Lessons and Carols

Midwinter Christmas Lessons & Carols
Tuesday 21st December 2010
7.00pm
Wallacetown Church
Located in John Street
Ayr

Ayr Salvation Army invites you to a traditional Christmas service of 9 Lessons and Carols.
Following the service refreshments will be served in the church hall – all welcome.

Marjory Watson to Headline Community Carol Concert

International Singing Star Marjory Watson to Headline Community Carol Concert

Marjory Watson

The Salvation Army in Ayr is delighted to welcome back Marjory Watson as our guest vocal soloist for our 2010 Ayr Community Carol Concert on 12th December at 7.30pm to be held in Castlehill Parish Church. See the details here.

Marjory returned to Scotland last year after working in Los Angeles. Before that she worked as a freelance singer in London. She has appeared as a soloist in many of the country’s best concert venues including The Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, The Cadogan Hall, London, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and The Royal Albert Hall, London. Internationally, she has performed in the Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht and the Cerritos Performing Arts Centre, LA. On television, she appeared as a soloist on BBC1’s Heaven and Earth Show. She is a regular soloist with The All Souls Orchestra (Langham Place, London) and was guest soloist for their Scottish tour.

Marjory is an experienced recording artist and has recorded for many different groups and albums (including Simon Beck’s solo album to be released soon). She released her first solo CD, The Spark of Creation in 2004. She can also be heard as a singing dolphin on the soundtrack of the motion picture The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005).  

In 2006, Marjory made a successful debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe performing her own one-woman show, The Circle of Life.

Theatre credits include: Johanna in Sweeney Todd (Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy; Kings Theatre, Edinburgh); Sleeping Beauty in Into the Woods (Byre Theatre, St. Andrews) Mrs Cohen/Ensemble in Rent (Dundee Rep, Dundee) Songs for a New World (Starlight Showroom. Dundee). She sang on the recent UK tours of The Rocky Horror Show and 42nd Street. 

Marjory recently started teaching at the RSAMD in Glasgow as a lecturer in singing on their Musical Theatre courses.

Marjory and her husband Stuart both attend the Salvation Army in Kirkcaldy where Marjory leads the choir.

2010 Carol Concert Announced

Ayr Salvation Army

Community Carol Concert


12th December 2010 7.30pm

Castlehill Parish Church
3 Old Hillfoot Rd, Ayr KA7 3LW
01292 267332 ‎
click for directions




Featuring


Ayr Community Gospel Choir


Marjorie Watson - Vocalist


Timbrel Dance Group

Pastor Alastair Simmons

Community Singing


Free will offering on behalf of Hansel Village




For Information about Hansel click link: www.hansel.org.uk

Full time?

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4: 11 & 12

Our Officer (Pastor) asked us last Sunday if we were full-time ministers - and there wasn’t a great show of hands!

Full-time to many people equates to paid employment. However as transformed followers of Christ, we have been called to do full-time service for the expansion of the kingdom.

As the quotation from Ephesians says, we have been given appointments by the Lord through the Holy Spirit, each one sealed by the contract of us accepting Jesus, and Jesus paying the price for our sins.

It is our job to carry out that appointment full-time, not just on Sundays or at church activities, but 24/7 - 365 days a year (366 each leap year), by sharing with the people with whom we come into contact.

So next time you are asked are you a full-time minister, the answer should be YES!!

Robin Black
 

Gospel Choir Rehearsals Underway

The first rehearsals for the Ayr Community Gospel Choir have taken place, but it's still not too late to get in on the action!
For the second year in a row they are planning a fun Christmas celebration. All are invited to participate. If you haven't joined up yet, all the details are here!

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to meet new friends and have a great time singing!

Closed box or a gateway?

Many people who profess to be Christian - attending church services every week and participating in church-related groups during the week - believe they are doing their part in extending God’s kingdom. They hope that by their worship style and the programmes they offer, new people will be attracted to their location. And once they get them to enter the church building, only then they can work with the Holy Spirit in converting them, and sharing the good news about Jesus.
 
While it is never a bad thing to have new people entering our church buildings, it would seem we have badly misinterpreted what "church" really is! The "Church" in the Bible refers to the people who have come to know Jesus as their personal friend, and are striving - with his leading and intervention of the Holy Spirit - to lead lives like Christ! The Bible refers to "the church" as the "body of Christ".  And one of the purposes of that body is to reach out and win new members to that body - to replicate!
 
Over the centuries many christians never learned or have (conveniently?) forgotten that Jesus called us to be disciples! And not just at the weekend or when we meet in our groups! Jesus commanded us to be disciples every day and every hour of the week, and in every situation!

The only way we can expand the body of the Church is to be alongside the people we with whom we work, have coffee, share school runs, and stand in the shopping queue! It is in these situations we are required to share the good news as The Holy Spirit leads!

