October 01, 2005
Captain’s Log October 2005
Dear Friends,
There has been concern expressed recently by Christian groups of the new Racial and Religious Hatred Bill that is being put to the House of Lords on 11th October. The concern is that if the Bill is passed, “freedom to preach the full Gospel of Jesus Christ may be significantly curbed for years to come. Despite Government reassurances the wording on the face of the Bill may mean that preaching directly from the Bible could become a criminal offence punishable with a jail sentence of up to 7 years.” On the other hand, there are Christian groups, such as The Salvation Army, whose official position is to be generally supportive of the bill; so it is an issue requiring thought and prayer.
We need to pray for those in authority in Government that they will have wisdom and guidance in their policy making decisions for they can have far reaching implications at times.
Whilst we do not know what the outcome of the vote in the House of Lords will be history shows us that it is a fact that there will always be attempts in one form or another to stop the Christian message being told. After all it’s nothing new really, for was not Jesus Himself crucified on a Cross by those trying to keep Him quiet? Yet, look what happened – Jesus rose alive from the grave and the message of a new life in Jesus Christ has spread to so many places around the world.
So what can we do about it? Let us show the world that Christianity is about God’s love, compassion, forgiveness and that far from being a dangerous message, it is one of love, hope both now and in the future. Let us put our faith and trust in our Lord whatever the outcome of the vote for one thing we can be certain of is that whilst we might not know what the future holds, we know Who holds the future!
May God bless you.
Paul Wood
Captain
VISIT OF THE TERRITORIAL LEADERS
On Sunday 11th September, Commissioners Shaw & Helen Clifton, the leaders of The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom, visited Histon to lead the morning worship. This was the first visit in Histon’s 112 year history by any Territorial Leaders so it was an exciting time.
Commissioner Shaw Clifton spoke on ‘keeping ourselves trained for a godly life’ and Commissioner Helen Clifton shared of the impact their holiday had spiritually which was a great encouragement to all present.
It was also a pleasure to be able to welcome our new Divisional Leaders, Majors Alan and Alison Burns, to Histon for the first time.
Next year, on Sunday 29th January 2006, we are delighted to announce that we will be having Colonels Vic & Ros Poke, second in command of the Salvation Army in the UK leading our morning worship.
Dedication Service of Caleb Joel Wood
A congregation of 75 people attended the Dedication Service of Caleb Joel Wood on Sunday 25th September, which was led by Lieut-Colonels Peter & Maureen Wood. On behalf of Caleb, Captains Paul & Louise would like to thank everyone for their love and support
*** NEWS AND INFORMATION ***
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
On Tuesday 4th October at 7:30pm, Dave Cooke, the founder of Operation Christmas Child will be at Histon Methodist Church to speak about the charity’s work. Our CAMEO Club and Home League have been involved in the past in helping by making shoeboxes, along with many others in the village so please do come along if you are able to attend and hear first hand on what is happening.
Prayer Requests: Please pray for:
The victims of Hurricane Katrina in America and everyone involved in the relief effort
Brenda & Ivor Dodd, after the passing of Brenda’s brother.
Winter Fayre
The Winter Fayre will be on Saturday 12th November from 10am to 12pm. There will be a Sign up sheet on the notice board at the church in the coming weeks if you would like to have a stall. I’m sure you will be pleased to know that Captain’s boxes of shortbread will once again be on sale!
Minibus Transport To Sunday Morning Worship
There is minibus transport available for anyone who would like to attend our Sunday morning worship. If you would like to come on the minibus, please let the Captains know.
Salvation Army Congress 2005
The Salvation Army is holding a Congress at Wembley Conference Centre on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th November 2005. Special guests include General Larsson, International Leader of the Salvation Army and Commissioner Shaw Clifton, leader in the UK. This promises to be an exciting time and a chance to share with other Salvationists around the UK. Leaflets are available from Captains for further information.
We have booked seventeen tickets for the Sunday meetings and they have all now been taken and we will travel down by minibus. If anyone else would still like to go, please take a ticket application form from the notice board.
Helping Hand 2005
Thanks to everyone who helped to raise money toward the Helping Hand Appeal this year. This included support from the Sunshine Club, Home League, Home League Singers and Edith Knightley with her Webb Ivory sales which raised a total of £458.15 towards the Salvation Armys’ Anglia Division effort.
