Today I had the privilege of conducting Warren's funeral. Warren wouldn't be known to many except his family and his neighbours out at Port Parham.
Warren's link with The Salvation Army goes back to 1937. It was then, not long after his family had moved to Adelaide from Clare, that he and his parents settled two doors up the road from Whitmore Square, where The Salvation Army has offered a range of services for many years.
When Warren's family needed to mow their lawn, they borrowed the lawn mower from The Salvation Army centre. This started a link with The Salvation Army that continued for 74 years.
Warren ended up marrying a Salvationist, his kids went to a Salvation Army Sunday School and he had contact with The Salvation Army during WWII when he served with the Army and the Air Force.
The profound influence that The Salvation Army had on his life continued to the point where he specified that he wanted a Salvationist to conduct his funeral and has left a small bequest to support the ongoing work of The Salvation Army. This opportunity meant that the gospel could be shared with his broader family who have now also been influenced by the movement we work within.
Please pray for Warren's family this week.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Ascot Park Shop
Today is an important day in the life of our Corps as the Ascot Park Shop opens for its first day of trade.
Up front I need to thank Greg Varidel and Wendy Sudron for their incredible work in getting the shop to the stage that it's at - ready for sales.
This shop is going to help us remain sustainable financially, especially at our Glenelg campus. It also broadening our outreach base and our exposure to the greater Marion community. It is another opportunity for us to shine God's light in Adelaide's south so that through the testimony of the volunteers and the assistance offered to the public (as well as the funds raised) others will join us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
At this stage the shop is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am - 2pm. We need volunteers to help staff other days. The more we open, the more consistently people will shop, the bigger our customer base and the better our fundraising. This is critical in the next month or so, so that we get to the stage where we cover our costs (e.g. rent and power).
Please pray for this ministry and conisder how you can assist the mission by offering a few hours at Ascot Park. If you can do so, please speak to Greg or Wendy.
Up front I need to thank Greg Varidel and Wendy Sudron for their incredible work in getting the shop to the stage that it's at - ready for sales.
This shop is going to help us remain sustainable financially, especially at our Glenelg campus. It also broadening our outreach base and our exposure to the greater Marion community. It is another opportunity for us to shine God's light in Adelaide's south so that through the testimony of the volunteers and the assistance offered to the public (as well as the funds raised) others will join us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
At this stage the shop is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am - 2pm. We need volunteers to help staff other days. The more we open, the more consistently people will shop, the bigger our customer base and the better our fundraising. This is critical in the next month or so, so that we get to the stage where we cover our costs (e.g. rent and power).
Please pray for this ministry and conisder how you can assist the mission by offering a few hours at Ascot Park. If you can do so, please speak to Greg or Wendy.
Basketball
Congratulations to our U14 Basketball team that last night won their third premiership in a row. Our team defeated Seaton Christian Family Church 37-26.
Thank you to Bronwyn Nunns who is our club secretary and also to James Smith who has been coaching the junior team.
The basketball club will be having a social celebration at our hall this Saturday. This will be a chance to relink the ministry into the church. There will also be a presentation night next Monday at Arndale Corps where the juniors will recieve their premiers' trophies.
Please pray for this ministry. Our concern with all of our ministries is not that they do well of their own accord but that the ministry is missional. There can be great services offered, great sports teams operating, but if they are not contributing to the mission of the church they lose their purpose. For our basketball club, and for any ministry that we run, this means that they must be shining God's light so that others join us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Let's pray this is so.
Thank you to Bronwyn Nunns who is our club secretary and also to James Smith who has been coaching the junior team.
The basketball club will be having a social celebration at our hall this Saturday. This will be a chance to relink the ministry into the church. There will also be a presentation night next Monday at Arndale Corps where the juniors will recieve their premiers' trophies.
