a Number of our church attended the London South East Divisional Adult Ministries Celebration in Tunbridge Wells. The church contributed £500 to the helping hand scheme for this year.

The Youth Band in Action

A lot has happened since we last blogged - sorry for the lack of comments! Our Friendship Club have enjoyed an afternoon tea party out at a members house. Captain Ian led Harvest at Burgess Hill Corps on the 19th, and Captain Susan led the meeting at Horsham. Our officers were at Hillingdon Corps on the 26th, and Lieutenant Nicola led our meeting.

Of course throughout this period we have been engaging in our annual appeal, and it looks like well over £8000 has been collected this year, which is amazing. More information will follow.

Harvest Celebrations were led by the London South East Divisional Youth Band, and we had a great weekend with them. They led a festival on the Saturday evening, and then two meetings on the Sunday. Between them over 80 enjoyed a Harvest Roast together. We were of course very grateful for the support throughout the weekend by so many different people and June Belcher decorated the hall so beautifully. June set a challenge to the children to create animals out of fruit and vegetables and this proved very popular.

Captain Susan spoke on Sunday 10th October, whilst Captain Ian was at Caterham and Lieutenant Nicola away. Our new group, Reflections, shared a couple of songs, and the youth matters group, led by Kate Gregory led the meeting.

Lots of people shared together in SAFE AND SOUND, a course which helps explore our policy and procedures for working with children and vunerable adults. A meal followed morning worship, and members and friends of the church stayed and enjoyed that too. We are grateful to those who made time to share in this, despite being so busy.

Sunday 12th September

......gives me wings was the subject of our thoughts today, given by Lieutenant Nicola, who we were pleased to welcome back after some weeks engaging in divisional work and holiday. Nicola looked at how we need to hear and know what God says - I will strengthen my people. Captain Ian led the meeting with songs including: Give me the wings of faith; Strength will rise; Your love is amazing; Under the shadow of His wings; God You're so cool; The Power of Your Love. We were blessed today again with such a packed hall, and extra chairs having to be brought out. We are so grateful to God for all He continues to do among us.

Kids Alive returned for its new term with a very exciting posh party. Posh Food was enjoyed around posh tables (sausages and chips and beans!!!!!), and loads of posh games were enjoyed as well. What was really great was that everyone was back.....with some friends with them as well.

REPORT FROM SUMMER SCHOOL

A few weeks ago Faith, Mini and myself attended the London South East Summer School from the 7th to the 14th of August. Each year it’s held at Vinehall Boarding School in Hastings. It’s attended by young people between the ages of 13 to 25 from various Salvation Army churches in the division.


This year we had new directors for summer school with Nicola Brooksbank the Corps officer from Crawley being one of them. Working with a team of staff they put up a programme of activities for the week, which enabled us to have great fun. Each day we got together for morning gathering where we heard news for the day and spent some time in fellowship led by a worship band. Following on this we had cell group meetings made up of young people of the same age. In the cell groups we looked at the theme for summer school which was ‘The Event’. To help us get a better understanding of what this theme meant. Throughout the week we studied the gospel of Mark, focusing on some of the significant encounters that Jesus had leading to the event his crucifixion and resurrection. Later in the day we got together again in our cell groups with two members of staff to talk through questions, thoughts and reflect on the theme of the day. The most important lesson we learnt from this was that Jesus Christ overcame the power of death through his resurrection from the tomb. He proved that there is no power that can overcome him, that he has the authority to forgive the sins of people, and that he is the one and only Son of God.

The three of us did the same specialism’s this year playing in the brass band and singing in the gospel choir. The other specialism’s included leadership, sport, media and alternative worship. We spent an hour and & half each on our two chosen specialism learning new pieces of music in preparation for final celebration. In the band we learnt how to march whilst playing for the first time which was not easy but enjoyable. In the evening we had pm gathering where we relaxed and enjoyed different activities each night. We had a quiz, talent night, silent disco, barbeque night, and heard from a guest speaker. Although with such a busy schedule we still had some free time for fun and games if we wanted to take part. We did manage to take part in a dodge ball and ultimate frisbee tournament which was great fun. On the last day of summer school we had a final celebration. This was a great chance to for family and friends to see what was going out throughout the week. We do look forward to going there next year. Thank you for listening.

