S a l v a t i o n A r my W o ki n g
M a r c h / A p ri l 2 01 4
M ARCH/ A PRIL FROM THE C.O’S DESK In this Issue I Can Please Myself
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Comedy Hall
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Prayers (Direct Line)
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Reaching Up/Reaching Out
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Corps Fellowship Evening
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Gardening Tips
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Future Dates
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Crossword
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Sudoko
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Core Groups
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Want to Learn More
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Flower List
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Community Update
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What’s On
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Recipe
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Womens world day of prayer 18 Thank You
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During these next two months, we’ll be looking at two people for whom God had a specific plan, but with two very different responses. We’re looking at the story of Jonah, the man who ran away when God asked him to go to Ninevah; and then the story of Jesus who despite asking for the cup to be taken away, still went through with his Father’s will, for our sakes. Both of these men had a great impact on the world. Both are remembered today, for different reasons, but both made a difference when they followed God’s call. What is God calling you and me to do? I’m not necessarily talking about the big picture stuff (although it’s always good to keep that in check too) but even the day-to-day plans that God has for us. Are you listening to him, or are you doing your best to ignore him? Are you tempted to run away? It is so much easier to plod along with our normal daily routines and tasks rather than make any changes, risking what we know, but is God asking you to do something different? Over the next couple of months my prayer for us all is that we would be stepping out in faith, following God’s leadings, being bold for him and being obedient to him. God bless, Debbie
Tidings
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I Can Please Myself About 30 years ago, a conversation between the CSM and a bandsman went something like this. CSM. "I want you at the open air, as we're short of bandsmen." Bandsman. "I won't be there, I'm busy, and the Army is a voluntary organisation. You don't tell me what to do." Many will agree with the bandsman, but, can we be volunteers, if we believe The Army is raised by God? Are we suggesting our service to God is voluntary? What I think is not important. We must look at Scripture Read Isa 43. This describes the restoration of Israel, as it is Old Testament, you may say that's fine, it only applies to Israel. 1Pe 2:29 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Look at Ex 16:9 to see how the Christian Church is aligned with the Israel chosen by God. Gal 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise. We are actually in a war which is more deadly than we can imagine. Cancer is one of the greatest
scourges of today, but it is nothing compared to SIN. William Booth understood how corrosive and deadly sin is. When asked how he would motivate his officers, he replied. "If I could, I would dangle them over the mouth of hell, then they would see the infinite suffering of those in hell. Many of us pay little attention to hell, perhaps through lack of belief. We are called to be soldiers in the Army of the Lord, and as such we are under His orders. We must remember that we are bought with a price. Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Ro 8:12f Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. You must decide if you are a volunteer or if you are called. 2Co 6:17. 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." Eric
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FREE MONEY Who can resist such an offer?! If you pay tax in the UK, for every £1 you give to The Salvation Army, we can claim 20p back from the government. You may think that doesn't sound a lot, but when you add up all that you give, and add that to everyone else’s giving in the Corps, you will see what a difference it makes. So if any of you currently put cash openly in the offering plate (no matter how small) then why not ask Andy for an envelope. We need to record it as coming from you in order to claim the gift aid, but that requires no extra effort on your part, leave the hard work to us.
Contact Details The Salvation Army Community Church Sythwood, Woking, Surrey. GU21 3BE Tel. 01483 793704 Email: woking@salvationarmy.org.uk
Web site: www.salvationarmy.org.uk/woking Quarters 58 Eastmead, Woking, GU21 3BP,
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Tidings
Comedy Hall D.O.H. (Department of Humour)
Two boys were walking home from Sunday School after hearing a talk about the devil. “What do you think about all this Satan stuff?” asked one boy. “Well, you know how Santa and the tooth fairy turned out, it’s probably just your Dad.” A Junior School pupil was studying facts about the moon. At breakfast time she said, “We are going to have a quiz on ‘The moon’ today”. Her little brother said, “Don’t let her go Mum.” In an R.E. exam a pupil wrote - When Mary heard that she was to be the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta. Another wrote – The people who followed Jesus were called the twelve decibels. A six year old was playing with his toy cars on the bedroom floor when he noticed a thick layer of dust under the bed. Calling for his Mum he said, “You know how the preacher told us we all come from dust and will return to dust? Well there’s someone under my bed and I don’t know whether they’re coming or going.” When the waiter brought the food to the table with his thumb over the steak, the customer complained. The waiter replied, “What! You want it to fall on the floor again?” The new doctor was very popular but the town grump was determined to prove he was nothing special so he complained of a loss of taste. “Ah,” said the Doctor, “You need jar 47”. After a small spoonful the man spat it out and called it disgusting. The doc pronounced him cured. Some time later the grump returned saying he couldn’t remember anything. “Ah,” said the Doctor, “You need jar 47” at which the grump turned and fled. Keep smiling,
Major Laugh
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M a r c h / A p ri l
Direct Line It is now my privilege to be responsible for compiling the corps prayer list. It’s strange actually because I remember first bringing this to the corps well over 20 years ago when corps prayer lists were just starting to be put in place. When we left in 1994, Joy Walrond took over from me and as a corps we must be grateful to those who have kept the prayer list and it’s vital caring ministry going throughout the years. Some changes were initiated in the Jan and Feb issues so the prayer list now has a title – Direct Line and the designations, other than Children’s Ministry, which indicates that we are praying for a child, have been dispensed with so that we are all on a ‘level playing field’ as it were.
