THE SALVATION ARMY

MAIDSTONE CORPS

Winter 2013

2

Dear All,

In just a few days time some of our American family will be with us for the festive season. We are so excited to have them with us so we can share a ‘British Christ-mas’ with our daughter-in-law and the grandchildren – a roast turkey (they seem to prefer them at Thanksgiv-ing) with all the trimmings, Christmas cake and pud-ding, mistletoe and holly berries, carolling in the street, church bells, a Christmas morning family service, the Queen’s Speech, and no snow (probably!). It will be wonderful.

We spent Christmastime with them a few years back and it was different, but they still kept the Babe of Bethlehem central to the celebration. Gathering with family is very important to American people. It seems to bring back their historical roots as once their people moved out in family groups across the vast expanses westwards towards the Pacific Ocean. Our impression is that the family as a unit is of greater importance to them than it is to us in the United Kingdom.

For many cultures family holds a strong meaning about who they are as a people – caring, forgiving, in-clusive, protective, loving – often built upon deep reli-gious significance as well as a survival instinct. But, how many times have you heard someone say, ‘This is

3

going to be the best Christmas, ever’, only for it to fall completely flat before a cracker is pulled?

Consider this story:

‘Christmas was going to be different this year. The fa-ther called a family conference and challenged them to be more disciplined in the management of their time during

the busy Christmas season and to curtail excessive spending on gifts. He talked about better relations between visiting rela-tives and a more congenial atmosphere around their home. He brought his speech to a crescendo with his final rallying cry, “Let’s make this the best Christmas EVER!” His little son coun-tered the big motivational speech by noting, “But, Dad, I don’t see how we could ever improve on the first Christmas.” ‘

No, we will never come anywhere near improving on that first Christmas. We can, however, live in the light of it in such a way as to allow its pure joy to infect us and inspire us to good and loving deeds done in the Name of Jesus, the Christ-child.

‘From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the Law was given by Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.’ JOHN 1: 16, 17

May your family and Christmas be different – blessed with grace and truth.

Yours in Christ,

Grayson & Janice Williams—Majors

4

EDITORIAL COMMENT

M y first words must be on behalf of Philip, Christine and

myself, a Happy New Year to all our readers and thank

you for all your interest and contributions. One of the things

that would make our year very happy is to hear someone say, “

I’ve written something for the magazine or for Philip to get an

email direct (philip hales@blueyonder.co.uk) having said that

we are glad to welcome two new contributors.

When I read their articles my mind went back to a situation

some years ago. I was serving on a committee and we were

meeting to plan our role in a particular thanksgiving service

whilst waiting for some members to arrive, two of the men were

discussing their respective visits to a church—both at different

churches and reasons and times. I was all ears!! Rob had been a

Sunday School member, but left in his teenage years and had

only attended for the customary marriages or funerals. James on

the other hand had never been anywhere near a place of wor-

ship, ‘other than on a bus’, I learned. Following the service Rob

challenged the Vicar, “why don’t you have hymns we know”?

“Well the organist, likes a change”, replied the Vicar. I cringed

and interrupted. “Didn’t you ask why”, I said “Oh no! Nobody

was interested in me”.. James’ reaction was very similar and they

both concluded that Christian worship to them was like learning

a foreign language—maybe you're good at it and maybe not and

regular worshippers haven’t a clue what outsiders feel and how

confusing it all is .

Since that time I have often wondered how new people feel if

and when they come into our Hall. Fortunately, our two new

5

contributors felt the warmth of kindness and fellowship when

they attended.

About 18 months ago a man came into the Hall for some rea-

son and picked up a copy of Grapevine because of the notice,

“Please help yourself ”. He later wrote to tell me that William

Booth had started the Salvation Army and if I wanted any more

information he would help me to find it. Those differing situa-

tions have caused me to think carefully—”What if I’m the first

person they see or talk to, would my reaction cause them to feel

the warmth of fellowship or like a foreigner.

In one of our songs, Ruth Tracy put it more succinctly—Only

as I truly know thee can I make truly known—only bring the

power to others, which in my own life is shown.

This edition concludes the series, “From a Goldfish Bowl”, by

Colonel Pressland. Nothing I can write will adequately express

our appreciation of his contribution to our magazine. If you

have kept the previous copies you will have a complete explana-

tion of our beliefs as a Christian Salvationist in the simplest, yet

most profound terms—Thank You, Colonel.

May 2014 be a time of reflection, refining and rewarding for us

all.