Please pray for this ministry. Our concern with all of our ministries is not that they do well of their own accord but that the ministry is missional. There can be great services offered, great sports teams operating, but if they are not contributing to the mission of the church they lose their purpose. For our basketball club, and for any ministry that we run, this means that they must be shining God's light so that others join us as disciples of Jesus Christ. Let's pray this is so.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Discipleship
Another link that might interest you in the light of our current Sunday series on "Growing Up":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgg2KYdMpqc&feature=youtu.be
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgg2KYdMpqc&feature=youtu.be
e-Connect
Some of you would be interested with news from the broader Salvation Army community. There is a periodic e-newsletter that is published by our territory called e-connect. It discusses a range of issues, addresses policy and public interest matters and provides a connection between the various arms of The Salvation Army.
Check it out at: www.salvationarmy.org.au/econnect
Check it out at: www.salvationarmy.org.au/econnect
Monday, 20 June 2011
Justice Issues - Refugees & trafficking
They are two subjects distinct from each other, but we have an opportunity this week to look into both as a Corps.
Kat is taking a group from the Corps to see the premiere of the SBS documentary "Go back to where you came from" at the Welcome to Australia Party at Mitcham this week. For more details call her. Otherwise, look at your TV guide and check out the three part series that follows Australians put in the position of 'reverse refugees', taking a leaky boat to a detention centre overseas.
Also, look out on Sunday for the petition asking our government to meet their obligations as signatories to UN conventions and providing compensation for the victims of trafficking. It will be available in the foyer.
Kat is taking a group from the Corps to see the premiere of the SBS documentary "Go back to where you came from" at the Welcome to Australia Party at Mitcham this week. For more details call her. Otherwise, look at your TV guide and check out the three part series that follows Australians put in the position of 'reverse refugees', taking a leaky boat to a detention centre overseas.
Also, look out on Sunday for the petition asking our government to meet their obligations as signatories to UN conventions and providing compensation for the victims of trafficking. It will be available in the foyer.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Commissioner Helen Clifton
It is with sadness that we report that late on Tuesday evening, London time, Commissioner Helen Clifton was promoted to glory.
Commissioner Clifton was the wife and ministry partner of our last General, Shaw Clifton. She is survived by General Clifton (Rtd) and her three children, each of whom are in ministry themselves and one of which (I am led to believe) is preparing for commissioning and ordination in a short time (i.e. early July).
Commissioner Clifton served people around the world. When the official bulletin is published, we will post this for your reading. In the meantime please pray for General Shaw Clifton (R), his children and grandchildren.
Commissioner Clifton was the wife and ministry partner of our last General, Shaw Clifton. She is survived by General Clifton (Rtd) and her three children, each of whom are in ministry themselves and one of which (I am led to believe) is preparing for commissioning and ordination in a short time (i.e. early July).
Commissioner Clifton served people around the world. When the official bulletin is published, we will post this for your reading. In the meantime please pray for General Shaw Clifton (R), his children and grandchildren.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Sunday Afternoon
This is a chance to say thank you again to those that helped on Sunday. It was a big day and we are excited and grateful for the way our church came together to celebrate Pentecost, to mark the first anniversary since Marion and Glenelg came together as one Corps and to cast an eye to the future.
For those that were unable to share with us, you missed a great day. After lunch we shared a time of worship and then broke into small groups. Each of these groups had an opportunity to share their highlights and lowlights from the last year and to discuss how they had been impacted by the ministry of the Corps and the change we had experienced.
We then came back together and covered the year with a blank sheet of paper. This was symbolically handing over the next year, and the future years, to God.
We are excited by what God is doing among us. It is our task to get on board with his ideas and plans.
For those that were unable to share with us, you missed a great day. After lunch we shared a time of worship and then broke into small groups. Each of these groups had an opportunity to share their highlights and lowlights from the last year and to discuss how they had been impacted by the ministry of the Corps and the change we had experienced.
We then came back together and covered the year with a blank sheet of paper. This was symbolically handing over the next year, and the future years, to God.
We are excited by what God is doing among us. It is our task to get on board with his ideas and plans.
Pioneer Companion Club
On Sunday afternoon, members of our Corps would have heard me mention the valuable ministry continuing under the leadership of Majors Doris and Ross Lewis in our companion club. In recent days this club has grown by around 10% and doesn't look like stopping. Yesterday more than 100 gathered again for musical entertainment and community. More importantly they shared around the word and spent time singing that classic song "Jesus Loves Me" - what a truth to be able to affirm later in life.