Your on-going prayers are requested for those who are ill, unable to get to worship or bereaved. Iris McNally Connie Still Mim Weaver
The next change is to make the prayer list a bi-monthly publication to coincide with the publication of Tidings so those on the mailing list receive a prayer list that covers both months. It is also hoped to include various prayer subjects relevant to the corps and to also remind us of key Christian Prayer Matters festivals etc. is a THQ publication which offers exBlessings tended opportunities to pray for various subjects throughout the Territory. If you Freda would like to receive a copy please order via Audrey Mayes All are welcome to join the Prayer Group as they meet for prayer each Sunday at 10.30am
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Tidings
Reaching Up and Reaching Out Every morning I reach up to thank Jesus that I am still living and that He has given me a new day to smile, to think of promises I have made in the past which I am still able to keep. God our Creator has given me so much, I reach up to Him with thankfulness and praise. Reaching out for me is showing the depth of Gods love to others. The power of the Holy Spirit in my life enables me to do this, He helps and guides me every day. I pray that I may always stay close to Him so that I can be used to help others by sending a letter or a telephone call. Margi Locke.
Psalm 25 v 4 says: "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour." Here, David is asking God for guidance - something we have to do regularly.
God's map book is the Word - the Bible. We reach up to Him through the Word and obey Him (or try to) when He tells us specifically what He would have us do. It is only through reaching up to God, through His book and prayer, we can hope to reach out to others. Jesus said to one of the Pharisees, in Matthew 22 verses 37 & 39, selecting the two most important laws over some 600: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." and "Love your neighbour as yourself." We do not have to look overseas for those in need. They are where we work or go to school, where we live and where we socialise. Rather than worrying about what we should not do, we should concentrate on what we can do to show our love for God and others. Wendy Hardwick
LENT What if your Lent this year was a preparation for a lifetime of big-heartedness? Lent is usually about giving stuff up, but if you don’t fancy that, why not do Lent generously? Go to www.40acts.org.uk to find out more.
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Corps Fellowship Evening About 22 adults and children enjoyed the first Corps Fellowship Evening hosted by Andy and Jane. The theme was a ‘Mexican Evening’, two chillies, various salads and garlic bread plus cookies were on the menu, which were enjoyed by everyone. After we had eaten, Roger got us all thinking with quizzes, the first with questions on Mexico (of course) then a teaser which made us all think, the answers being in the questions. It is planned to hold this event bimonthly, the next one on April 27th at Sue and Ken’s. Come along and enjoy good food, fun and fellowship.
Gardening Tips Get your seed potatoes off to a good start by placing them in the open to start ‘chitting’. Sow broad beans. Cut back dogwood to about 6” from the ground. Plant freesia corms to twice their depth in pots. Plant gladioli in the garden to twice their depth. Plant dahlias in pots. Prune summer fruiting raspberries to just above ground level. Prune the centre of gooseberry bushes and those bending toward the ground.
Apr il/May
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Tidings
FUTURE DATES March Sunday 2nd
11.00am
Sunday 9th
11.00am
Morning Worship Jonah 1: When we run, God chases us. Self Denial Altar Service
Morning Worship Reaching up with repentance; Reaching out with forgiveness. Divisional Celebration: Reading Central at 4.00pm
Sunday 16th
11.00am
Morning Worship Jonah 2: When we pray God hears us.
Sunday 23rd
11.00am
Morning Worship Jonah 3: When we repent, God uses us.