Happy reading Violet E Clarke

EDITOR

6

THE LOOM OF TIME

Tis winter now; the fallen snow

has left the heavens all coldly clear;

through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow,

and all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God's love is not withdrawn;

his life within the keen air breathes;

his beauty paints the crimson dawn,

and clothes each branch with glittering wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow,

and skies are chill, and frosts are keen,

home closer draws her circle now,

and warmer glows her light within.

O God, you give the winter's cold,

as well as summer's joyous rays,

you warmly in your love enfold,

and keep us through life's wintry days.

Samuel Longfellow 1819 - 92

7

IN HIS SERVICE

This is by way of a thank you, to each one of you in the Corps,

Many of whom, l have yet to meet,

Besides your warm greetings at the door.

It's Jesus‘ loving welcome, which brings in the lonely soul,

His guiding light, His Love, His Truth, which makes each of us whole.

I long to be more like Him; to love Him more each day,

To learn to trust Him as a child, link hands in His; He leads the way.

Many folk may have no idea, How Jesus used you to bring cheer.

Some bring a smile, others a handshake, Some serve teas, others bake cakes.

Some lead the singers with a ministry of song,

Help bring us to a place of worship, join in the Heavenly throng,

Of worship to the One who flung stars into space,

Each one He orchestrated to occupy it's place.

And so we join together, to be His hands, His feet,

In guiding weary souls to find, in His presence they will meet,

The only One, who can be totally relied upon to meet their deepest need,

His name is Jesus; He is the Bread of Life- the Saviour of whom we read,

His Word, our manual for living, ensures in Him, we will succeed.

For those who've not had a mention, you're not to feel excluded,

Jesus knows and loves each one of you- He'll make sure you're included.

I was so glad to be given the opportunity to give thanks, since so many folk in the

Corps have been used by the Lord Jesus, as an instrument of His blessing.

I give thanks for the members of the band, the Songsters and an especial thank you

to each member of the Singing Company. I take my hat off to you for your cour-

age and commitment (l felt real nervous when singing up the front with the Square

Mile Gospel Choir!) and appreciate all that Lisa has imparted, by way of her en-

ergy, enthusiasm and joy. There's been many a time, when Jesus has used you guys

to turn my tears of sadness into tears of gladness.

Last and not least, in fact it should be first and foremost, l want to give thanks to

the Lord Jesus, for demonstrating his loving kindness through so many of you in

the Corps. it's meant so much to me, on this my journey to wholeness.

Every Blessing to you all and your Families, at such a time as this.

In His Family, with His Love.

Angela Baker

8

WORDS FROM THE WORD

NEHEMIAH 12:1 - 47

JOY A MARK OF QUALITY LIVING!

‘Joy to the world the Lord has come’ is the song writers proclamation that

the promised Messiah has arrived. Its that time of year again when we are all ex-

pected to be joyful and happy, after all its Christmas isn‘t it.

We could be forgiven though for asking what have we got to be joyful about

with all the problems that millions of people are facing around the world each

and every day. People are struggling with opposition and frustration, loneliness,

separation from loved ones, and people are hurting and can’t sleep at night be-

cause of worry and pressure.

In this chapter of Nehemiah, he and his people remind us that it is not our cir-

cumstances that make us joyous but how we respond to those circumstances

A Christian writer defines joy as ’A deep settled confidence in the person,

promises and plans of God.’ What an excellent definition for us to hold onto in

our times of challenge.

This chapter of Nehemiah 12 will help us face life joyfully and rejoice no matter

what our situation may be. Our load will lighten as we see things from God’s

viewpoint and as we learn his thoughts, the friction of living will lessen.

Nehemiah’s people had no doubts about the source of their joy, Vs43 tells

us. ‘God, had given them great joy‘? They had been prisoners in Babylon for 70

years - they had lost all hope - but God had brought them back to Jerusalem -

given them a great leader who mobilized them into a powerful workforce that

rebuilt the walls of the city in spite of almost impossible challenges. Now, God

was building them into a community of His people giving them a new direction

that was to last for 400 years. God was with them, leading them and they trusted

in His promises and let Him work out His plans in their lives. ‘God had given

them great Joy He had fulfilled His promise in Jeremiah 29: 10 - 14 why would-

n’t they be joyful?’

These people proved that circumstances don’t produce joy. God gives joy to

His people as they follow Him. Joy arises out of our relationship with Him. It

does not matter how we feel about what our circumstances are, as we trust God,

he will supply our every need.

