Inspire. Joy in a Box. Major Brian Miller tells us about Mission Romania. Helping And Encouraging

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1 The Salvation Army Herts and Essex Divisional Headquarters Inspire Helping And Encouraging Joy in a Box Major Brian Miller tells us about Mission Romania HertsandEssex@salvationarmy.org.uk The Salvation Army is a registered charity, number in England and Wales and number SC in Scotland. If you have received this newsletter via and you no longer wish to do so, please let us know by contacting us using the contact details above. 1. Inspire 18th October 2018

2 2. Inspire 18th October 2018 Welcome to Herts & Essex Divisional Newsletter The Herts & Essex Division covers Essex, areas of northern London and parts of Hertfordshire. We want to encourage a culture of prayer and regularly pray together here at DHQ, this is something we love to do and believe God loves too! If there is anything you want us to pray about - either personal or for your mission and ministry, please let us know. Your requests will be held in confidence within the circle of DHQ staff. God Bless, from everyone at DHQ Inside This Issue ISSUE 26 15th November 2018 Mission Romania 3-5 Corps News 6-10 Herts & Essex DHQ News 11 Bring Light to Rohingya Refugees Remembrance Day Transformers Exploring Leadership Day Festive Fundraise for Christmas 20 Upcoming Dates, Events & vacancies Final Thoughts 24

3 Mission Romania has been part of my life for several years, my first encounter with the people of Romania started when as part of a team from The Salvation Army in the UK I visited Isai Corps, Craiova Corps taking part in a Mission to the people, preaching and teaching. Later that year I had the opportunity to take part in another visit to Romania, this time taking shoe boxes filled with gifts for the poorest children. This Mission has grown from taking 300 boxes in the corps mini bus to the present time when we will take over 1300 boxes in two hired vehicles, visiting the 5 corps in Romania, leaving on 16 th November. As the Army grows in Romania so does the need for shoeboxes. I have met many lovely people in Romania and several have become close friends, some coming to stay for holidays and the Boundless Congress, and I have even been to a wedding of one of the Officers sons. Travelling the 3,500 mile round trip by mini bus or hired vehicle takes 6 days of driving (3 days each way) and this year a team of 6 drivers in two vehicles will share the responsibility of getting these wonderful boxes to the people who need them most. The team come from Wickford, Southend, and Leigh on Sea Corps. 3. Inspire 18th October 2018

4 Jennifer from DHQ has kindly and generously made hundreds of glove hand puppets for the children over the past few years. These puppets go in the boxes for the appropriate age group and are loved by the children who receive them. One thing that hits me every year is the way the children s eyes light up when they open their boxes. We aim to put the same basic things in each box then top them up with extra treats. Toiletries, stationary, clothing, toys, sweets and chocolates are basics along with cuddly toys for the younger children. The Officer team in Romania value our shoebox trips very highly and rely on these gifts to spread a little joy. Without the boxes many, many children will go without any gifts this Christmas. We are supported by several corps and churches, businesses, schools and individuals. Shoeboxes, gifts of knitted goods etc. and financial help all make the trip possible. Every other year 4 of the team travel to Romania to run a 5 day Holiday Club, this year the team went to Ploiesti Corps where 30 plus children took part in Seaside Rock. 4. Inspire 18th October 2018

5 Matthew is the team s motivation 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. 44 They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? 45 He will reply, Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Members of the team are happy to visit any corps/centre/group to talk about the Mission to Romania and, if asked, explain how to get involved. For up to date information of the 2018 trip follow us on Facebook Mission Romania. Major Brian Miller Chairman of Mission Romania 5. Inspire 18th October 2018

6 Harlow Home League Weekend On Sunday 14th & Monday 15th October, the home league of the Harlow corps held their annual home league weekend. This consisted of Sunday meetings led my Major Marlene Bishop, Major Margaret Meldrum and members of the home league and home league singers. On the Monday a rally was held with approximately 80 people attending. The Majors took us through a varied programme with the corps officer, Major Karen Sandford opening in prayer. A roll call of the churches who attended was announced and the Home League Timbrels played to the march Minneapolis IV which the congregation really enjoyed. The theme of the rally was discipleship and a drama was performed portraying the calling of the disciples, but with a modern interpretation ending with the Joystrings song Follow. The rally ended with a splendid buffet prepared by Peter and Carol Hurn and George Wilkinson. Next years weekend is on the 13th & 14th October 2019 and the special guest will be Major Anne Read. Lorraine Evans Centre Co-ordinator 6. Inspire 18th October 2018

7 Letchworth Corps Celebration Kate Roberts has been enrolled as an Adherent at Letchworth after attending the corps for three years, but her spiritual journey has been ongoing for much longer. In her testimony Kate stated how she was reluctant to listen and acknowledge the message she was receiving, but it came to a point where she could no longer run or hide from the message that was so clear, as even in her artwork the Lord was speaking to her. Margaret Spall was already attending another church when she contacted the Letchworth Corps Charity shop because she was donating knitting. She was invited to come along on a Sunday and found a warm welcome at Letchworth Corps. Margaret chose the song All Hail The Power of Jesus Name and spoke of the power of the royal diadem and the strength she draws from Christ as Lord. 7. Inspire 18th October 2018