Monday 24th
8.00pm
Corps Council
Sunday 30th
11.00pm
Mothers’ Day
April Sunday 6th
11.00am
Morning Worship Jonah 4: When we sulk, God challenges us.
Saturday 12th Sunday 13th
Good Friday 18th
Hall Spring Clean 11.00am
11.00am
Morning Worship Reaching up with faith; Reaching out with hope. Hebrews 11:1-12 United Church Service Town Sq.
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Sunday 20th
11.00
Saturday 26th
Collecting Day at Town Centre
Sunday 27th
11.00am 6.00pm
Monday 28th
8.00pm
Easter Sunday Isaiah 43:19 See I am doing a new thing. Morning Worship Led by Debbie and Will Corps Fellowship Evening With Sue and Ken PCC with Major Jenine Main
Christmas 2014 What! Christmas already? The CC spent time reviewing the 2013 Christmas carol services and we are about to make plans for this year. We are seeking your feedback and ideas and so if any of you have any strong views about this, please come and speak to Debbie. I look forward to hearing from you.
Household Insurance SAGIC is an insurance company owned and run by The Salvation Army who offer a range of insurance products to the general public. They are currently offering to make a financial donation to the Corps for each person that takes out a household policy with them. If you would like more details please pick up a leaflet.
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Tidings
This page is intentionally blank this time — sorry to anyone hoping to do the crossword!
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March/April
Sudoko Each vertical and horizontal line and each block of 9 squares will each have the letters ‘SaLVATION’ in them. The principle is exactly the same as Sudoko, but letters instead of numbers. L
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Tidings
Denvale Group Meets at Margi’s 2.30pm
March April
Thursday Thursday
6th 3rd
20th 17th
The Nomads Meet at Christine Hearn’s 7.30pm
March April
Thursday Thursday
6th 3rd
20th 17th
The Full Monty Meets for breakfast at various venues 9.00am
March April
Saturday Saturday
1st Fairoaks Airport 12th Toby Carvery Frimley
Calendar Girls Flexible days/times
Contact Rhona 01483 474079 or Margaret 01932 353739
Hearts and Crafts Meets at the Church 7.30pm
March April
Thursday Thursday
13th 10th
27th 24th
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March/April
Want to learn more? Each year The Salvation Army offer a number of training courses to help us all develop in our understanding of God, church and our own spiritual lives. If you are interested in any of the weekends below, please speak to Debbie for more information.
CROSSING THE DIVIDE 28th to 30th March 2014 A conference aimed at finding effective ways to lessen the impact of the ‘sacred secular divide’ on the everyday witness of God’s people. Venue: Kings Park Conference Centre, Northampton
TOGETHER - LIFE 25th to 27th April 2014 This event aims to explore ways in which Corps can more effectively ‘share life’ together. Venue: Kings Park Conference Centre, Northampton
PREPARING TO PREACH 17th to 19th October 2014 A weekend conference that offers training to non-officer personnel who cover meetings within their Corps, home divisions or as part of their work. Venue: Kings Park Conference Centre, Northampton
Tidings
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FLOWER LIST March 2
Connie Still
9
Jan Reed
16
Carol Pearce
23
Richard Brooks
30
Margi Locke
April 6
Alice Stiehler
13
Gwen and Dave Cox
21
Pauline Whiting
27
Audrey and Gill
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Community Services Managers update We always smile at the end of December and say that we are looking forward to a quiet couple of months, which always turns out to be just as busy but without the carols and tinsel and this year is no exception. We have had a few changes in hall hirers, and we are in the middle of changing our cleaning contract for the building too. There is a bit of a gap, but hopefully you won't have noticed too much of a change, Debbie and I are now toilet roll monitors for the time being. By the end of February all should be sorted out. We are fortunate to have such a great building and want it to last for many years and so having the right people caring for it is very important. I have recently shared with the Corps Council how encouraging some of the conversations I have had or heard about in recent months. Over the six years the hall has been open, the emphasis for my role has been to build relationships, amongst the other bits and bobs I do. There are times I have felt that I've not made much progress in that area, when people are popping into the hall once a week for the various groups there is only a small opportunity for conversation. But when I went through my contacts list on my phone and realised how many friends I have made through working
here, I decided to take that a step further and work out how many I had talked to about my faith, that's a bit more tricky. Working in a Church doesn't automatically mean you can bring the conversation round (thankfully really), however I have shared tears, laughter, hugs, prayers, sadness and hope, which is what relationships are about. I know that those of you who read this bit of tidings do exactly the same in the different places that you go to during the week, it feels like a hard slog but I want to encourage you that its worth the long haul and the time invested in building relationships. Still a long way to go but after six years starting to see the progress. What is coming up? Well the Easter Prayer Breakfasts, not literally I hope, but we will be combining the breakfasts with the prayer stations that will be in the main hall for Holy Week. There is going to be a 'Family Fun Day' on the 7th June, which is shaping up to be a great day. The lads will be doing a car wash at this event so make sure you have been through plenty of muddy puddles the week before! (only joking Andrew) There will be posters out for both of these events nearer the time. The coffee shop as always is open Monday - Friday 10am - 12noon it would be lovely to see you. Jan Howlin