The Helping Hand Scheme for 2005 was to help children in Mozambique to attend school, have access to emergency healthcare and nutritional support, to set eight Kids Clubs for 800 children, provide support and friendship groups for children and engage community members in income-generating activities to care for orphans and vulnerable children.
October 2005 Diary Dates
Saturday 1st October
Harvest Supper at 7pm
Sunday 2nd October – HARVEST SUNDAY
Worship at 10am led by Major Alison Thompson of Anglia Divisional Headquarters
Sunday 9th October
Worship at 10am led by Captains Paul & Louise Wood
Songs of Praise at Kay Hitch Way at 4pm
Thursday 13th October
Corps Council Meeting at 7:30pm
Sunday 16th October
Worship at 10am led by Captains Paul & Louise Wood
Band at Etheldred House at 3pm to which everyone is invited.
Sunday 23rd October
Worship at 10am led by Major Ian Fawcett of Cottenham Salvation Army
ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND
Saturday 29th October
Quiz Night at 7pm
Sunday 30th October
Worship at 10:30 am led by Majors Marc & Shirley McKenzie (former Commanding Officers). There will be a lunch afterwards to which everyone is welcome.
Annual Appeal 2005
Each year the Salvation Army in the United Kingdom holds an Annual Appeal for its social service work. This usually takes place around the last two weeks of September and to make this appeal a success it is reliant on people kindly volunteering their time to help out.
Here at Histon, this has been one of the best years in people supporting the Appeal with practical help and we would like to say a big thank you to all who have taken part this year. As a church, we also want to thank volunteers from the Ladybird Play & Toddler Group, Mel Gulston of Cambridge Salvation Army & Louise Jacobs of Plumstead Salvation Army who have helped out in collecting this year.
There are still collecting figures to come in but the total received in the first week alone is already well on the way to surpassing last year’s total amount collected of £570!
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES October 2005
SUNDAY
Morning Worship at 10am
JAM Club (Sunday School) at 11:30am
Housegroup at 4pm at Captains (4th Sunday of the month)
MONDAY
2:15pm to 3:30pm – Sunshine Club (Over Sixties Club)
8pm to 9:30pm – CAMEO Club for Ladies
TUESDAY
2:15pm to 3:30pm – Home League (Ladies Fellowship)
3:45pm to 4:30pm – Home League Singers Practice (fortnightly)
3:45pm to 4:30pm – Home League Bible Study (monthly)
7pm to 8pm – Band Practice
THURSDAY
6:30pm to 7:30pm – Singing Company
The Ladybird Play & Toddler Group meet in our church on Monday to Friday mornings. Please contact Linda Woodward (tel: 233503) for further information.
The 1st Impington Rainbow Guides meet on a Monday from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Please contact Nichole Woods (tel: 233927) for further information.
The 1st Histon Brownies meet on a Wednesday from 6pm to 7:15pm. Please contact Frances New (tel: 233126) for further information.
Friendship Boosts Church Attendance
The ‘best friend’ factor is the tie that binds many people to their current congregation. Aside from family members, 39% of respondents said their ‘best friend’ attends the same church, in a survey conducted by the Gallup Organisation for Group. Gallup points to the impact in several areas:
Community Life: The best friends in the same congregation attend more regularly than the loners, 72% at least once a week compared to 51% whose best friend attends a different church.
Belonging: Best friends in the same church feel more connected to the congregation (84% to 71%) and feel like the leaders care for them (82% to 67%).
Faith: Best friends in the same church feel closer to God and display a more integrated faith. They are more likely to worship and pray daily (69% to 51%) and say their faith is involved in all of life (74% to 54%).
Information provided by Major Aubrey Draycott with survey data from Gallup (April 2005)
What does The Salvation Army do?
The Salvation Army is the largest provider of social care in the UK, after the Government. Browsing this part of the website will give you a flavour of some of the work we do, from child care to elderly care, from homelessness projects to addiction rehabilitation.
The Salvation Army is primarily a Christian church, so you will also find information about the spiritual aspects of our work.
Why don't Salvationists drink, smoke or gamble?
Salvationists believe that once we have entered into a relationship with God our lives become his temple, and so we must try to adopt a lifestyle that is beneficial to our well-being. Body, mind and soul are closely interrelated and what has an adverse effect on one may well affect the other.