This past Sunday we were thrilled to welcome Shirley Gardner as an adherent-member of The Salvation Army, and a member of our church. We feature here the words she shared with us in her testimony:-

I want start by telling you a bit of family history this morning. When my grandfather was a young man, over a hundred years ago, he was at work, hoeing turnips, in the middle of a field one day, when he heard the voice of God, telling him he was going the wrong way, and knew that he had to change his life. At the time, he was a drinker, he used to drink very heavily, so he signed the pledge, became teetotal, and became a Methodist lay preacher. Soon afterwards he met and married my grandmother, and for most of their lives they were caretakers of the Methodist chapel in their village in Dorset.


Now, being married to my grandmother wasn't easy. Although she was a good Christian woman, she had a very volatile temper. Once, early in their marriage, when she was in full eruption (she was only 4 feet 10 inches tall and my grandfather was over 6 feet) my grandfather, at a loss to know what to do with all this drama, picked her up and threatened to stuff her up the chimney. She begged him not to, and he relented. He always said he would probably have had a much easier life if he had followed through on that threat – but he didn't, he was much too nice a man to do that. He was one of my favourite people, and I can remember him telling me stories about the Old Testament prophets and about Jesus. My father was their only child.

My other grandparents were in the Salvation Army. My mother was the youngest of their 5 children, and in 1923 at the age of 18 she left her home in Dorset to become an Officer. She served on Salisbury Plain and in Mare Street Hackney, as a young Lieutenant. When she was 21 her father died, sadly, and she asked to be posted nearer to home to support her mother, but the Army posted her to the north of England, so she stopped being an Officer and she too did some work as a Methodist lay preacher. She brought Jenny and me up to say our prayers and to be Christians. She was always singing hymns and choruses around the house, and when we sing many of the old hymns here I hear her voice.

While I was growing up I always said my prayers at night, and sometimes during the day as well – depending how the day was going.

When I was 11, Jenny started going to the Salvation Army where we were living, and I went with her. I went out to the Mercy Seat at the age of 13, and I'll always remember that as a significant point in my spiritual life. Then when we moved house – from Goucestershire to Dorset – we both carried on going to the Army, to a new Corps, and I was even a Corps Cadet for a while. I can remember that the Corps Cadets did the meeting one Sunday morning and for some reason I got to do the address. I had to write something about the woman with the alabaster box of perfume who washed Jesus' feet – I was very, very nervous. I stopped going to the Army when I started working hard for exams at school. Since then I have always considered myself a Christian, but not attended Church with any regularity. I believed, but didn't do anything about it – working seemed to take up most of my time.

When I turned up here in Horsham it was with Jenny and Mel – by that time work had finished with me, I was looking for a church to go to, they had moved here and were thinking about transferring from Sutton. I started singing with the Singing Group, so that meant that I was singing with my sister, which I enjoyed.

You might have noticed a theme emerging here. What I've been rambling on about up to this point is that my religion has always been rooted in family, I've believed because I was brought up that way, and followed what my family did, and it's only in recent years that I thought that I should really start taking some initiative where my religious life was concerned. A few years ago, when I started asking difficult questions, two members of the family said 'You ought to go on an Alpha course', so I did. Anyway, to cut the rambling short, the time came when I realised that the Salvation Army in Horsham is my church. I've known for quite a while that I would become a member, but I was waiting until I was perfect before I did so.

Then I realised that it could be a very long wait, so I'm sorry to have to tell you that I'm not perfect yet. I still do things I shouldn't do, and I still don't do all the things I should do, but I'm human, and I'm trying harder all the time, and with God's help I'll be a better human being as time passes, and I'll get better at listening to Him and working out what He wants me to do, and trying to do it. That's all I've got to say, so thank you for listening to me this morning, God bless.

Shirley Gardner

The Salvation Army's annual appeal is now well in action throughout the area. We are grateful to the team of volunteers who are engaging in door to door collections, and our own members and friends who are doing all they can to help work towards raising £6000 towards the national appeal. So far nearly £2000 has been collected and donated. The money raised supports our social and community services, programmes and activities, throughout the UK, the largest provider of such after the government.