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Tidings
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Recipe Chorizo and Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto (Serves 2) Submitted by Jo Graham
Ingredients ½ butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 1cm pieces 50g grated parmesan. 1 tablespoon olive oil Juice of half a lemon 100g cooking chorizo Freshly ground black pepper 1 small onion 600ml hot vegetable stock
Method Preheat the oven to 200c. Toss the butternut squash with the olive oil and season. Place on a tray and roast until soft – around 20-30 mins. Meanwhile, put the chorizo in a pan and fry until it releases its oil and starts to cook. Add the onion and cook until it is soft and chorizo is cooked through. Add the rice and mix well. Add the vegetable stock a ladle at a time, stirring constantly and adding the next ladle when the rice absorbs the liquid. When you have used most of the stock, test the rice to see if it is cooked – you may need slightly more/less liquid. When it is ready, add the roasted butternut squash, parmesan, lemon juice and black pepper. Cover and leave to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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Tidings
Womens World Day of Prayer Women’s World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women who come together to observe a common day of prayer held on the first Friday in March each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service. Through Women’s World Day of Prayer women are encouraged to become aware of their talents and use them in the service of the whole community. The Day of Prayer begins as dawn breaks over the islands of Tonga in the Pacific and continues across each continent until the last Services of this special day are held back in the Pacific on the islands of Samoa, circling the world in prayer for about 36 hours. Each year the service is prepared by a different country and the selected country and its people, becomes the focus of the World’s prayers on the day itself. ‘Streams in the Desert’, the service for 2014 has been prepared by the Egyptian Women’s
World Day of Prayer committee and was written at a time of great hope, just after the Arab Spring. Over the months we have watched the country as it has experienced many twists and turns in its on-going journey. So, on Friday 7 March, Christians from over 170 countries and islands will unite together in praise, worship and prayer. Women’s World Day includes Christian women from Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox and Free church. For many years now two services have been held in Woking and although we all lead busy lives it would be great if there could be a representation from our corps/church at either of the services. The service is not just for women – men, women and children are all welcome to attend, so do take a look at your schedule for that day and join with us if you are able. Freda
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Friday 7 March 2014 Morning Service 10.00 am
Evening Service 8.00
pm
Christ Church Jubilee Square, Woking Woking
St Dunstans Church Shaftesbury Road,
Speaker
Speaker
The Very Revd Dianna Gwilliams
Mrs Wendy Beard
Dean of Guildford
Learning and Development Officer for the Methodist Church, London District
Refreshments will be served after both services Creche available during Morning Service
Thank You Robyn and Linley and their families and I have been greatly appreciative of the fact that so many took time to write, phone and send cards following Bill’s Promotion to Glory. I have been greatly touched by so many who have taken time to acknowledge Bill’s life in that way. I thank you for doing so. Obviously I miss Bill very much, and after being married for 55 years (it would have been 56 this year), life is very different and at times very difficult. I thank God that I am not alone in these difficult days. I thank God too, for gifting me with Bill.
As you know Bill was always very confident in Christ and I take for myself, the confidence that Christ gives: “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship . . . no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life . . . will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39. Again I thank you for your kindness. May God bless you abundantly. Shirlee
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Tidings
We will be pleased to receive contributions for the next issue of “Tidings” from either members of our Corps Fellowship at Woking or from any who receive a copy through the post. Please send all contributions to:
Mrs Gill Gregory 38 Hermitage Woods Crescent St Johns, Woking GU21 8UE e-mail: gillandcedge@yahoo.co.uk or e-mail: peterfstickland@gmail.com
Please note The cut off date for the next issue of “Tidings” is
Sunday April 13th 2014