9

However, for joy to be continuous the heart must be clean. Nehemiah high-

lights this in Vs27-29. All was ready for the dedication of the walls but before

that could take place there had to be the rite of purification (Vs30). Whatever

else they did that day, cleansing from sin and the committing of life, gates and

walls to God was a very important part of it. This is not difficult for us to under-

stand, because we all fall at times, we become careless, we try to cheat on God,

we lash out in anger and we hurt and cut people. We criticise and gossip and

speak ill of others, all of which kills joy quicker than a dose of diarrhoea. So

how do we maintain joy, well the Bible tells us 1John 1:7 - 9. A life of joy is a

life constantly cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Before there can be happiness of

life there must be holiness of life. We note also that joy produces great sacrifice

Vs43a. People filled with the joy of their salvation give generously. They had so

much to thank God for they gave and found great joy in giving. Lives filled with

joy will give cheerfully and generously, they don’t see giving as a sacrifice but

as an expression of thankfulness and gratitude to God.

For Nehemiah and his people it also produced great strength (Neh 8;10).

They found that with joy comes a strength that is undefeatable. Why.? Because

we can’t be children of God, share the life of God, be with God without obtain-

ing His strength too. As joy flows strength flows. Nehemiah refused to let San-

ballat and Tobiah and company or anyone else for that matter control his joy or

conquer him. He had joy that gave him spiritual strength to overcome his cir-

cumstances and to bring glory to God.

Finally it produced great surrender Vs 44 - 47. They rejoiced in living ac-

cording to God’s will - scientists, school teachers, politicians, business men,

traders, farmers, doctors, mothers, fathers, young people - they all surrendered to

God’s will. This made their joy complete in life ad their joy made them compe-

tent to cope with life. No one could fail to

experience Nehemiah and his people’s joy

in Jerusalem. Our joy can be as irresistible

and audible wherever we are today. Joy be-

gins and ends with a life focused on God

and nothing shows us how to do this better

than Jesus (Heb 12; 2-3).

What about your life - is your confidence

in the person, promises and plans of

God?.........

David Wakefield

10

W hen the music fades...........and we look back on an amazing

achievement, I am humbled when I recall:

a cast and crew of 80+ from Maidstone Corps who prayed, performed

and praised together and as a result in excess of 700 people heard the

Gospel in a new way

the creativity of our own Lighting Director and the fact that The

Hazlitt Theatre Lighting Crew asked for Jesus Folk Tee shirts

that the Hippies/Hoodies stole the show and the dancing Hippy/

Hoodie deserved an Oscar!

the Crucifixion scene and the precision of Jesus' hands nailed to the

cross

the determination to 'get it right' by cast and orchestra alike

the conversations on all levels with new people and old friends that

took place because of Jesus Folk

the creativity and imagination that was inspired

the portrayal of the characters by those in the cast as they brought

them to life before our eyes

the unwavering and dedicated support of the chorus

the willingness of all to get involved and be involved no matter what

needed to be done

the scenery, costumes and make up

those who started rehearsals, reserved and shy and ended the final per-

formance, positively extrovert!

the look between Jesus and Peter

the many stories told by an audience that heard God speak to them

those who came out of interest and left interested

that Jesus said: 'Whatever you ask in my Name, I will do'.

And He certainly did!

HAZELL BALL

11

Alpine Glory 15 – 28 July 2014

Based in the splendour of the Austrian Tirol and Alpine countryside, Keith and Pamela Tho-

mas are planning to return with a group of friends to the Park Hotel in St Johan in Tirol,

which served their groups so well during their holidays following attendance at the Oberam-

mergau Passion Play in 2010.

In conversation, Keith and Pam have indicated that if anyone from the Corps would like to

join them they will be most welcome to do so.

The holiday will include a visit behind the scenes at the Passion Play Theatre before travelling

to St Johan for the remainder of the holiday.

Accommodation at the hotel will include:

Breakfast

4 course evening meal to include drinks

Free transfer to a mountain zither afternoon

Coffee and tea during the afternoons

Weekly barbeque with music

Free use of the public tennis courts

Free bike – hire

Free use of public leisure centre

In addition the cost of the holiday will include excursions to Salzburg, Innsbruck, Salzkam-

mergut (of The Sound of Music fame), the Grossglockner, Krimml Falls and many other inter-

esting alpine locations – even an opportunity to travel into a salt mine!

All you will need to budget for will be lunches, entry to attractions and any personal expendi-

ture.

If this is of interest please see Keith for further information and details.

