Communiqué The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory Fellowship Corps www.salvationarmy.org.au/fellowship November/December 2008 Though scattered far, by faith we meet around a common Mercy Seat
Fellowship Corps Secretary Territorial Corps Programme Department The Salvation Army PO Box 479 Blackburn VIC 3130 Phone: (03) 8878 4745 donna.bryan@aus.salvationarmy.org Dear Friends, Christmas greetings. As I reflect on the Scriptures in John 8 where Jesus proclaimed that He is the light of the world, I see His Words in stark contrast to the present state of our world as many people continue to ignore His reality. As Christmas approaches, I m sure people would prefer to be thinking of joy and peace, but instead there is growing sorrow and unrest across our world. From the global economic recession to increasing terrorist attacks and religious persecution, many people have become very concerned and even fearful for their personal safety and future security. Looking back to 2,000 years ago, the world was in such a hopeless state that there didn t seem to be much future for mankind. Then a light came into the world in the form of a baby boy. A baby boy who would bring hope, life and light to a dark world with many needs. As you consider Jesus claims to be the light of the world and the light that leads to life, may you be amazed anew at His Majesty and Glory and the hope that is found in Him. Donna Bryan (Captain) Fellowship Corps Secretary 2 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
News New books from Salvo Publishing www.salvationarmy.com.au/supplies On a Winter s Mourning This is an excellent resource for anyone touched by grief. Author Lucille Turfrey describes this beautiful publication of pictures and words as Nature s parables on grief with seasonal prayers from the Psalms and the heart. $14.95 FAMOUS LAST WORDS What really is important to us? If we knew that whatever we said in the next 30 minutes or so would be our final words on earth, what would they be? A number of Salvation Army officers covering a variety of ages, from newly commissioned officers to retirees such as General Eva Burrows, were given this challenge. The stories told and challenges given are inspirational and encouraging. $17.00 IN THE ZONE Cheryl Tinker has produced this 108 page book with recipes, craft projects and puzzles to keep kids of all ages busy. This book is a great resource for teachers, and with links to Bible verses, children s church leaders will be able to use this in their ministry. $12.95 each $10.00 for orders 10+ copies, $8.00 for orders 50+ copies Thank You to those members who have sent in donations to cover printing and postage costs for the Fellowship Corps. Fellowship Corps Communiqué 3
Psalm 100 A psalm of thanksgiving 1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (New Living Translation) Call to Worship As the angel announced to the shepherds: Be not afraid: for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people The angel announces this same good news to us today. Prayer Dear God, as the angels sang to announce Your good news, the birth of Jesus, we too rejoice to sing our praises and our thanks to You for Your great love. Amen Source: The Word and Worship Resources for Salvationists, Fourth Quarter 2008, USA Southern Territory, Atlanta, Georgia, p. 65. 4 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
Song 75 Angels, from the realms of Glory, Wing your flight o er all the earth: Ye, who sang creation s story, Now proclaim Messiah s birth. Chorus Come and worship, Come and worship, Worship Christ the new-born King. Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o er your flocks by night, God with man is now residing; Yonder shines the infant light. Saints before the altar bending, Watching long in hope and fear, Suddenly the Lord, descending, In his temple shall appear. Sinners moved by true repentance, Doomed for guilt to endless pains, Justice now revokes the sentence, Mercy calls you, break your chains. James Montgomery (1771 1854) The Salvation Army Fellowship Corps Communiqué 5
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T hat night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord s glory surrounded them. Luke 2:8 9a (New Living Translation) Fellowship Corps Communiqué 7
Song 90 The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter s night that was so deep. Chorus Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star, Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. And by the light of that same star, Three wise men came from country far, To seek for a king was their intent, And to follow the star wherever it went. This star drew near to the northwest, O er Bethlehem it took its rest, And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay. 8 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him. Matthew 2:2 (New Living Translation) Then entered in those wise men three, Fell reverently upon their knee, And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made Heaven and earth of naught, And with his blood mankind hath bought. Author unknown Public Domain Fellowship Corps Communiqué 9
Christ is the light of t And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9b 11 (New Living Translation) 10 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
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Song 82 Hark! the herald angels sing: Glory to the new-born King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Chorus Hark! the herald angels sing: Glory to the new-born King. Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Charles Wesley (1707-88) Public Domain Christ, by highest Heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing Written and published in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. According to tradition Charles Wesley, coming out one Christmas morning on his way to church, heard the bells ringing and exclaimed, Hark, how all the welkin rings glory to the King of kings. (Welkin being an old word meaning the vault of heaven.) Thus it was this remark which later expanded into the well-known Christmas song which originally began with the same words. For many years the words were sung to Handel s See the Conquering Hero Comes. Source: Companion to the Song Book of The Salvation Army, Salvationist Publishing & Supplies Ltd, London, p. 280 12 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
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John 1 Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 14 Fellowship Corps Communiqué
Jesus, the Light of the World Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. The Pharisees replied, You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid. Jesus told them, These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Fatherwho sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other. Where is your father? they asked. Jesus answered, Since you don t know who I am, you don t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come. John 8:12 20 (New Living Translation) Fellowship Corps Communiqué 15
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In the previous Scripture reading (John 8) Jesus tells His listeners that He is the light of the world. The pharisees listening to this claim responded in disbelief and their words demonstrated that they were in the dark as to Jesus true identity. On the other hand, the wise men s response to the birth of Jesus shows that they recognised Him as the light and life of this world. These wise men were aware that the new star they saw and followed would lead them to someone very significant. Their journey of many miles resulted in the discovery of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of this dark world. So convinced were the wise men of who Jesus was, and is, that they bowed down before Him and worshiped Him. Then, in recognition of His authority, they presented the Holy Child with treasures they had taken with them on their quest in following the star. The lives of these wise men were changed forever, and it should be the same for us when we discover Jesus. Discovering Jesus, the author of light and life, requires a response from us when we recognise that He alone is worthy of our adoration and praise. How whole-hearted and sincere is your desire to worship Jesus? Do you recognise Him as Lord and Saviour? I would encourage you to read again the birth of Jesus and be in awe that the Creator of light and life would come to earth as a tiny baby and live among us, and bring His guiding light and life into this dark world. William Holman Hunt, Light of the World Fellowship Corps Communiqué 17
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O Holy Night ( Cantique de Noël ) is a well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 to the French poem Minuit, chrétiens by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877). Cappeau was asked to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest. It has become a standard modern carol for solo performance with an operatic finish. In the carol, the singer recalls the birth of Jesus. It was translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight, editor of Dwight's Journal of Music in 1855, and lyrics also exist in other languages. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/o_holy_night Fellowship Corps Communiqué 19
O Holy Night O! Holy night! The stars, their gleams prolonging, Watch o er the Eve of our dear Saviour s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error, longing For His appearance, then the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! O, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was Born; O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts we stand by the Babe adored. O er the world a star is sweetly gleaming, And come now, Shepherds, from your flocks unboard. The Son of God lay thus w thin lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our Lord. He knows our need, our weakness never lasting, Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord! Behold your King! By Him, let Earth accord! Truly He taught us to love one another, His law is love and His gospel is peace. Long live His truth, and may it last forever, For in His name all discordant noise shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, With all our hearts we praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! His power and glory ever more proclaim! Words: Placide Cappeau (1808-1877), 1847 English Version 2, Public Domain 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