Communiqué. The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Fellowship Corps

Transcription

1 Communiqué The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Fellowship Corps January/February 2009 Though scattered far, by faith we meet around a common Mercy Seat

2 Fellowship Corps Secretary Territorial Corps Programme Department The Salvation Army PO Box 479 Blackburn VIC 3130 Phone: (03) Dear Friends, Christian greetings to you all. As I was putting this magazine together, a tragic series of events began to unfold here in Victoria as Australia experienced its worst natural disaster in history due to the terrible loss of life. On 7 February 2009, now known as Black Saturday, bushfires erupted around the state and raced across Victoria with devastating consequences. The thousands of homes and hectares of property lost in the firestorm can be replaced, but not the more than 200 people who perished as a result of those fires. It seems that everyone I speak to knows someone who suffered loss in the wake of this awful tragedy. This loss of family and friends has impacted deeply on the people of Victoria and particularly in the communities that faced the full ferocity of the fires. Many heartbreaking stories have been told of what took place on that horrific day. And what do you say or do for those suffering? How do you help these people cope with their losses and rebuild their lives? There are many questions and too few answers in times of tragedy. Please remember to pray for those suffering and for those who will walk with them and share their pain. And if you're able to support these folk in the years ahead, then the care you show will also help to give them hope. Bless you each, Donna Bryan (Captain) Fellowship Corps Secretary 2 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

3 Exciting News for the Fellowship Corps After speaking to you of the bushfires, I feel somewhat uncomfortable to share some exciting news with you regarding our Fellowship Corps. Our list of members has been growing steadily over the last two years and now the readers of the 'Linking Friends Far & Wide' newsletter are going to be a part of our fellowship. These friends come to us through the Outer Circle Ministry of Women's Ministries. This means approximately 800 Communiqué magazines will now be mailed out every two months to our members and other readers. In addition to this number, special bulk orders are still being requested periodically, and we also have members who read this magazine via the Internet. Currently, many readers of the 'Linking Friends Far & Wide' newsletter send in donations to Child Sponsorship, as well as donations to help cover printing and postage costs for their newsletter. Our new friends will continue to support the Child Sponsorship Programme and you are all most welcome to participate with them. Even a small amount multiplied many times can make a huge difference in the life of a needy child living in a developing country. We commend the Outer Circle members for their desire and willingness to support disadvantaged children. So let's extend a very warm welcome to our new friends and trust that they too will be encouraged by the message of hope in the pages of this booklet. As I spend time getting to know our new friends and adding their names to our membership base I do ask for your understanding and patience, as it may be difficult to communicate with you individually now that we have a much larger fellowship. Thank You to those members who have sent in donations to cover printing and postage costs for the Fellowship Corps. Fellowship Corps Communiqué 3

4 Psalm 77 (New Living Translation) For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude You don t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray! I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? Interlude And I said, This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me. But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? 4 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

5 You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Interlude When the Red Sea saw you, O God, its waters looked and trembled! The sea quaked to its very depths. The clouds poured down rain; the thunder rumbled in the sky. Your arrows of lightning flashed. Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook. Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters a pathway no one knew was there! You led your people along that road like a flock of sheep, with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds. Prayer Dear Lord, When we face difficulties and our pain is too much to bear, please come alongside us and lead us through the troubled times. Help us to know the road we should travel and look to You to be our Guide and travelling companion. Please smooth the road ahead and keep us safe in the palms of Your hands. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen Fellowship Corps Communiqué 5

6 Song 732 I shall not fear though darkened clouds may gather round me; The God I serve is one who cares and understands. Although the storms I face would threaten to confound me, Of this I am assured: I m in his hands. Chorus I m in his hands, I m in his hands; Whate er the future holds I m in his hands, The days I cannot see Have all been planned for me; His way is best, you see; I m in his hands. What though I cannot know the way that lies before me? I still can trust and freely follow his commands; My faith is firm since it is he that watches o er me; Of this I m confident: I m in his hands. In days gone by my Lord has always proved sufficient, When I have yielded to the law of love s demands; Why should I doubt that he would evermore be present To make his will my own? I m in his hands! Author: Stanley E. Ditmer The Salvation Army 6 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