12

DOREEN HARDMAN

T his series began with the lady who was no. 01 on the roll –

Margaret Bevan. Since then many have shared their story

with us, sometimes those who have served a long time and others

of comparatively short service and here in Doreen we have

another lady who has given time and energy in faithful service.

She is no. 4 on the roll.

Doreen with her elder brother was born to Salvationist

parents in Millom, Cumbria. Her childhood was spent involved

in the usual activities which the Army provide and on leaving

school worked in a factory making handbags. However, she

moved to another factory to learn needlework. Following

marriage, and her husband’s job change, she moved to Maidstone

in 1959 and soon settled in the Corps. Bandmaster, Bert Upjohn

offered her employment in the Crown wallpaper business and she

worked there for nine very happy years, until her Son Martin was

born. Martin arrived at a very appropriate time for that year

Doreen was Mary in the Christmas pageant with a very real and

lively baby, Jesus. Seven years later Rachel was born. Martin

now has his own electrical business in Gravesend and Rachel is

at the Canterbury Oast Trust caring for animals and when she

comes home at weekends her enthusiasm for Army activity is an

inspiration for us all.

Whilst in these latter years Doreen has worked behind the

scenes her contribution to the Army’s Service has been

phenomenal in so many ways. For a long time she was the only

pianist, playing for the Singing Company, Songsters and Corps.

13

Of those years she says – “overall my playing I was never

under any illusion of my ability, enough to say I was the only one

available at the time and that was it. I was never Stuart

Atkinson’s calibre, more like Les Dawson, but I did my best and

only the Lord knows what it cost me. We were fortunate that we

had transfers in and I remember there were at least three pianists.

Then of course our youngsters grew up and excelled so I,

thankfully for everyone, faded into the sunset”.

Doreen’s other valuable contribution was that of Corps Treasurer,

a position she held for sixteen years, and still helps the financial

section in any way she can. Apart from normal activities her real

expertise lies in cooking. She has catered for a number of Corps

weddings over the years, as well as a normal run of meals for all

section activities.

On the two occasions we had a week of guided prayer in

2007 and 2009, ably assisted by Christine Gerring, she prepared

two meals a day for the ten Guides and all were surprised at the

excellent quality of the food she provided.

Doreen has experienced many difficulties in life and at present is

coping with quite severe health problems, but her faith is strong,

and though sometimes she

wonders why, but she is

quite content to believe that

God knows, so she leaves it

with him. It is people like

Doreen who have made the

Army the strong

organisation it is today, and

is an example to us all that

faithfulness brings it’s own

reward..

14

Always do right: This will gratify some people and astonish

the rest....Mark Twain

Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have

to eat them.

Be like a postage stamp - stick to one thing until you get there.

Be true to your teeth, or they'll be false to you.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That

way you're a mile away, and you have their shoes too.

Cooking lesson #1: don't fry bacon in the nude.

Drive carefully. It‘s not only cars that can be recalled by their

maker.

Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen

to you for the rest of the day.

Eat your spinach and you‘ll grow up .big and strong like Pop-

eye. You'll also end up with a girlfriend that looks like Olive Oyl.

Growl all day and you'll be dog tired at night.

If at first you DO succeed, try not to look astonished.

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple

of car payments.

It is better to keep your mouth shut, and look like a fool, than

to open your mouth, and remove all doubt.

It‘s nice to be important, but more important to be nice.

Take the time to be right. It's faster than being wrong.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to

buy a replacement.

Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you've never

been hurt. Dance like nobody is looking.

Gill Paxton

15

A s a newcomer to the Salvation Army Church, I was

very interested to learn about each person’s role in

uniform, and how they assist the public in need. Whether

in this country or abroad. I thought it may be useful for a

list of this type to be shown in the reception area of our

church, along with all the activities also advertised in the

Weekly Bulletin, so that if I wished to volunteer my time

to the Army, then I may know who to approach in charge

of whatever service.

There is apart from this suggestion one of the

things I would like to see is a club for single people, at

some time – possibly on a weekday. Where those who live

alone, and are so often isolated, could meet for just a cof-

fee and a chat. I think most of the activities at the Hall are

for a specific purpose. I can honestly say any newcomer

to the church would receive a very warm welcome by

members as I was given. If they wish to be a volunteer I

know through my own experience, it can be a very re-

warding way to use spare hours of the day.

Patricia Day

16

THIS month’s viewpoint from a member of the Corps:

Terry Wakefield

BAND PIECE — ‘The Eternal Quest’ by Lieu-tenant Colonel (Dr) Ray Steadman-Allen

As a trombone player, this is my obvious choice for a

band composition. Many would have played this chal-

lenging, demanding solo, by getting all the right notes

in the right order, but few would have performed it, so

conveying the original idea and thoughts of the com-

poser. I find it a most moving description of life’s

journey as quest to be more like Christ, to arrive at the

last couple of triumphant last bars.

