In her address, Captain Susan encouraged us to not look back, but look towards the goal, because other wise we are drained of energy and can totally loose direction, she said. Exploring words from Phillippians, she looked at the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on the goal and aiming well, but recognised that we might well have missed the goal over the years - but how God does not hold back our purpose and plan within His will and purpose. Captain Ian led the meeting, which featured songs:- Wake Up O Sleeper, Shine Jesus Shine (Chorus), Be Happy, In Christ alone, What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought. Michael and Jackie shared their music ministry with us; and we celebrated the welcoming into membership of Sandra Beech. We thank God for all He did among us today.

A good number of the church travelled to Westminster Central Hall in London to celebrate the commissioning of the new officers in the Salvation Army. The event featured the world leaders of The Salvation Army and the UK leaders. Our main reason for wanting to support was to celebrate with our 'cadet' Mark Cotterill, who had shared a year of sunday placements with us. God moved powerfully throughout the day and we were thrilled to be a part of it.

Major Andy Cox, divisional director for evangelism, led our MISSION SUNDAY, with the theme and focus Being and Doing. We enjoyed a Sunday Feast to follow, cooked beautifully by Sandra Crawford, and then the major shared something or an exciting development we as a church are part of. We are grateful to God for another blessed day.

The Kettering Songsters of The Salvation Army shared an evening of music and song at our church. We are grateful to Vic and Sheila Jannels for arranging this really special evening.

The Friendship Club enjoyed an afternoon Garden Party at the home of Marion and Les Daniels

Chatt-a-Boxers enjoyed a summer outing to Tillgate Park in Crawley

Home and Family Sunday concluded the month of June, and was led by Maureen Ross, our divisional family officer. Captain Ian was on divisional duties. Crawley SA joined us for our monthly united service which was great. The meeting featured various members of our home and family ministry groups. Following the meeting a number went to the local park to enjoy a picnic and some games together.

During our meeting George Moses Belcher, the grandson of corps sergeant major trevor, and corps treasurer june, was celebrated in a short service of thanksgiving led by Captain Sue.

YOUTH MINISTRIES DEVELOPMENT

What an exciting week for our youth!


Reflections, a group for young adults, met on Friday at our house to discuss what we want to do together on a regular basis. After pizza, a chat and a little football, a consensus was made that we’d like to start a musical group and combine this with a cell group, learning more about the bible and prayer. So our plan is that from the first Friday in July we will meet every Friday. On the 1st and 3rd of the month we’ll have our meetings at the hall and we’ll start with 20 minutes bible study and prayer then we’ll start our musical ‘jam’. Practice and Worship linked together in an informal Praise for 40 minutes. We intend to play contemporary Christian music and hope to share this with you all on Sundays as soon as we’re good enough! On the 2nd and 4th Friday we’ll meet elsewhere to join together in fellowship either going out – cinema, bowling, playing games in the park or at our house to do a film night. If you FEEL like a young adult (regardless of how old you are!!) please come along and join us on July 2nd at 7.45 for 8.00 and, if you can, bring an instrument to join our playing if not we need singers too!

On Sunday after the meeting you may have noticed Kate stealing away all the older children and shutting them into the coffee lounge! This is our new youth group “Youth Matters”. We will meet together on Sundays after the meeting to study the bible and learn about being a Christian in what can be very testing times for our young people. We plan to have fun whilst learning!

Please support our youth, we’ve been there and know how hard it can be! Ask them how their group is going, what they’ve been learning! They all love to share and as we all talk together we’ll get to know and support each other in the love of Jesus.

God Bless

Kate and Scott Gregory

YOUTH MATTERS

A group for tweenagers has started at our centre from 12noon in our coffee lounge. The group is led by our new youth officers, Scott and Kate Gregory. Everyone is very welcome to attend

THE UPPER NORWOOD BAND OF THE SALVATION ARMY led Sunday Worship on 20th June, in a hall that was packed full of people, including more new faces. Various people took responsibility for the Sunday morning meeting, before the band enjoyed a meal prepared by June Belcher. During the afternoon the band shared music on the bandstand in Horsham Park, which attracted a good number, and an opportunity for community hymn singing was also enjoyed. As always thank you those who have been a part of this day, and to our corps sergeant major Trevor, for arranging this.

