First Sunday in Advent - Hope

Many thought that John the Baptist would fulfil Israel’s hope of a Messiah.  Expectations for a better future were high when they saw and heard him. He seemed to fit the image well of the kind of person people would follow.  Hundreds came to see and hear him and he was asked frequently by religious leaders if he was indeed the expected one who would bring new hope to a hopeless world

However, he was quick to tell them that he was not the Messiah but one sent to prepare for his imminent arrival, adding that everyone was to get themselves sorted out for his coming.  He called people to repent and used baptism as a symbol of that repentance. This would have come as an initial shock to a Jew, as this was the means by which a Gentile was converted to Judaism.  Nevertheless many people from varied backgrounds responded to the Baptist’s simple but clear call 

When Jesus, the true Messiah arrived, John pointed to him, declaring that here was ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’.  It is worth noting that of all the descriptions that could be given to the Messiah, John speaks of the Lamb of God

As we journey through Advent we can listen well to the Messiah Lord as our Teacher, follow closely as our Example, offer allegiance as our King and serve him well as our Master, but never let us lose sight of him as the willing Sacrifice who is the Saviour for a hopeless world — a message we need to know and share in whatever way we can this Christmas

 Read John 1:29-34
 

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?

Whole Life Discipleship

For the majority of Christians most of their time is spent away from church or from church activities and the big challenge for them is how they live out their Christian lifestyle in a non-christian environment.   An even more relevant challenge is the issue of what their church is doing to help their members be faithful stewards and effective missionaries away from church environs.

For the past year in West Scotland Division of The Salvation Army, efforts have been made to work with around ten corps to address this very issue and the results, in the main, have been truly encouraging.  Small group work has provided opportunity for participants to see the potential for intentional learning and intentional practice in the matter of Christian discipleship

Objectives

The objectives of the training are clearly defined:

• Train Christians in Whole Life Discipleship

• Challenge Christians to influence others in Whole Life Discipleship

• Provide Christians with on-going discipleship support

• Equip Christians for meaningful ministry

• Work towards creating Whole Life Discipleship congregations

Whole Life Discipleship does not offer a quick-fix solution but it does offer a focus, and explores the implications of that focus for individual Christians and for our churches

Delivery of Study

The material used to date has been sourced from the LICC, The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and the sessions have been designed to help participants to discover their frontline and to be fruitful there for the Kingdom.  Participants are able to take serious steps to make small degree shifts in their personal spiritual developments as well as grasping opportunities to speak to non-Christians on their frontline.  An additional benefit is that of encouraging accountability in the group and this helps people to hold to their discipleship intentions. 

Story Telling

At the start of each monthly meeting there is opportunity to share stories of the spiritual journey individuals have been on.  These fellowships have proved powerful with many participants speaking of finding a new confidence in speaking to others about their faith.  A couple of corps are now implementing the TTT (This Time Tomorrow) slot in meetings where members speak on Sunday morning of what they will be doing on Monday morning.  This not only allows people to share their story as it affects their working life but allows others to pray for specific matters that the speaker highlights for prayer. 

Study Setting

The regular meetings tend to be on a weeknight every two weeks or once a month. However there are a variety of different settings according to the local programme.  These have included a Sunday afternoon or evening in place of a normal meeting or on a weekday afternoon with retired members or others not at work on that day.  Other alternatives include Quarterly Saturday or Sunday Seminars or Retreats. 

Measured Outcomes

It is envisaged that corps undertaking this process will continue to hold Discipleship Accountability Groups on a monthly or fortnightly basis following the initial teaching and so work towards being a Whole Life Discipleship Church.  In addition to the material provided by the LICC there is good teaching material  available from alternative sources which will allow groups to keep up the momentum of this kind of support.  It is hoped that the leadership of such groups will be local people who could well develop into spiritual directors for their fellowship. 

Imagine:

 Being part of a sending church

 Being equipped for ministry

 Being accountable as a Christian

 Being a catalyst for change

 

For details on available material from DHQ contact Major David Burns at West Scotland Division, david.burns@salvationarmy.org.uk

For advice and/or delivery of teaching contact Bob McIntyre, robert.mcintyre@salvationarmy.org.uk
 

Bob McIntyre

Divisional Support Officer

 

Employability in Ayrshire through George Steven Centre, Kilbirnie

 

 

 

This year has seen an exciting twist in our already established programme.  We have begun to widen our sights, hopes and dreams within the Training and Employability field to promote further partnership working with our local community and to offer a new innovative range of learning opportunities for our service users.

 

Over the past year, we have gone from strength to strength in our already established training placements.  We currently have 9 service users and 2 volunteers training in our purpose build community café which is attached to the George Steven Centre.  The café known as The Blend In Café gives real life training experiences to adults with learning disabilities.  The service users work through their person centred care plans to achieve their chosen outcomes. The dedicated staff are on hand to provide guidance, build bespoke training plans and offer support where required.  The café is a busy place with both a sit-in and take-away service.  Trainees therefore are able to immerse themselves within a busy lifelong learning environment which will equip them with every skill necessary to work in a café.

 

We also continue to work in partnership with The Salvation Army charity shops in Irvine, Kilwinning and Largs.  We have three service users training within this type of work.  This is a successful venture which also encourages independent travel to the locations in question.  Service users are learning the skills associated with the retail industry.  

 

We have a Domestic skills training programme running also.  Service Users are able to gather valuable transferable skills in which to use within their daily lives and own tenancies.