SONGSTER PIECE - ‘His Provision’ Words; John Gowans, Music; Ivor Bosanko

I have no over-whelming choice of songster compo-

sition. All are beautiful, in their time and place. We are

blessed by pre- meeting music by our songsters, and

17

again as part of our worship. I have never been disap-

pointed. OK if you twist my arm for long enough, I

would have to say “His Provision,” A rare example of

song and poetry, beautiful with or without the music.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG - ‘Number 59’ by General Albert Orsborn

My choice of congregational song is also wide

open, I am easily pleased, just dip into any Albert Ors-

born song, and find scripture, sound doctrine and

teaching, poetry and challenge. I have a special place

in my heart for song No. 59 and a part of the last

verse, “bring me at last to see, the courts of God, that

city fair, and find my name is written there”.

Then my Eternal quest will be over, I would have

proved His provision.

18

W e have already seen how important it is to know what we

believe - our beliefs shape what we are, determine our

behaviour, enable our witness to others to be clear and

unambiguous. As we come to the last three of our Salvation Army

Beliefs (Doctrines) let us ask ourselves what the Christian

“Journey” should look like:-

Our last three doctrines broadly focus on the Christian journey as

followers of our Lord Jesus Christ:-

Doctrine 9. LIFE AFTER WE ARE “SAVED” On the journey of

life, how do we keep the experience of our conversion alive and

fresh? Is it possible to “lose” this experience and go back to being

“unsaved”?

On this journey we will be under attack, we will face the danger of

gradually absorbing and following the ways of the world which we

renounced at conversion. God has made it possible for us to make

our own choices. He has given us His “Workshop Manual”, the Bi-

ble, the life, teaching and example of His son Jesus and His Holy

Spirit to guide us. We can choose to disobey this guidance, we can

become less keen to study His Word and keep close to Him in

prayer, we can face our old and several new temptations to sin and

sadly find it possible to go back (We call this “Backsliding”) “Our

salvation is not an inert condition to be preserved, nor an insurance

policy which needs no further investment” It is the beginning of a

pilgrimage, a ‘faith’ journey inviting us to a life of discipleship

which will make itself evident by the way we live. The investment

options for every Christian are to grow in obedience to our Lord Je-

sus not by some superhuman strength of our own, but with His

help (Which we call “Grace”) or to deceive ourselves into thinking

that we can ignore all guidance He gives, coast along in our own

19

strength and find ourselves lost in the confusing maze of doubt and

despair.:-

“We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon

continued obedient faith in Christ”

Doctrine 10. WHAT DOES SPIRITUAL GROWTH LOOK

LIKE? How do we make progress? What is “Holiness”? Is it really

possible to live without sinning?

When we consciously set out after conversion to invest in a journey

of spiritual growth and adventure, we find that we are becoming

open more fully to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. The

Spirit begins His work of equipping us to follow the teaching and

example of our Lord Jesus, to recognise that this process is a

“Journey” and not a ”Destination” nor an automatic process, but

one in which we are open to changes in our lifestyle as we try to

live in harmony with God’s purposes not our own. We become

willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work with us to make this possi-

ble, and to obey the command of God to be Holy (see 1 Peter 1:16).

We use several descriptions of this spiritual growth:- “sanctification”

being the most common, but also “Full Salvation”, “Holiness” etc.

The word “Sanctification” comes from the Greek and Hebrew

words which describe God’s Holiness and the way in which His

people are “Made Holy” and “set apart”. As we discover the power

of the Holy Spirit to help us we can see that it is related to that first

experience of “Saving Faith” which led

to our conversion but which also takes

us forward in our journey. The chal-

lenges which face us as Christians

(powerlessness, disillusionment and

guilt) which come as we find ourselves

facing temptations we thought were

left behind when we were saved, help

us to realise that being saved does not

free us from the attacks to our faith

20

and the power of sin, but also make us aware of the power of the

Spirit to enable us to overcome. We may have victory over sin, and

may grow in spiritual maturity becoming more and more like our

saviour Jesus.:-

“We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanc-

tified, and that their whole spirit and soul and body may be pre-

served blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Doctrine 11. WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL? Where will

our “Journey” take us? What happens after death? What do we

mean by “Heaven” and “Hell” ?

