The Poem of Your Life

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Heart & Soul

 Last Sunday afternoon The Salvation Army took part, for the first time, in the Church of Scotland's Heart and Soul Festival. This is an annual event held in Edinburgh during the week of the Church's General Assembly. Thousands of people from all over the country - and further afield - descended on Princes Street Gardens for the event.

Many of the visitors came to our stand, including one from Germany and one from Spain. We gave away 100 copies of the War Cry (our weekly newspaper) and 100 copies of Kids Alive (our weekly children's comic) - and we could have handed out many, many more. We also provided information leaflets about our work in Scotland, handed out the 2014 Annual Review for the SA in the UK and Ireland, and gave away balloons, pens, badges, stickers and sweets. It was a popular stand!

Govan Citadel Band played music at the fountain and by the main stage before marching down the central avenue. All in all we made our presence felt and helped to highlight the part the Army plays on the lives of people and communities up and down Scotland.

At our stand we also gave out quiz sheets to see how much people know about the Army. The questions are below. Have a go and see how you do. We'll put the answers on the blog next week.

THE SALVATION ARMY QUIZ

Heart & Soul 2015

HISTORY

1. Who started The Salvation Army (TSA)?

          William Tell            William Booth                    William Wilberforce

2. In which year did the TSA begin?

          1865                      1870                      1875

3. Where did the SA begin?

          Nottingham             London                              Bristol

4. What was it called before it became The SA?

          The Salvation Mission                The Christian Army        The Christian Mission

5. In which year did The Salvation Army come to Scotland?

          1877                      1879                      1883

TODAY

6. In how many countries is the TSA at work?

          87                         101                        126

7. Which of these countries does the TSA not work in?

          Cameroon                Greenland                Bangladesh

8. Who is the international leader (the General) of the TSA?

          André Cox               Frank Booth             Carol Bailey

9. What is the name of the TSA's weekly newspaper?

          The Good News        The Watchtower       The War Cry

10. What does the TSA call its hostels for homeless people?

          Elevators                 Lifehouses               Arks

11. What does the TSA call its churches?

          Chapels                   Meeting houses        Corps

12. How many churches does the TSA have in Scotland?

          58                          76                          89

3. How many primary schools does the TSA run worldwide?

          985                        1,092                      1,241 

14. How many maternity hospitals does the TSA run worldwide?

          26                          35                          42

15. Where is the TSA's International Social Justice Commission based?

          London                             Geneva                   New York     

Pause for thought

To conclude our posts about Greenock, Lynn the Salvation Army Officer at Greenock brings us a pause for thought.

..Lynn, Salvation Army Officer, Greenock

I have just completed an insurance renewal form that asked me to confirm the value of my most important possessions and those that were to be put on the all-risk category.  It got me thinking about Value and Security

What are  your most valuable possessions – a mobile phone, your TV, your home?

Yet, are not our most valuable things in life often what money cannot buy – friendship, family,  being part of community life at the Salvation Army, the love and respect of those who know us well, the inner satisfaction of a day well lived?

For me personally it is also the real assurance within my heart that through Jesus Christ I have the unfading hope of everlasting life.

No circumstances can take God and His love away from me – they are not at risk! 

If you are a Christian, in Him is security now and forever.

Do you have this “blessed assurance”?

John 1:3 says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ.”  Want to know more? Then contact us.

Gospel Concert

The National Youth Gospel Choir of the Netherlands Salvation Army (J-Unit) is doing a tour of a few corps in Scotland and the Northern division between 3rd May and 8th May.  For further information about them please visit http://www.j-unit.nl.

They will give a gospel praise concert at Edinburgh Gorgie on Sunday 3rd May at 5pm and on Monday 4th May they will be at Perth Corps.

On the Monday in Perth, the choir will give a gospel workshop from 2-5pm which will be followed be tea for anyone who attends and wishes to stay.  The workshop and the tea are FREE OF CHARGE.  The workshop is open to all ages.  In the evening at 7pm the choir will give a concert and admission is £5 on the door.  

This is a great opportunity to meet Salvationists from another territory and to sing/listen to some gospel music.  Those who attend the workshop will have opportunity to perform with the choir in the evening.

He is Risen!

He is not here .... He is Risen!

I will rise

 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint

This verse from Isaiah 40:31 is one of my favourite verses. It gives a powerful image. When you watch an eagle soaring in the sky above it looks fantastic, very powerful, full of majesty and beauty. What it must be like to do that. In these verses we read that we can soar on wings like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not be faint - there is only condition that we must satisfy to enable us to do so - we need to hope in the LORD. This hope is not the kind of wishy-washy hope that it doesnt snow anymore! It is putting everything we are, everything we have, all of our lives in the Lords hands - when we place that kind of hope in the LORD then our strength will be renewed.

As you listen to the song may you know His peace, and may your strength be renewed.

Joy To The World

As we approach the third Sunday in Advent why not listen to Joy to the World.

Christmas Carolling

It must be getting close to Christmas - the Salvation Army Bands are out carolling!

 

 

The East Scotland DHQ Band have been out on Princes Street recently, despite the weather!