8 Thank you Allison The past 10 years Alison Carver has led the Songsters in highs and lows but always with compassion and love. As a Songster Leader she has been firm but understanding and ready to push us to do our best whilst ensuring the words we were singing rang true for us as well as those we were singing to. Alison has decided to step down, but not out of the Songsters, so she will not be too far away. I asked Alison to describe her time as Songster leader: It is no secret that songster leader was not a position that I actively sought out, but having said that, I think that God often puts us in positions that challenge and stretch us for His service. I believe that God takes what few talents and skills we may have and then uses them in a mighty way. The songsters have a unique opportunity to share the message of God love through song every week, which is appreciated by many. As a result of this opportunity, one of the key messages, that I am sure the songsters were sick of hearing was me banging on about the need to really believe in what they were singing, as failure to do so would have as much impact as singing a shopping list. 8. Inspire 18th October 2018

9 It is true to say that as with any group of individuals, over the years many of the songsters have had periods of great joy or real pain and as a group when required we have pulled together to offer support and encouragement, and it needs to be acknowledged that Sharon as songster sergeant, has been at the forefront of providing such care. Finally, I would like to say that I am really grateful to the songsters for all of their love and support for me as their leader and I know that under the new leadership of Robert the songsters will go from strength to strength. So, what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but will also sing with my understanding. 1 Corinthians 14:15 We as a Songster brigade and a corps thank Alison for all her hard work and the spiritual guidance she has shown as a leader as well as part of our Christian and corps family. Jacqui Clayden Corps Press Officer 9. Inspire 18th October 2018

10 Messy Toddlers at Shoeburyness After speaking to the parents and carers at the Tuesday toddler group, Shoeburyness Corps hosted a messy toddlers session in October Half Term in order to prevent the group from closing in the school holidays. The corps along with the regional children s and family specialists organised crafts based on the theme of Noah s ark after which the story was told. A rainbow was made out of the handprints of those who were present to remind us of God s promise to the world. Forty Children aged from 0-11 attended this new venture. Captain Clare Davis 10. Inspire 18th October 2018

11 Herts & Essex Divisional Headquarters We now have our first foodbank box courtesy of Major Jo Justice the Divisional Mission Enabler. Everyone from Divisional Headquarters and the Service Centre team donated well needed supplies and the box filled up quite quickly! We are now looking into whether other offices in the building would like to have their own foodbank box so we can all join together helping those in need. #WeAreNotForSale campaign: Anti-Slavery Day 2018 To help raise awareness and funds for the victims of modern day slavery, Majors Margaret and Norman Ord joined in and got the special edition #WeAreNotForSale temporary tattoos! The tattoo depicts a group standing against a barcode, reinforcing the message that people are not for sale and should never be treated as a commodity. All the profits raised went directly to the Victim Care Fund. 11. Inspire 18th October 2018

12 Bring Light to Rohingya Refugees A BIG thank you to those of you who have supported our 'Bring Light' campaign to provide solar panels and lamps to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The Rohingya people sometimes referred to as Arakanese Indians originate from what is now western Myanmar. The majority are Muslim but there are some Hindu Rohingya. Since 25 August 2017, an estimated 720,000 Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing violence in Myanmar s Rakhine State. Most are now based in the crowded camps near an area known as Cox s Bazar. The total Rohingya population in these camps is now more than 919,000 people. Around 55 per cent of the refugee population is under 18 years old, three per cent are elderly and 16 per cent are single mothers. More than 1,700 lamps have been distributed to 3,000 Rohingya people living in Cox's Bazar. 12. Inspire 18th October 2018

13 We'll be sending an update on total funds received through this campaign after this date - remember that any funds raised above the project cost will be used for UKI Territory's refugee response. Call or id@salvationarmy.org.uk to make a donation to the Bring Light campaign. Recipients of the lamps have shared that it is now much easier to carry out daily tasks such as cooking, eating and praying. They have also expressed that there is increased safety within the camps thanks to the improved lighting which no longer relies on open fires. There is still time for you to donate to this campaign and contribute to the cost of the solar panels and lamps. One lamp (including installation and transport) costs the equivalent of 72. We invite you to finalise your fundraising for this campaign by Friday 30 November Benjamin Gilbert International Projects Team Leader 13. Inspire 18th October 2018

14 Remembrance Day, 11th November 2018 Last Sunday we all prayed in union in remembrance in honour of those who have sacrificed themselves to secure and protect our freedom. Across the nation the Salvation Army took part in events to honour those who had lost their lives in the conflict 100 years ago. Our territorial leaders amongst other members including Major Norman Ord and Major Margaret Ord, marched passed the Cenotaph and laid a wreath in remembrance. Major Margaret Ord described it as a Fantastic privilege to be a part of the Salvation Army representation. 14. Inspire 18th October 2018