“The SA Handbook of Doctrine” entitles this last of the eleven arti-

cles of faith as “Kingdom of the risen Lord” (the doctrine of last

things.”) Jesus rose from death, His resurrection is at the heart of

our faith. It tells us that death does not have the last word over our

destiny; God does. “When we die, we die into the life of God” We

use the expression “The immortality of the soul” to express our be-

lief in life after death. This is an extension of the relationship

which we have already developed with Him during our life on

earth. This “eternal life is not simply unending time, but a quality

of life in the presence of God” We cannot imagine what this will

look like, but God’s Word describes it as abundant, everlasting life

with no end and love with no end. Our biological death is real, it is

a God-given “Limitation on fallen human existence” but because of

Jesus it is not the end, and whilst at death everything that is physical

dies, whether we are saved or unsaved, what we essentially are re-

mains until God brings us to participate in the general resurrection

and final judgement of Christ. ( Matt 25:31-46; Romans 2:5-

11;1Cor 15: 50-54; 1 Tim 6: 13-16) The “Resurrection of the

body” means, not that we will become disembodied spirits, but rec-

ognisable as having the essential characteristics of our earthly per-

sonality and relationship with Christ - whole persons, fully alive

with Christ in God. The doctrine book points out that Jesus died a

21

real death on a real cross, “His resurrection was a re-creation, not a

resuscitation!” Not for instance like Lazarus who was raised only

eventually to die again. Our resurrection, too through Christ, will

be a total “re-creation” But what about our ultimate accountability?

Sin, to our Holy God, is totally unacceptable, his ‘wrath’ is directed

towards it, He takes it seriously enough for Him to have sent His

Son Jesus to die for us “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to

Himself ” (2 Cor 5:17-21) What wonderful Love - summed up by

Charles Wesley’s song (SASB 283) “No condemnation now I dread,

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine. Alive in him, my living head, and

clothed in righteousness divine. Bold, I approach the eternal throne,

and claim the crown, through Christ my own” (v 4 I suggest that

you read the whole song!)

Our eleventh Doctrine reminds us that in the final analysis, the na-

ture of our life after death will depend upon the conscious choices

we have made during our earthly life. God, in His love and mercy,

has provided for our salvation. But He has left us to make our own

choices about His provision. May we each make the best and right

choices - it is in our hands.

“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”

Colonel Michael Pressland

This concludes an excellent series from the Quill of the Colonel.

— we need a lobby group to request the Colonel to produce some-

thing for the future!!!

22

W e have our Christmas traditions in the West, decorating

a pine tree – do you know why? (Long before the ad-

vent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained

green all year had a special meaning for people in the

winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive

season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen

boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was be-

lieved that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits,

and illness.), hanging up stockings in the hope that some loved one

will fill it with goodies! However, after watching some TV pro-

gramme over Christmas where it was mentioned that in Poland in

some homes - some hay is put under the tablecloth (it is connected

with Christ's manger) I began thinking that you may find it interesting

to know what other curious happenings take place in other regions.

Additional to the hay thing special tasks are carried out during Advent,

the baking of the Christmas Piernik or honey cake, and the making of

Christmas decorations. Pierniki, which are made in a great variety of

shapes, including hearts, animals and St Nicholas figures.

In Argentina houses are decorated with red and white garlands;

on the door Father Christmas's Boots are placed. On Christmas Eve,

they open the presents under the Christmas tree. That day is very

special for because they are Christian and celebrate Jesus' birth on the

24th of December.

In Egypt, in the Coptic Church, Christmas is celebrated on the

7th January. Advent is observed for forty days and during this period

people are expected to fast eating no meat, poultry or dairy products.

23

Some people only do this during the last week of Advent.

On the Eve of Christmas everyone goes to church wearing a com-

pletely new outfit (this is a common tradition in many places). The

Christmas service ends at midnight with the ringing of church bells,

then people go home to eat a special Christmas meal known as fata,

which consists of bread, rice, garlic and boiled meat.

On Christmas morning people in Egypt visit friends and neighbours

(this too is quite common behaviour). They take with them kaik,

which is a type of shortbread, which they take with them to give to the

people they visit and eaten with a drink known as shortbat. Christmas

Day is a public holiday for Christians.

In Greenland there is a lot of visiting of families, drinking cof-

fee and eating cakes, as well as giving of brightly wrapped presents,

which might consist of a model sledge, a pair of tusks, or even a seal-

skin mitt.

Everyone in the village gets a gift and children go from hut to hut,

singing songs.