Alcoholic drink
The misery and poverty of London’s East End, which was often exacerbated by excessive drinking, led the Army’s Founders to regard drink as a social evil. They made total abstinence from alcohol a condition of membership because abstinence rather than moderation seemed to them to be the most effective answer to the tragedies caused by drunkenness and alcoholism.
Today, tragedies caused through excessive drinking are no less in evidence, and the Army feels it would be hypocritical to come alongside and try to help in such situations unless its own members practised abstinence from that which was the root cause of these problems.
The Army would not judge people who see no harm in drinking in moderation. However, in a society where much social and business interaction revolve around alcohol, a positive stance is made by Salvationists that it is not necessary to rely on alcohol to feel confident, communicate with others or enjoy oneself.
Smoking
In an age before the dangers of smoking were known, the Founders regarded tobacco as injurious to health, a waste of money and a disagreeable thing to inflict on others. For that reason Salvationists were at first discouraged, and subsequently forbidden, to smoke. History has proved William and Catherine Booth’s views correct.
Drugs
Of course Salvationists, along with all right-thinking people, abstain from the non-medical use of drugs or addictive substances.
Gambling
Christians believe that our lives are in God’s hands. Gambling is based on luck and chance and contradicts this belief. Gambling can be addictive, causing misery to the families of those caught in its web. Salvationists want to distance themselves from anything that can be the cause of so much harm. Nor would we be happy at making gain through other people’s loss, the principle on which gambling operates.
When asked to support a lottery or raffle in aid of charity, Salvationists are free to support by making a donation instead. Salvationists do not regard their abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and gambling as a negative lifestyle, but rather we believe that it gives us the freedom to be the people God intended us to be.
What is The Salvation Army's motivation?
The Salvation Army believes there is only one God and he only should be worshipped, and that he expresses himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God’s creation of the universe was perfect but when man first deliberately disobeyed God, sin and suffering entered the world. As a result, man’s relationship with God has been spoiled.
We believe that Jesus is both truly divine and human. Through his suffering and death on the cross is given the only way by which sinful people - which means all mankind - can be forgiven. When we are forgiven, our relationship with God is put right and we receive new spiritual life. Although this is God’s free gift, we have a part to play in that process - we must be truly sorry for our wrongdoing and have faith in Jesus.
To maintain this new life we must continually have faith in Jesus and be obedient to him. Once we are ‘saved’, God gives us the help we need to live in the way he wants us to. We believe that our real selves never die but go on living beyond physical death. After this present life we will be accountable to God for how we have lived.
Those whose lives have been as God has wished will live with him in eternal happiness; those who have not done so will be unhappy forever because they had no time for God.
Changing social and economic conditions require the Army to take a critical look at, and sometimes review, parts of its structure, patterns of worship and methods of service. However, these Christian beliefs which form our doctrine are relevant to all generations and point to the unchanging answer to people’s basic need of a right relationship with God.
The Eleven Doctrines
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God; and that they only constitute the divine rule of Christian faith and practice.
We believe that there is only one God who is infinitely perfect - the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things - and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead - the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost - undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the divine and human natures are united; so that he is truly and properly God, and truly and properly man.
We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency but, by their disobedience, they lost their purity and happiness; and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has, by his suffering and death, made an atonement for the whole world, so that whosoever will may be saved.
We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.
We believe that we are justified by grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.
We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be 'wholly sanctified', and that their 'whole spirit and soul and body' may 'be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgement at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.
Why do Salvationists wear a uniform?
Early-day Salvationists started wearing uniform as a natural consequence of the Movement adopting a military character. Wearing uniform while on Salvation Army service still has distinct advantages today.
It tells the onlooker that the person wearing uniform is a professing Christian and that he or she is available to give practical or spiritual help through the Movement, if not personally. Uniform also opens the way for the wearer to be recognised and accepted as the representative of The Salvation Army in all kinds of situations.
There are also personal advantages in uniform-wearing. It helps the wearer to remember to live up to the Christian profession he or she has made. In difficult or dangerous situations the uniform can give the wearer a measure of protection. Wearing uniform also gives Salvationists a feeling of fellowship when they meet.
The intention of Salvation Army uniform is not to isolate its wearer from other people but to give a visible sign that he or she is available to serve others.