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16 Transformers 2018: Residential Weekend 1 The start of the month also saw the start of the 2018 Transformers course! This 12 week discipleship, leadership and mission course brought 12 young people together from across the region. With delegates from Anglia, Central East and Herts and Essex divisions, it was a great chance to make friends with other young Christians, as well as an opportunity to stop and really think about what it means to be a Christian and part of the church. Plus have a lot of fun of course! Our first weekend was focussed around discipleship. Looking back, we explored what life was like for a rabbi s disciple at the time of Jesus and also what we might learn from the early Christian monastic communities and their rhythms of life. We learnt about hermeneutics and how our understanding of what we read in the bible can be influenced by the way we read our bible. We practiced new skills that we could use to enhance our own discipleship, such as Lectio Divina and the Examen, as well as trying out leading small groups; just one way that we can do discipleship in community with others. We also tried different ways of worshipping together, engaging all our senses as we entered into the stories of Jesus, and even getting our hands and feet covered in paint! On top of all this, we ate a lot of great food, drank a lot of tea and played a lot of games. Oh, and had a fireworks extravaganza. All in all, not bad for a weekends work! 16. Inspire 18th October 2018

17 As one of the leaders of the weekend I was so impressed by the way the young people got stuck in. What a fantastic group of young adults! We can t wait for our next weekend together and to see where this journey might take us. Keep up with our continuing journey on the division s Facebook and Instagram feeds. If you re interested in being part of a future Transformers course, please get in touch with Ben Still at DHQ for more information. Ben Still Divisional Youth Specialist 17. Inspire 18th October 2018

18 Exploring Leadership Day 2019 Exploring Leadership Day 2019 will be held on Sunday 17 March at William Booth College (Registration from 9.00am, the day concludes at 5.15pm). Our special guests for the day are Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill and the theme will be 'Be obedient'. As you will see, the event is free but booking is required through Eventbrite; the link is as follows: All details about seminars, meals, children's venue, nursery etc is on Eventbrite - please get in touch with me if you are unsure about anything. As an addition this year, we want to give opportunity for those involved in Candidate work to get together. This will happen during the afternoon and more details will follow. With seminar leaders from both WBC and around the territory, involvement of cadets and staff from College, worship and an opportunity to enjoy the college grounds, our prayer is to make this an inspiring day and helpful 'space'. In past years, this day has proved to be significant for people in their on-going journey of discerning God's direction for their life and we are praying that next year's event will be no exception. Major Liz Chape Assistant Territorial Candidates Director 18. Inspire 18th October 2018

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20 Get Festive Fundraising and help transform the lives of those less fortunate. With Christmas fast approaching we wanted to let you know that The Community and Events Unit at THQ have developed some new exciting Christmas materials. Here are our top Festive Fundraisers that you can do with your families, colleagues and friends to help raise vital funds for The Salvation Army this Christmas. The Great Christmas Bake Sale: Send your family, friends or colleagues into frenzy with your snowstorm of seasonable bakes! You could even turn it into your very own Bake Off and host a competition for the best dish. We will provide you with yummy Christmas recipes, a step by step guide, personalised invitations and cake toppers to make your bake sale a huge success. WishTree: Turn your Christmas tree at home or work into a WishTree this year. Encourage your family or fellow employees to write down their Christmas Wish onto one of the provided Salvation Army WishTree tags and hang it on the tree in exchange for a donation. We will provide you with an event guide, WishTree tags and string. Donations in Lieu: Send E-cards this Christmas to friends, family and loved ones and donate what you would have spent in traditional cards and postage. CarolAlong: Festive Fundraise for Christmas Put a Christmas spin on the party favourite karaoke by hosting a CarolAlong! Provide snacks and refreshments while asking for donations to participate or request a song. We will provide you with Carol sheets, event guide and invitation poster. 20. Inspire 18th October 2018

21 If you would like to raise funds for a specific Corps or project, then just let us know at fundraise-at-christmas November Dates for the Diary... Location Saturday 17th Saturday 24th Saturday 24th Friday 30th Sunday 25th December Saturday 1st Craft Market Messy Christmas Craft Fair Christmas Tree Market Create Family Buffet & Film Night Hadleigh Temple Corps Grays corps Shoeburyness Corps Hadleigh Temple Corps Chelmsford Shoeburyness 21. Inspire 18th October 2018

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24 Connect with us... If you would like to share any events, posters or dates for the diary please contact us at; uk/herts-and-essex The Salvation Army, 3rd Floor Innovation House 97 London Road Bishop s Stortford CM23 3GW HertsandEssex@salvation army.org.uk TSAHAE salvationarmyhertsandessex One of the smaller members of the Hadleigh Rare Breeds Centre. HERTS AND ESSEX PR@YER The wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 24. Inspire 18th October 2018 James 3:17 (NIV)