CORPS COUNCIL

The final meeting of the corps council in its current format was held on Tuesday. A new look, revamped, focus group type council will now meet in the future. More information will follow.

TOGETHER - SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER

Henry Olonga was our guest speaker at TOGETHER, which attracted about 100 people. Henry spoke a little of his story, but also encouraged others to experience Jesus as their story. Henry shared some songs along the way, and refreshments were also enjoyed throughout the night. The church members were really encouraged that so many came and supported. Pictured here with Henry is Adam and Grace Woodgate.

SUNDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER

Captain Ian led our morning meeting, focussing on the theme JUST AS I AM, I COME. Despite many being on holiday the hall was near full. Songs today included:- I stand amazed in the Presence; Your love is amazing; Alleluia; Can you wonder?; My Jesus, My Saviour; Just as I am, I come; Now I belong to Jesus. The singing group contributed 'Divine Right' to the meeting. During the celebration, Captain Ian welcomed Shirley Gardner as a church member. Pictures will follow later in the week. The Sunday Challenge was an x factor special, reminding us of the importance of allowing us to be who we are, and not standing in judgement of others. Following the address, two people knelt in prayer at the mercy seat.

A number of our church family shared with others from Berkshire, Kent and East Sussex for a weeks Christian Holiday at Southbourne, Bournemouth, led by Captains Ian and Susan. The theme was SONSHINE and a whole range of events took place throughout the week. Whilst the weather was not wonderful, a great time was enjoyed by all. The pictures shows some of those who shared the week with us.

Our Corps Officer team will be away for the next two Sundays. Captains Woodgate return on the 1st September, and Lieutenant Nicola the following week. On Sunday 22nd, Trevor and Isobel share responsibility for our meeting, and the 29th will be in the hands of Major Roy Smith.

WHO IS YOUR GOD? was the focus of our worship meeting today, which included the songs:- All Creatures of our God and King; Praise Him You Heavens; Jesus is the Name we honour; I Worship You Almighty God; These are the Days of Elijah; Let us sing of His Love Once again; Silently now I wait for Thee; Come, beautiful Christ. Captain Ian explored how for some we can be busy working for God, but so slow to experience God, and shared a story about a lady who in their ministry had spent so much time blind to who God was and what He was doing, that when she did surrender to Him, not only did she regret what she had missed, but she was healed of her pain. During closing moments, several people knelt before God to seek Him for themselves.

After months of assessing our current community services programme, we are now at the stage of launching HOPE IN.....COMMUNITY SERVICES which will continue to provide our traditional food parcels on a Thursday evening, but much more too. Refreshments are being made available, with space for people to chat and meet, and a heart to help people move on from the crisis that they might well find themselves in at this time. For further information about our community services and how it works, contact our centre.

On Sunday 8th August Captain Susan led Worship, and Kate Gregory opened God's Word, looking at Spiritual Gifts and Talents. This was Kate's first sermon!!! Captain Ian was ministering at Gillingham today,

An emotional, yet celebrationary, meeting was held on the 1st August, when Tony Hockney was enrolled as a soldier of Jesus Christ in The Salvation Army. Tony testified to meeting with Jesus and knowing Jesus, and shared his experiences of Him, and how He knows that God believes in Him. Tony was supported by family members in this event. Captain Ian led the meeting, which also featured Ken Hammond sharing his testimony and Captain Sue singing 'May the words of my mouth'. Some people knelt in prayer during moments when Tony signed his covenant with God.

That evening as part of our TOGETHER series, Lieutenant Nicola shared with us a DVD called 'How Great is our God' which was a fitting conclusion to an amazing day and a celebration of who God really is.

capturing some of the things that made Kids Celebration Sunday so special

GOD MADE ME, was the theme and focus for our KIDS CELEBRATION SUNDAY. In celebration of the past year over forty prizes were given out (sadly not everyone could be with us), and we celebrated 40 children attending KIDS ALIVE CLUB on Fridays, and up to 20 on a Sunday. The celebration not only included the prizegiving, which also saw prizes given to the childrens ministry team, but also time for creative worship in song and other things, and a time of prayer at the end of the meeting which saw many coming to thank God for their lives. The gathering concluded with a BBQ and buffet which was enjoyed by all who gathered. We thank God for our children and their families.