The real worth of this ministry hit home as I chatted with Shirley afterward. She was in the foyer waiting for a lift, so I spent a bit of time seeing how she was going. I was aware that her husband had not been well - I now discover that he has been placed in a nursing home. Shirley told me that coming on a Tuesday 'gets her out' and that it's a great place for her to 'meet her friends'. Having a safe place to enjoy community and fun is so critical. To experience such in a place where the good news about Jesus Christ is also offered is invaluable.
The Divisional Secretary for Seniors Ministries, Captain Margaret Colls, was visiting our club yesterday. Margaret said to me as she left, "Whatever you've got here, bottle it". Pray for our seniors and those who minister to them. As they take the opportunities that God is presenting them, as they continue to shine God's light in this region of Adelaide, we will continue to see others join us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
The real worth of this ministry hit home as I chatted with Shirley afterward. She was in the foyer waiting for a lift, so I spent a bit of time seeing how she was going. I was aware that her husband had not been well - I now discover that he has been placed in a nursing home. Shirley told me that coming on a Tuesday 'gets her out' and that it's a great place for her to 'meet her friends'. Having a safe place to enjoy community and fun is so critical. To experience such in a place where the good news about Jesus Christ is also offered is invaluable.
The Divisional Secretary for Seniors Ministries, Captain Margaret Colls, was visiting our club yesterday. Margaret said to me as she left, "Whatever you've got here, bottle it". Pray for our seniors and those who minister to them. As they take the opportunities that God is presenting them, as they continue to shine God's light in this region of Adelaide, we will continue to see others join us as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Pentecost Sunday
Just a reminder for all the locals that this Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, is going to be a great day not to be missed:
9:30 prayers in the chapel
10:00 worship in the main hall at Seacombe Gardens, and Kids Church in the Marion Room
12:00 lunch together - please bring something to share
After lunch - we are having a congregational meeting and worship time. This will be a chance to celebrate our 12 months as a combined Corps and look to the future.
7:00 ecumenical worship with the churches from our local area, jointly celebrating Pentecost. This, too, will be held at our Seacombe Gardens campus.
Look forward to seeing you there.
9:30 prayers in the chapel
10:00 worship in the main hall at Seacombe Gardens, and Kids Church in the Marion Room
12:00 lunch together - please bring something to share
After lunch - we are having a congregational meeting and worship time. This will be a chance to celebrate our 12 months as a combined Corps and look to the future.
7:00 ecumenical worship with the churches from our local area, jointly celebrating Pentecost. This, too, will be held at our Seacombe Gardens campus.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Ascot Park Shop
Our Corps thrift shop at Ascot Park continues to move closer toward opening. Having said that, each time we go down there we end up with a longer list of things to do so that it's possible to get it going!
Thanks need to be expressed to David and Wendy Sudron who continue to drive this initiative and have made so much happen so far.
Our biggest hold up at the moment is volunteers to staff the shop. If you have a few hours and are interested in helping out, please touch base with Wendy Sudron or Greg Varidel. Training will be provided at our Seacombe Gardens shop and then we will put a roster together so that we can open up at Ascot Park.
We need to open as soon as possible, just so that we don't continue to lose rent on the shop without recouping some sales. Once we're there, this is going to be a great resources to serve and reach the community as well as a financial support to the ministries that our Corps offers through our different campuses.
Thanks need to be expressed to David and Wendy Sudron who continue to drive this initiative and have made so much happen so far.
Our biggest hold up at the moment is volunteers to staff the shop. If you have a few hours and are interested in helping out, please touch base with Wendy Sudron or Greg Varidel. Training will be provided at our Seacombe Gardens shop and then we will put a roster together so that we can open up at Ascot Park.
We need to open as soon as possible, just so that we don't continue to lose rent on the shop without recouping some sales. Once we're there, this is going to be a great resources to serve and reach the community as well as a financial support to the ministries that our Corps offers through our different campuses.
Families and children's ministries
Many would know that we have advertised to replace our Families and Children's Ministries worker, Paul McDonald who finished his employment with us at the end of May.
You will notice the emphasis that we are placing on 'families' in the title and in the newly revised position description. The children are important, but come as part of a family and we want to reach the whole family.
