
Band community supports Ukraine crisis appeal
BOSCOMBE
THE band and a fellowship of former and retired band members and others joined together for a concert in aid of the Army’s Ukraine crisis appeal.
Bandmaster Howard Evans and local officers reached out to bring together more than 50 musicians for the event. The group, titled Boscombe BandCom, presented a varied programme, opening with the march ‘Able’, before William Himes’ arrangement of ‘Stand Up and Bless the Lord’ allowed the congregation’s voices to be heard.
Ray Bowes’ arrangement of ‘Jesus Loves Me!’ preceded ‘Songs of the Morning’, and ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ played by Band Sergeant Craig Snell led into an appeal, during which the congregation joined to sing ‘Peace in Our Time, O Lord’. This was followed by ‘Be Glorified’.
Bandsman Lieut-Colonel John PearceHaydon received a certificate of retirement from corps officer Major David Alton. The band then played Lieut-Colonel John’s chosen piece, ‘Divine Communion’, and he conducted his favourite tune, ‘Leoni’.
The evening concluded with ‘Glorifico Aeternum’ before corps officer Major Jane Alton pronounced the benediction.
Without any prior announcement of a proposed collection, the concert raised £830 on the night, with further donations resulting in a total of more than £1,000. – RC
PRESENTATION
LIMAVADY As part of the corps anniversary weekend, thanks were given to Eileen Coyle, who has served for 22 years in the corps charity shop, and John Butcher, who has sold the War Cry in the town centre for 11 years. They received certificates from Divisional Mission Enabler Major Paul Wright and Safeguarding Officer Major Jacqueline Wright after a corps meal. – SW EVENT
RISCA Guest Charlie Green led the Spring Festival weekend at the corps. Although some Covid-19 restrictions were still in place, all those who attended the event were blessed by Charlie’s singing and the fellowship that was shared. – JB
New hall opens
BEXLEYHEATH
AFTER 14 years without a permanent home, corps members celebrated the dedication of their new hall and reflected on the truth that a corps is more than bricks and mortar.
‘I think everyone here will understand that the church is never the building,’ said Territorial Commander Commissioner Anthony Cotterill, who led a weekend of celebrations with Territorial Leader for Leader Development Commissioner Gill Cotterill.
In July 2008 the corps moved out of the old hall, which had been its home for 99 years. It was taken in by a nearby Methodist church and, in the years that followed, corps life kept moving forward, with new members enrolled, activities launched and community work making a difference to people in the area.
After the TC cut a ribbon to declare the new building open, he and Commissioner Gill led a service of dedication, which was attended by Sir David Evennett, MP, the mayor of Bexley, Councillor James Hunt, members of the Methodist church and corps folk.
The band played an arrangement of ‘My All Is On the Altar’ before the TC offered a prayer of commitment: ‘As today we dedicate this building again to you, we dedicate ourselves afresh to you.’
The territorial leaders also took part in Sunday activities, with Commissioner Gill visiting the Sunday school in the new building and Commissioner Anthony answering questions on topical issues at a youth café church that is held in one of the town’s pubs. – PH