The Friendship Club enjoyed a strawberry tea as part of their programme on Friday afternoons.

On Saturday 13th June some of our church enjoyed a day out in Eastbourne, and then in the evening attended the Divisional Prayer Wave event at the corps in Eastbourne.

Sunday 13th June

Captain Susan led a very powerful time of worship this morning, using songs including For the beauty of the earth; He is the Lord and He reigns on High; Over all the earth; Send a New Touch of Power; Great is the Darkness; Blessed Lamb of Calvary.

Captain Ian spoke on Acts 1: 8 - AND YOU SHALL HAVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU - and we explored how we needed the Power of God within us to be the people God has called us to be.

Hospital Care:- this week Eric Day entered hospital, Ted Longhurst had a stroke and has been admitted to Guildford hospital, Ruth Deevoy is in Redhill having had a knee replacement. Please remember them all in your prayers and their loved ones.

Tuesday 10th June: our hall was packed for the service for thanksgiving for the life and influence of Trisha Reay. Captains Ian and Susan led the service, supported by various people who shared their own reflections, including previous corps officers, Major Kevin and Captain Catherine Rand and our own Marion and Les Daniels. Beth Reay spoke on behalf of the family. A tea was held back at our church afterwards.

Sunday 8th June was a great day, and we knew and celebrated God among us. The captains returned, Susan was in Crawley today, and Lieutenant Nicola shared with us in Horsham to lead worship, and Ian preached. We continue to explore the Holy Spirit, and Ian looked at Zecariah 4: 6 - Its not by might, nor by Power, but by My Spirit - reminding us all of the importance of allowing it to be all about God and not ourselves. Being the first in the month TOGETHER we held in the evening, and a great number attended. Lieutenant Nicola led the event and focussed our thoughts on Worship.

Two special events this week.... CHATT A BOX our parent and toddler group held a teddy bear's picnic as part of their session and then afterwards a good number stayed to enjoy a picnic together. KIDS ALIVE concluded this half term with a Cool Dudes Party - lots of games and food. This was attended by some new people, and quite a few were away as half term started early in a number of schools. However both events gave people a great time.

Captains Susan and Ian will be away over the next week. This Sunday Lt Nicola will be leading our worship and speaking, and it will be a united meeting with Crawley.

TRISH REAY

A service of thanksgiving for the life and influence of Trish Reay will be held at our church on Tuesday 8th June at 2pm.

Pentecost reflects a coming together of God;s People, and somethings amazing happening among them. This weekend we saw that reflected in so many different ways. It all started on Saturday when we held our Garden Party, attended by hundreds of people and raising just over £1000. Although financially is not why we did it, we wanted to very much invite people to come to us and meet with us - and they did. Some of them our new contacts through KIDS ALIVE and our other groups. Stalls, were married together with face painting, bouncy castles, side stalls, the firemen and police were there, as were musicians making together a band, which allowed for great music. There was also garden games that was enjoyed, and a treasure hunt and much more. Refreshments were also a major part of the event. The day concluded with a community songs of praise, which was led by our visitors for the weekend, Majors Anne and John Read. They stayed over and on the Sunday led our celebration meeting in the morning. Songs in this included:- Come on and Celebrate, Thou Christ of burning cleansing flame, Breath on me, The way its gonna be, I've felt a new and loving touch, Be still for the presence of the Lord, Love divine. SUNDAY FEAST followed which included a lovely roast meal and then a concluding time when the majors shared something of their lives and their current appointments. We are grateful to God for such a great weekend, and look forward to more of what God has in store for us. We are also grateful to Majors Read and others who worked so hard to make this weekend possible.