Christmas trees are imported (owing to the fact that there are no ap-

preciable sized trees growing there) and decorated with candles as well

as bright ornaments. There is dancing most of the night. After the

coffee, cakes and carols everyone is given Mattak, which is whale skin

with a strip of blubber inside is given to everyone. The taste of it is

much like coconut, but is tough to chew and is usually just swallowed.

Another food that is eaten is Kiviak which consists of raw flesh of an

auk (bird, similar to penguins), which has been buried whole in seal-

skin for several months until it has reached an advanced stage of de-

composition.

This is the one night when the women are waited on by the men.

In Portugal the tradition of gift-giving was defined mostly by

the strong Christian religious beliefs of the people. Children await the

coming of the Three Wise Men during Christmas time. On the eve of

January 5th children place their shoes along windowsills and doorways

and fill them with carrots and straw. They do this hoping that this will

24

lure the wise men's horses to their houses during the night and that

they will find their shoes packed with gifts and treats in the morning.

The treats left are more likely to be candied fruits and sweet breads.

In Russia the religious festival of Christmas is being replaced by

the Festival of Winter, but there are some traditions that are still kept

up in some parts of the country.

In the traditional Russian Christmas, special prayers are said and peo-

ple fast, sometimes for 39 days, until January 6th Christmas Eve, when

the first evening star appears in the sky. Then begins a twelve course

supper in honour of each of the twelve apostles - fish, beet soup or

Borsch, cabbage stuffed with millet, cooked dried fruit and much

more.

Hay is spread on the floors and tables to encourage horse feed to grow

in the coming year and people make clucking noises to encourage

their hens to lay eggs.

On Christmas Day, hymns and carols are sung. People gather in

churches, which have been decorated with the usual Christmas trees

or Yelka, flowers and coloured lights.

Christmas dinner includes a variety of different meats - goose and

suckling pig are favourites.

Babushka is a traditional Christmas figure who distributes presents to

children. Her name means grandmother and the legend is told that

she declined to go with the wise men to see Jesus because of the cold

weather. However, she regretted not going and sets off to try and

catch up, filling her basket with presents. She never found Jesus, and

that is why she visits each house, leaving toys for good children.

In Yugoslavia, children celebrate the second Sunday before

Christmas as Mother's Day. The children creep in and tie her feet to a

chair and shout, "Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get

away?" She then gives them presents. Children play the same trick on

their father the week after. Those Yugoslavs who live in the country

fear bad luck if their Christmas log burns out and so someone has to

stand over the log all Christmas night to ensure it stays lit. A Christ-

25

mas cake called chestnitsa, contains a gold or silver coin and it is said

that whomever gets it can expect lots of good luck. The Yugoslavs eat

roast pig as their Christmas dish and it must be carved a particular way,

according to old customs. Every household has a Christmas crib. Ac-

cording to old customs they go on an expedition to the forests to

gather moss with which to line the crib. Also families would have an

old-fashioned music box that plays Christmas carols.

In Sicily the Sicilians fast from December 23rd at sunset to the

December 24th at sunset. They then have a great Yule log which is

kindled. After prayers and songs are done around the Presepio or crib

the feast begins.

The foods that might be served are eels and larks, boiled pasta, fish,

sweet bread and Torrone a type of nougat.

The children are visited by La Befana on January 6. She was said to

have been so busy cleaning her house that she missed out on going

with the three wise men to Bethlehem (observe the likeness to Ba-

bushka, in Russia). She was also considered to be a witch. Children

hang up their stockings so that she will fill them with toys and gifts.

26

In The Philippines - the only Asian nation in which Christian-

ity is the religion chosen by the people. Christmas celebrations start

nine days before Christmas with a mass known as Misa de Gallo. At

this mass the story behind the birth of Christ is read from the Bible.

The Panunuluyan pageant is held each Eve. A couple is chosen to re-

enact Joseph and Mary's search for shelter.

Mass is held hourly on Christmas Day so that everyone can attend.

Religious services include pastore, or play, based on myth of the birth

of the Christ Child. The pastore closes with a star from the upper part

of the church sliding down a wire and coming to rest over the church's

Nativity scene.

Christmas celebrations may have evolved from old tribal customs

mixed with other influences. Serenading cumbancheros, or strolling

minstrels, end their performances by singing Maligayang Pasko to the

tune of "Happy Birthday".

In Greece, on Christmas Eve, children, especially boys, often

go out singing 'kalanda' (carols) in the streets. They play drums and

triangles as they sing. Sometimes the will also carry model boats deco-

rated with nuts which are painted gold. Carrying a boat is a very old

custom in the Greek Islands.