This is what Jesus meant when he sent the disciples out to go into the highways and byways to share the good news, because the “Field is white unto harvest”.  As God’s people and church we have to be "whole life" - 24/7 - Christians.

This can be a scary thought because we will need to depend wholly on the Holy Spirit and his leading. We will have to live what we believe and pass that on in conversation and testimony.
 
This is how the Church becomes a gateway. It is through this door of committed discipleship that those whom God has challenged using our influence, come and are nurtured in the church. They can then be trained in our various groups to equip them to be disciples too, as Jesus intended. And then they will become gateways themselves engaging in whole life discipleship ministry.

Are your Church doors locked - keeping you in?  Or are they wide open to allow disciples to be made, used, and replicated?
 
Remember Jesus didn’t just choose disciples in Bible times. He chose you to be disciples in the present time, before you were born.

If you would like to know more please contact us.

Robin Black
 

Do you have the right copyright?

I was sitting in our service at Ayr Citadel Salvation Army, the other week when our Officer (Pastor) asked us to turn up a song in Mission Praise, nothing unusual in that, however it was the song next to it that caught my attention. It wasn’t for the beauty of the words, or the lovely tune, as it had neither of these. In fact the song didn’t exist, well it did exist, because it had a song number allocated, I think it was 325, however it was not available to be sung. The reason was given in a single line of text, “this Song has been withdrawn due to copyright issues”.

This one sentence made me think and ask a few questions:

• What was the copyright issue?
• Why hadn’t it been resolved?
• What have I missed because the song wasn’t there?
• Did anyone else notice it was missing?

It then struck me that the same thing could happen in my spiritual life, it says in the Bible “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
If we don’t accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we don’t have our Copyright in order, therefore when we get to heaven, will there be an entry next to our name “Withdrawn because of Copyright issues”

What could the possible answers be to those questions in relationship to my personal Copyright?

• The copyright issue was I failed to be covered by the blood of the lamb, in other words I had not accepted Christ as Saviour
• I always reckoned the expiry date was tomorrow, unfortunately tomorrow never came
• I missed the peace and Joy and contentment of being in the safety of Jesus the risen saviour
• Did anyone else notice it was missing? Unfortunately, that I don’t know, however, I am sure 2 would, Myself and God

I know I have to constantly to go back to the source of renewal for my copyright and that is Jesus, sometimes it is easy sometimes it is hard, however the consequences are not just a missing song but a missing soul and a life of living in eternity with God.

Is your copyright up to date?


Robin Black

Christmas Gospel Carol Service Announced

Calling all singers who would like to sing in The Salvation Army’s AYR COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR

Following on from the success of our 2010 summer concert the Ayr Community Gospel Choir are calling all singers from 14yrs upwards (no limit!) to do it all again - this time for a Christmas Carol Concert on Sunday the 12th December 2010.

It would be great to see everybody again and you are more than welcome to bring someone new along!

The rehearsals will be in Wallacetown Church Hall (John Street Ayr) - the venue of the concert is still to be confirmed.

• 14 October Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 04 November    Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 18 November    Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 02 December    Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 09 December    Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
• 12 December    Rehearsal 3:30pm and Concert 7:30pm

All new participants will need to register (click here!) and for those of 14-18 years of age we will also require parents’ consent.

This invitation is to members of the local community and beyond to come together and form a ‘Community Gospel Choir’ which is open to everyone aged 14 and above – you, your friends, local people …. In fact, anyone whether they have a faith or not.

SUMMER GOSPEL PRAISE!

A near capacity audience filled the Ayr Town Hall on Sunday evening, the 13th June, for the first Summer Praise Concert of the Ayr Community Gospel Choir.

It was an inspiring evening for all who attended, with folks young and old alike leaving with raised spirits and a song in their hearts.


The Gospel Choir reformed after a tremendous debut Christmas Carol Concert and under the leadership of Bobby Irvine contributed five songs to the evening. The first song, "Wake up O sleeper", really got the audience's toes tapping and hands clapping and it was noted that a group of ladies from a Cumnock Church were even dancing in the aisles!


The timeless "I know a fount" and the reflective arrangement of "Holy Ground" was contrasted with the vibrancy of the singing of "Praise His Holy Name".

Members of the choir and audience alike enjoyed it to the full.

Special guests for the evening were Keith Johnston, who wowed the audience with his two cornet solos. Keith is the bandmaster of the Salvation Army's Edinburgh Gorgie Band and his contributions of The Carnival of Venice and Burn's My love is like a Red Red Rose were very well received. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army once asked the question "Why should the devil have all the best tunes?" and Keith reminded the audience prior to his playing of the favourite Burn's song that the words of "There is a green hill far away" fit well with this tune, he particularly highlighted the verse including "He [Jesus] only could unlock the gate of Heaven and let them in", which linked very well with the preceding drama, "Knocking on Heaven's Door".