You do not have to wear uniform to be a Salvationist, although certain responsibilities like playing in the band or taking a major role in running the local corps usually entail uniform-wearing. However, Salvationists who do wear uniform feel it is a privilege to do so.
Salvationists buy their own uniforms but officers, who as ministers wear uniform for the greater part of each day, receive help toward the cost of their uniform.
People with a sharp eye will notice that Army uniforms, while having a basic style, carry a variety of trimmings such as epaulettes and badges. These denote to fellow Salvationists whether that person is an officer or soldier, the corps they belong to and whether they carry a position of responsibility within that corps.
In overseas countries the uniform is adapted so that it is in the style of the dress worn in those lands.
How is The Salvation Army funded?
The Salvation Army operates in the United Kingdom through two main trusts, The Salvation Army Trust (Central Funds) and The Salvation Army Social Work Trust (Social Work Funds), which had combined income, excluding inter fund transfers, of £186m for the year ended 31 March 2004 (2003: £185m).
Income from social services centres increased by 9% to £54.3m, as a result of an increase in the number of centres, improved occupancy rates at a number of centres and changes in the funding methodology for single homeless centres. Income from defence services centres increased by 9% to £2.2m. These centres provide catering and recreation services at military bases in the UK and Germany.
Two new centres opened in the UK during the year and the income for the year also reflects a full year of operations from the three centres, which opened during the previous year. Personal giving by Salvationists (members) increased by 5% to £24.6m. Donations and grants increased by 5% to £33m; this includes fundraising at corps and centrally run appeals.
These increases have been offset by decreases in legacies and profits on disposal of assets. Both income streams are, by nature, variable.
Sources of income 2003/2004
Disposal of assets: 4%
Investment income: 3%
Trading income: 14%
Members’ donations: 13%
Donations and grants: 18%
Legacies: 18%
Social & Defence Service centres: 30%
Expenditure 2003/2004
Church programmes: 11%
Community programmes: 11%
Territorial & divisional programmes: 10%
International programmes: 2%
Social & Defence Services centres: 32%
Other social programmes: 2%
Other support costs: 8%
Property costs: 8%
Cost of trading: 11%
Fundraising & publicity: 4%
Management & administration: 1%
Why does The Salvation Army not baptise or hold communion?
A major difference between The Salvation Army and other religious denominations is that it does not include the use of sacraments (mainly holy communion, sometimes called the Lord's Supper, and baptism) in its form of worship.
The Salvation Army has never said it is wrong to use sacraments, nor does it deny that other Christians receive grace from God through using them. Rather, the Army believes that it is possible to live a holy life and receive the grace of God without the use of physical sacraments and that they should not be regarded as an essential part of becoming a Christian.
Salvationists see the sacraments as an outward sign of an inward experience, and it is the inward experience that is the most important thing.
It should be noted that The Salvation Army did not cease to use the sacraments because of any prejudices it had against them or from any desire to be 'different'. The decision to discontinue their use was a gradual process in the minds of the Army's founders.
The reasons for The Salvation Army's cessation of the sacraments may be summarised as follows:
1. The Army's Founders felt that many Christians had come to rely on the outward signs of spiritual grace rather than on grace itself. William and Catherine Booth believed, with the Apostle Paul, that salvation came solely from the grace of God personally received by faith. They felt that much of what passed for Christianity in their day was primarily an observance of outward ritual.
2. Some Bible scholars had pointed out that there was no scriptural basis for regarding the sacraments as essential to salvation or Christian living. Many Christians assumed that Jesus commanded the use of baptism and holy communion. But there very few New Testament references to these practices and it was argued that none of them showed any intention by Jesus that they (or any other practice) should have become fixed ceremonies.
3. The sacraments had been a divisive influence in the Church throughout Christian history and at times the cause of bitter controversy and abuse.
4. Some churches would not allow women to administer the sacraments. The Army, however, believed that women may take an equal part in its ministry, and did not want to compromise this stance.
5. The Society of Friends (the Quakers) had managed to live holy lives without the use of sacraments.
6. Many early-day converts to the Army had previously been alcoholics. It was considered unwise to tempt them with the wine used in holy communion.