If the children sing well, they might be given money, nuts, sweets and

dried figs to eat.

Christmas Trees are becoming more popular in Greece, but they aren't

traditional. Instead most houses will have a shallow wooden bowl

with a piece of wire which is suspended across the rim. A sprig of

basil wrapped around a wooden cross hangs from the wire. Some wa-

ter is kept in the bowl to keep the basil alive and fresh. Once a day,

someone, usually the mother of the family, dips the cross and basil

into some holy water and uses it to sprinkle water in each room of the

house.

This is believed to keep the 'Killantzaroi' (bad spirits) away. The Kil-

lantzaroi are meant to appear only during the 12-day period from

Christmas to the Epiphany (January 6th). They are supposed to come

from the middle of the earth and get into people's house through the

27

chimney! The Killantzaroi do things like putting out fires and making

milk go off. Having a fire burning through the twelve days of Christ-

mas is also meant to keep the Killantzaroi away.

Every December, in Aristotelous Square in the city of Thessaloniki

(which is the second biggest city Greece) a huge Christmas Tree and

three masted sailing ships are erected. It's a popular tourist attraction.

Going to a Midnight Mass Service is very important for most Greeks.

After the service people can go home and end their Advent fast.

The main Christmas meal is often Lamb or pork, roasted in an oven

or over an open spit. It's often served with a spinach and cheese pie

and various salads and vegetables. Other Christmas and new year

foods include 'Baklava' (a sweet pastry made of filo pastry filled with

chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey), Kataifi (a pastry

made from a special form of shredded filo dough and flavored with

nuts and cinnamon), Theeples (a kind of fried pastry).

A traditional table decoration is loaves of 'christopsomo' (Christ

bread). It's a round sweet loaf and the crust is often decorated with

what the family do for a living (if you're a fisherman there would be

fish, etc.).

Would You Believe it – (but didn’t want to know)

Americans eat 10 billion doughnuts a year.

Britons drink 60 billion cups of tea a year.

Heinz sell 2 sachets of Ketchup each year for every person on earth.

Over a lifetime the human heart pumps enough blood to fill a foot-

ball stadium.

A garden snail would take 3 years and 2 months to travel from John

o’ Groats to Lands End.

The faint trace of perfume left in the wake of a person passing an-

other is known as sillage!!

28

An Ode to the English Plural

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes, But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes. One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese, Yet the plural of moose should never be meese. You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice, Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice. If the plural of man is always called men, Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen? If I speak of my foot and show you my feet, And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet? If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth, Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth? Then one may be that, and there would be those, Yet hat in the plural would never be hose, And the plural of cat is cats, not cose. We speak of a brother and also of brethren, But though we say mother, we never say methren. Then the masculine pronouns are he, his and him, But imagine the feminine: she, shis and shim!

29

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incompa-rable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2 v6 - 8 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, Urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, Sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today. Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us- Self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne, Past put behind us, for the future take us: Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone. Songs of Fellowship 892 v 1 & 5

30

31

Our Weekly Services

You are welcome to join with us for worship & praise:

Sunday Worship: Family Service 10.15 (Sunday School) 10.45 Prayer Meeting 17.15 Evening Service 18.00 Youth Group 19.30

1st & 3rd Monday in month (to be confirmed) The Living Word Bible Fellowship 19.30

Tuesday: Ladies Meeting 13.30 (Home League)

Wednesday: The Parkwood Fellowship Ladies Meeting (held at the Rosemary Graham Centre Sommer Walk, Parkwood). 14.00

Wednesday: Held Fortnightly, please contact the office for the next date Cameo & Crafts 10.00

3rd Wednesday: Ladies Fellowship 20.00 Thursday: The Over 60’s Club 13.30

Contact Information

Maidstone Salvation Army 74-80 Union Street, Maidstone ME14 1ED Corps Officers: Majors Grayson & Janice Williams Captain Lynne Clifton

Administrator: Mrs Lorraine Munn Address as above. Telephone: 01622 681808

Email: Maidstone@salvationarmy.org.uk Weekly Community Events: Monday & Friday SAM’s Tots (Salvation Army Maidstone) Parent & Toddler Group 10.00 For information on other mid-week activities please telephone the ad-ministrator on the above number.

Please telephone 01622 681808 for

further information and/or to check

32

Closing date for next issue is 15th Mar, 2014

to be sent to the Editor or Philip Hales at

email: philiphales@blueyonder.co.uk