 

Through various funding streams, we have been blessed with some much needed cash which will aid us to expand our Training and Employability opportunities for Adults with Learning Disabilities.  From summer 2014, we are aiming to work with other charities and social enterprises in our local community and to create realistic, meaningful and fun training/work placements for the people in which we serve.

 

Watch this space!

Waiting with anticipation...

With All Scotland Youth Councils just a few days away, I cannot help but look back at my own experiences of various Youth Councils.

For many, Youth Councils and Summer School, hold a special place in our hearts for many reasons. Each event holding a particular memory which we will always treasure. I, myself, am such a person who has had great experiences, of fun and fellowship but also a transforming experience of God in my life through these events. I have so far been to four Youth Councils and two Summer Schools.

When I was a young teen growing up in a corps where I was the only young person, weekends such as these were an anchor in my fragile, young faith. My first two experiences exposed me to the wider 'army' of young people and was a great way of being able to connect with others my age, and see that I wasn't alone after all. It was reassuring to know there were others searching for their belief not just me.

Personally, East Scotland Divisional Youth Councils in 2011, was the greatest weekend of my life. I was only a couple months into my university life, in a new city, very much looking to experience all that life could offer for me. I received an invitation to attend the councils and I couldn't refuse for some reason (believe me, I thought I had better things I could be doing) so I decided I would go.
 
I thank God I decided to go, it was a weekend full of fun and fellowship but it was more than that, it was a weekend that transformed my life! Through fellowship with other young people, through worship and the word, God opened my eyes to the meaning of the weekend’s theme - "Worship 24/7". That weekend I properly accepted Jesus as my Saviour and I was able to accept him as Lord. I understood that following him is more than just a Sunday thing but a daily life of walking with him.

I thank God that since then I have been able to walk with him daily, through the difficult days but also the great days, where I have walked closer and closer with him.

And so as I look forward to what I know will be another fantastic weekend,  I simply "wait upon the Lord".

It is my prayer that all who gather, from the East, West and North will have a weekend they won't forget. I look forward to the creative costumes on the Saturday night party. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones. I look forward to the fun and laughter which will be had in bucket loads!

But most importantly, I look forward to another encounter with God, I do enjoy daily fellowship with God but these weekends always offer up something special. It is my prayer that all who attend will feel the presence of God throughout the weekend. I pray for our leaders and the word that is being prepared.

I pray that I would be refreshed, challenged and inspired by God. But my deepest desire, which I bring before God, is that for those who don't know him yet. I pray that, like mine was, young people's lives would be transformed with the knowledge of God. And for us who walk with him already, may we be renewed in our relationship with him.

So let us wait in great anticipation...

"...but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

 Andrew Howe

Introducing ...

Major Brian Slinn and Major Liv Raegivik-Slinn, Divisional Leaders of North Scotalnd

 

Having been a corps officer for 33 out of my 37 years, only interrupted by an appointment at William Booth College for 4 years, taking responsibility for a Division and North Scotland Division particularly, present quite a change in ministry and ministry besides a completely different work life pattern. From a congregation of 300+ people in Bromley, who lived within a very few miles of each other, our constituency now consists of something over double that number scattered over 56% of Scotland’s land mass and including three islands. That involves a lot of travelling and also means we are out of the office and frequently staying overnight in those places distanced from our base in Aberdeen.

North Scotland Division presents with predominantly small corps and the majority of officers relatively new to ministry supported by Territorial Envoys. Having served on the Training College it is good to see the ‘finished product’ and how well our Lieutenants engage with the challenges of ministry and mission today, equally having helped train TE’s it is good to see how effective they are in their leadership. It is also remarkable to see the impact the Army makes in the local community far beyond the numerical strength of each corps or centre. It seems a cliché I know, but it becomes obvious that with more officers and more resources the possibilities are there to do so much more. The static view from previous corps leadership gave no real insight to all this but has come with this appointment and the opportunity to see and participate in the lives of the officers and corps as they engage with mission where they are.

For us there is something of a return to our earlier days in ministry when leading worship did not have the support of musical sections or local officers. We have been spoiled for many years in having resources which have enhanced worship for us. Now Major Liv and I sometimes have to be the North Scotland Staff Songsters and Liv’s guitar proves to be invaluable. Communication becomes different. Preaching in the grand style has to adapt to the conversational or invite more participation. Not everywhere of course, but in many places. Leadership itself becomes different. Encouraging and helping the corps leaders in their leadership replaces the hands on leadership of being the corps officer, and allowing them to make their decisions and work things out is important. I confess to a little paternalism and wanting things to be easier and better for them when I see the obstacles that sometimes come their way. It is not always the best thing to ‘make it better,’ leaders have to be grown and part of that is the learning which comes from experience. It is not always easy to allow that process. Equally for the corps and centres, transitioning ministry and mission into a Post Modern and Post Christian world is not always easy and the very concepts are not always understood, water from the old wells always seems sweeter.

For us, the comfortable and familiar have given way to new challenges and our skills have to be applied in different ways. There are frustrations. The mechanics of the job are not always easily understood and information not always easily available. It has been hard to find a Sabbath and distance from family limits our contact, especially since I do not fly – not in this life at least. We are sorry about that.

Transition and change always bring their challenges. The constant is of course an unchanging God. This part of the journey in North Scotland is part of a rich experience in ministry thus far. We embrace it all in a spirit of privilege and opportunity.

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?