To a large extent this is still the Salvationist's standpoint. However, it should be stressed that Salvationists have never been in opposition to the sacraments. Indeed, when they take part in gatherings with Christians from other churches, Salvationists will often share in using the symbols of the Lord's Supper as a sign of fellowship. Furthermore, Salvationists are not prevented from being baptised in other churches should they so desire.
Why doesn't The Salvation Army hold any communion services?
(from The War Cry, 28 February 1987)
The answer must be a two-part one.
First, it is felt that there are some very real dangers in forms of religion which place heavy dependence on ceremonies and rituals. Meaningful symbols can become meaningless rituals, and have often done so. The Salvation Army places the emphasis on personal faith and on a spiritual relationship with God which is not dependent on anything external.
Further, Church history shows that disputes about the detailed practice and meaning of such ceremonies have often been a divisive factor between Christians.
The second part of the answer is to point out that the belief of many Christians that the use of the sacrament of communion was commanded by Christ as essential for all Christians for all time, can be no more than an assumption.
They interpret certain texts in the light of hindsight: that is, they read back into history their present background of belief and practice and assume that Jesus or the Early Church leaders were requiring observance of the ceremony - though it may be possible to interpret their words in other senses.
For example, take the sentence in Luke 22:19 (AV), 'This do in remembrance of me', which is thought by many to command what we now know as communion. It could equally well be a suggestion to the Twelve that they should think of Jesus whenever they shared the annual Passover meal or had any meal together (for that is what they were doing), in much the same way as Christians today remember Jesus whenever they say grace before any meal.
The binding nature of this statement is further brought into question when one studies the background of the sentence. It does not appear in Matthew or Mark, nor does it appear in some of the oldest manuscripts in Luke (and therefore is left out of some modern translations of that gospel). It has been suggested that it comes from elsewhere, eg 1 Corinthians 11:24 (to which we shall return). If we look at John's gospel we find that the symbolic act there (John 13:3-17) is feet-washing. Why do sacramental Christians not observe this as a binding command, when they do so with the rather less certain one about bread and wine?
There is no doubt that Christians in the Early Church did share common meals, but initially they were meals, not ceremonies (Acts 2:42-46; 4:32; 20:7, 11, 27:33-38). 1 Corinthians shows, however, that in that one church at least they soon ceased to be occasions of real sharing (1 Corinthians 11:17-22) .
To give the meal more spiritual meaning and dignity Paul used the traditional teaching about the last supper (11:23-24) to steer them away from selfish 'binge-ing' and towards real Christian sharing in the spirit of Christ.
It should be noted, however that 15 of the 21 New Testament letters make no mention at all of the ceremony which so many Christians now regard as essential to Christian living.
For a time both kinds of meal continued (Sunday morning - communion; evening - common meal). Then gradually the ceremonial became dominant and more and more ritualistic.
The Army does not hold its position as an article of faith or doctrine, but simply as one of practice. So it does not debar anyone who wishes to partake in such a ceremony or prevent anyone who wishes to enter a communion service as a sign of fellowship with other Christians.
It also recognises that many sincere Christians find the communion ceremony to be a deeply meaningful aid to worship and devotion, and a help towards drawing a Christian community closer together.
Baptism
The Army Founders’ attitude to baptism was similar to that of Communion. They saw dangers that the rite could replace the reality of entering into a living relationship with Jesus, and so they decided that the Army would not practise adult baptism.
To become a Salvation Army soldier a person must first and foremost acknowledge that they have asked God for forgiveness for their wrongdoing and that Jesus Christ is their saviour from sin.
Recruits - as those who wish to become Salvation Army soldiers are known - study the Army’s doctrines and the principles and practice of a Salvationist lifestyle before a swearing-in ceremony takes place, usually in a Sunday meeting. During this, recruits stand under the Army flag and publicly acknowledge their salvation from sin, state their belief in the Army’s doctrines and promise to live by the standards laid out in the ‘articles of war’. They then sign a copy of these articles of war and a prayer is said asking for God’s help in keeping those promises.
While this ceremony is a serious occasion, it is also a very joyful one with the new soldier being warmly greeted by the congregation and by individual fellow-Salvationists.
As with the ceremony of Communion, Salvationists are not forbidden to be baptised in another church if they feel this is right for them as individuals, and the Army has from time to time reconsidered its stance on the sacraments, and continues to keep it under review.