There have been some applicants for this position, however Red Shield Appeal has prevented us from addressing them to date. It is hoped that within the next week or so we will be able to touch base with the various applicants and short list a few for interview. Please continue to pray for this process so that our Corps finds the right person for this critical role. Please also pray for the team that make the decisions around employing people at our Corps. The pastoral and missional implications of their decisions are quite significant.
You will notice the emphasis that we are placing on 'families' in the title and in the newly revised position description. The children are important, but come as part of a family and we want to reach the whole family.
There have been some applicants for this position, however Red Shield Appeal has prevented us from addressing them to date. It is hoped that within the next week or so we will be able to touch base with the various applicants and short list a few for interview. Please continue to pray for this process so that our Corps finds the right person for this critical role. Please also pray for the team that make the decisions around employing people at our Corps. The pastoral and missional implications of their decisions are quite significant.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Social Justice
A challenge was issued after the meeting on Sunday for us, as a church, to consider more social justice issues and become involved.
The Salvation Army continues to be at the forefront of social justice issues. This year we have appointed an officer in Adelaide, Captain Bev Demopolous, to head this area of our activities. From time to time she will send through information to Corps and advertise activities that we are undertaking. Some examples include having a Salvation Army stand to support people at Sexpo, supporting the bridging the gap activities for indigenous Australians and actively campaigning against the current governments unwillingness to release parolled prisoners.
If you have a specific interest in social justice issues - please touch base with Bev.
In the meantime, also stay informed. I was alarmed last night watching the ABC to hear how ignorant people can be. A federal opposition MP, for example, stated that most people with mental illnesses are also unemployed and homeless. Thankfully the health minister, Nicola Roxon, challenged this errant statement. Then there was the discussion about the Israeli/ Palestinian situation that indicated how many people would do anything to spoil a potential 2 state solution.
Finally, the old refugee chestnut came up again. For the first time I heard a federal politician acknowledge that the majority of Australians wish our government were more generous toward genuine refugees that have been waiting in camps. This is a good point to start the conversation, rather than focussing on the (less than 5% of) asylum seekers that arrive by boat.
Either way - it's, in the first place, about being informed so that we can act for the reformation of society. Keep listening and looking.
The Salvation Army continues to be at the forefront of social justice issues. This year we have appointed an officer in Adelaide, Captain Bev Demopolous, to head this area of our activities. From time to time she will send through information to Corps and advertise activities that we are undertaking. Some examples include having a Salvation Army stand to support people at Sexpo, supporting the bridging the gap activities for indigenous Australians and actively campaigning against the current governments unwillingness to release parolled prisoners.
If you have a specific interest in social justice issues - please touch base with Bev.
In the meantime, also stay informed. I was alarmed last night watching the ABC to hear how ignorant people can be. A federal opposition MP, for example, stated that most people with mental illnesses are also unemployed and homeless. Thankfully the health minister, Nicola Roxon, challenged this errant statement. Then there was the discussion about the Israeli/ Palestinian situation that indicated how many people would do anything to spoil a potential 2 state solution.
Finally, the old refugee chestnut came up again. For the first time I heard a federal politician acknowledge that the majority of Australians wish our government were more generous toward genuine refugees that have been waiting in camps. This is a good point to start the conversation, rather than focussing on the (less than 5% of) asylum seekers that arrive by boat.
Either way - it's, in the first place, about being informed so that we can act for the reformation of society. Keep listening and looking.
Red Shield Appeal
Hi all
Thank you to everyone, again, who has helped us with the Red Shield Appeal over the last few weeks. We still have quite a bit to come in, especially in Marion City, and things are a bit variable, in terms of overall results. Marion City seems to be up, Holdfast City seems to be a bit down. Once we have totals we will pass them on, but in the meantime, again - thank you for your help.
Cheers
Thank you to everyone, again, who has helped us with the Red Shield Appeal over the last few weeks. We still have quite a bit to come in, especially in Marion City, and things are a bit variable, in terms of overall results. Marion City seems to be up, Holdfast City seems to be a bit down. Once we have totals we will pass them on, but in the meantime, again - thank you for your help.
Cheers
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