 

Big Thanks to Liz, the Manager at Greggs for providing the East Scotland DHQ Band with free hot drinks as the rain and snow comes down on Princes Street.

 

The Band is playing every Wednesday and Friday between 11am & 1 pm leading up to Christmas. They are getting a good response from the shoppers and the money raised will support mission projects throughout the division.

Commissioner Robin Forsyth commented: 'It's great to be linking with the community and partnering with businesses in the area.'

 

 

 

All-Scotland Youth Councils

I'll follow, I'll not turn back.

We always say ‘time flies when you are having fun...’

Time certainly did fly at the All-Scotland Youth Councils; it’s happened and now we are over a week since the Scottish youth of The Salvation Army gathered in one place. So where to begin...

Well the easiest place to start is by saying that it was, as expected to be, an amazing weekend! God never fails to deliver and so I thank God for that! But I also say thanks for the time and effort put in from the Divisional Youth Officers and the forum of young people who helped plan the weekend. And finally a special thank you must go to our host Kathryn from Alove and guest speaker Lt. Mark Cotterill.

The Saturday night theme was, #throwback, a children's party, so as the youth descended upon Perth they came dressed as childhood TV characters or as person/job which they aspired to be when they were older. The costumes didn’t disappoint and there many excellent efforts! The night was fun-filled with the evening split between a Ceilidh and party games. The Ceilidh band, ‘Flung aboot’, were on top form and provided excellent music. The childrens party games were a real treat, nothing like a good round of pass the parcel!

And so, as quick as a flash, Sunday was here. The main reason for the weekend was to spend time with God. The day was filled with worship to our amazing God and we were helped by the worship group put together especially for that day. We were also treated to some drama items which were helpful in tying in with the day’s theme – I will follow.

One particular highlight for me was the time given for testimony. A group of the youth, from all divisions and ages spoke about what God was doing in their lives. It was encouraging and inspiring to hear young Christians testifying to the work of God in their life. It was a blessing to hear about difficult circumstances but learning to trust in the Lord, knowing that he doesn’t give up on you. And hearing how things are going great just now and being able to ‘delight in the Lord’.

Another excellent focus on the day was time spent praying, so we were able to pray for those who gave their testimony, praying for ourselves and for our Divisional Youth Officers. It was a beautiful scene as the youth gathered around their Divisional Youth Officers and surrounded them in prayer, asking God to bless them and equip them in their ministry.

It was also great to have the Candidates Unit with us over the weekend, and time was given for us to hear from two, Scottish, first-year cadets. We were encouraged to think about how we could be hero’s.

After fitting all this in to our two meetings, twice we were blessed and challenged by the opening of God’s word. Our guest speaker, Lt. Mark Cotterill, spoke with great passion about following Jesus and discipleship. In the Morning we looked at Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 9, at the account of Jesus calling the tax collector Matthew. We were challenged that God invites every single person imaginable to follow him. God is constantly inviting us on to the stage of life.

In the afternoon we looked at the question ‘What should a follower look like?’ Mark brought to our attention some thoughts about compassion, humility, patience and living gracefully. We were also challenged that we are to be good news to people. He urged us to consider the words of John Wallis that there has to be a consistency between the message and the messenger.

Time was then given, aptly, in both sessions to respond to the word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to do its work. Whilst time was given to respond, my thoughts and response turned towards the songs that we had been singing as part of our worship. The song ‘I’ll Not Turn Back’ was used and also a song called ‘Christ is enough’. These songs, for me, helped to affirm what God was saying to me, and also inspire me on further in my walk.

Christ is enough for me, Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in you, everything I need

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back!

I thank God that I have decided to follow Jesus and by His grace I have all that I need, so for me…there is no turning back! I’ll not turn back whatever it may cost.

These events normally end in worship to our God, lifting the roof with His praise, but the Spirit was still working as our time came to an end. And so we left the Councils in an attitude of response and prayer.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit continues to do the work that needs to be done in the lives of those who gathered for Youth Councils and in particular those who were still kneeling before God.

And Father God I pray that you would raise up this generation to make a difference for you! May they take a stand as they follow you and not turn back!

Christ is enough for me.

Andrew Howe

Christmas Carols

As many of you are no doubt either attending or participating in various carol concerts, carol services or carolling out on the streets,  over the coming weeks, I thought I would share this short extract from the Celebrating Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall recently. I am sure it must be a fabulous concert to attend.

Mary, Did You Know?

A song to start us thinking about Advent and what Christmas really means.

What are your favourite Christmas hymns or songs?

There Is A Hope

I thought I would share with you this weekend my favourite hymn - There is a Hope. As someone who has moved house several times and moved away from where I grew up and family, I never really feel I 'belong' to any particular geographical place. Life is a journey which we are all travelling on, sometimes the road is easier than at other times, at times we can be plunged into a pit and this hymn reminds us of the one who is with us, the one who whispers 'courage' in our ears. He travels this road with us until the day when we can know that we are truly home.  That last line speaks very strongly to me - I hope you like the hymn.

What is your favourite hymn?

It is Well with My Soul

A song for the weekend.




A reinterpretation of an old classic - It is Well with My Soul by Stuart Townend.

What are your thoughts on worship music - do you like modern adaptations of old classics or do you prefer the originals?