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9 The Lord s Covenant of Peace I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear. I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing. The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the Lord. They will no longer be prey for other nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will frighten them. And I will make their land famous for its crops, so my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations. In this way, they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them. And they will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people, says the Sovereign Lord. You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken! Ezekiel 34:25 31 (New Living Translation) Fellowship Corps Communiqué 9

10 Heroes of the Faith The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 3:7, 10 (New International Version) 10 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

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12 Song 745 My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name. Chorus On Christ, the solid rock, I stand, All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness seems to veil his face, I rest on his unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, his covenant and blood, Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. Edward Mote ( ) The Salvation Army 12 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

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14 A traveller once, when skies were rose and gold With Syrian sunset, paused beside the fold, Where an Arabian shepherd housed his flock; Only a circling wall of rough, gray rock No door, no gate, but just an opening wide Enough for snowy, huddling sheep to come inside. So, questioned he, then no wild beasts you dread? Ah, yes, the wolf is near, the shepherd said. But strange and sweet the words Divine of yore Fell on his startled ear: I am the door! When skies are sown with stars, and I may trace The velvet shadows in this narrow space, I lay me down. No silly sheep may go Without the fold but I, the shepherd, know. Nor need my cherished flock, close-sheltered, warm, Fear ravening wolf, save o er my prostrate form. O Word of Christ illumined evermore For us His timid sheep I am the Door. Author Unknown 14 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

15 John 10:7 10 (New International Version) Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Fellowship Corps Communiqué 15

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17 Those who have been reading the Communiqué over the last few months will have realised by now that we have been looking at the 'I am' statements made by Jesus. We have reached our second last statement and in so doing we will return to the Gospel of John, chapter 10. When we looked at this passage of Scripture in September/October we read in verses 10:11 18 that Jesus claimed to be the Good Shepherd. Immediately preceding these verses Jesus makes another 'I am' statement when he says 'I am the gate'. We'll look at what Jesus was telling His listeners when He said 'I am the gate'. Do we take His words literally and say that Jesus said he looked like a gate or He had other physical characteristics of a gate? I think not. The 'gate' was a very familiar term to His listeners in the first century, and they should have clearly understood His words to them. A sheepfold was a common enclosure, usually made of stones or brush, that a shepherd built to secure his sheep at night. This sheepfold had only one opening and it is this opening or gate that Jesus was referring to. After the shepherd secured his sheep for the night he then settled himself into the gateway to sleep. Thus the shepherd became the barrier or gate that protected the sheep from danger throughout the night This opening was also the only entry back into the pasture for the sheep in the morning. If the sheep wanted food they had to pass through this gate to reach the pasture. When Jesus stated that He was the gate it is understood that he was demonstrating that He alone is the doorway for His sheep. He will protect them from danger and He will provide life sustaining food for them by leading them out to pasture. It is quite clear that Jesus said He is the key to life for His sheep, and in turn that means He is the key to life for us because we are His beloved sheep. What a comfort it is to know how much Jesus cares for us and how much He wants to give us life, and life to the full when he is our Shepherd. Fellowship Corps Communiqué 17

18 Song 740 Like to a lamb who from the fold has strayed Far on the mountain, of the dark afraid, Seeking a shelter from the night s alarm, Longing for comfort of the shepherd s arm, So Jesus found me on sin s mountain drear, Gathered me close and banished all my fear. Chorus In the Love of Jesus there is all I need, While I follow closely where my Lord may lead; By his grace forgiven, In his presence blest, In the love of Jesus, In the love of Jesus, is perfect rest. Like to a pilgrim in an unknown land Seeking the comfort of a guiding hand, Fearing the perils of the winding way, Pleading for strength sufficient every day, I met my Lord; and, though the path be dim, He knows the way and I will walk with him. Like to a child who, when the night may fall, Out of the darkness hears his father call, Far and a-weary though his feet may roam, Sees in the distance shining lights of home, So at the last the music of his voice Will calm my fears and make my heart rejoice. Ivy Mawby ( ) The Salvation Army 18 Fellowship Corps Communiqué

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20 Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:2 4 (New International Version) Every effort has been made to acknowledge original sources and copyright owners. If there has been any infringement, the publisher of this Communiqué will endeavour to rectify and acknowledge ownership in future issues. 20 Fellowship Corps Communiqué