Vocal soloist, Marjory Watson contributed songs from the stage and motion picture following the themes of love and hope. Accompanied by her husband Stuart on the piano, she really engaged the gathered audience with her singing of many favourites. Her varied repertoire showed her flair and talent and Marjory linked a favourite of many "I'm finding" to the search for true love that we all go through, recognising the love of God as the ultimate expression of love. Her contributions culminated in a powerful rendition of The Prayer, where she was joined by Bobby Irvine.

The evening concluded with the Gospel Choir singing Total Praise, which summed up the whole atmosphere of this Summer Praise concert.

Graeme Parkhill

Gospel Festival

SUMMER PRAISE! GOSPEL FESTIVAL

AYR TOWN HALL

SUNDAY 13th JUNE 2010 - 7PM


FEATURING

AYR COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR
MARJORY WATSON (VOCAL)
KEITH JOHNSTON (CORNET)
BOBBY IRVINE (VOCAL)
DRAMA GROUP (WENDY PARKHILL)

ADMISSION FREE

FREEWILL OFFERING

PROCEEDS TO: AYR SALVATION ARMY BUILDING FUND
www.salvationarmyayrcitadel.info

Life's Plan

Life's Plan

As I sit at my Desk in the Lloyds Banking Group in Halifax England, I know it is not the best work situation I have ever had. If I am being honest it is not the worst, however, I must be getting old (or older) as I miss being home every night with my family. This has led me to a feeling of uneasiness as well as a feeling that I would like to be working closer to home. When you are feeling disgruntled, you often forget that you are in the middle of a life plan. My life plan had been created and posted long before I even set foot on this earth.

I have been far too busy worrying how I will change my situation, how I will get a new job, how I will only think of me. I need to remember I am in the middle of a plan and God is the ultimate programme manager. God knows what my next activity is and I am sure I will find out in his good time. I need to look back and see his hand on everything I do; he is not going to leave me to my own devices now.

I can however make a difference to the plans conclusion, I can forget who is greater than me, who sees the full plan, who sees the contacts I make and as I forget - plan delays issues and risks arise. However if I put my hand in the Lord's and do as Bobby Irvine (Ayr Bandmaster) described in his thought on the 14th of February from Psalm 99 "I, will say of the lord" then I will be able to cope, I will be put in a place that is right, but more important I will be on plan with God as the programme manager.

I saw a sign on the London Underground last year that said a baby's DNA was 50% of the mother and 50% of the father, but that they were a 100% loved - for me I am 100% the child of a King!

Robin Black

Celebrate Easter with us

Easter Morning Worship
4th April 2010 – 10.45am
Wallacetown Church Hall
John Street
Ayr
KA8 0BS Map

Easter Sunday Celebration Rally
The Salvation Army – West Scotland Division
4th April 2010 – 5.30pm
Castlehill Church of Scotland
Old Hillfoot Road
Ayr
KA7 3LW Map

Guest Speaker
Lt. Colonel Robert McIntyre:

Celebration Chorus, Govan Band, Vocal Soloist.

Everyone Welcome

Which side are you on?

Which side of the fence do you live on?

According to Aesop's fables, a long time ago when the world was young, the birds and the beasts were engaged in a bitter war. The bat, not wanting to be on the losing side--whichever that might turn out to be--tried to be on both sides. Whenever the birds won a battle, he would fly with them, telling everyone he was a bird. When the beasts won, he would walk around, assuring everyone that he was a beast. Because he refused to make a choice, he was rejected by both the birds and the beasts. From that day on, according to Aesop, the bat has had to go into hiding, living in dark caves, only daring to come out at night.

Only a story, perhaps, but one that finds parallels in the Bible. In Jeremiah 21:8 the Children of Israel are given a choice between accepting the way to life, or choosing the way of death.

There was no third option.

It is a dangerous place if we find ourselves slipping into a sense in which we try to get the best of both worlds, just like the bat above. When we are in the presence of Christians, we think holy thoughts and do good deeds and when we meet with non-Christian friends we put God “on hold” and fit in with the worldly lifestyle they adopt.

It’s a life of dualism – one minute one way; the next the other.

God desires that we choose the way of life – “life in all its fullness” and live that full life, with its truth and convictions 24/7.

What kind of life do you enjoy?

May God bless you this week as you consider which side of the fence you live on?

Graeme Parkhill

Want to sing gospel (again)?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SING GOSPEL!

Calling all singers who would like to sing in The Salvation Army’s AYR COMMUNITY GOSPEL CHOIR


Following on from the success of the Ayr Community Gospel Choir which had a huge impact on The Salvation Army’s Christmas Concert, we are calling all singers from 14 upwards (no limit!) to do it all again - this time for a Summer Concert on Sunday the 13th June 2010.

There will be six rehearsals to be held during March, April & May.

All rehearsals will be in Riverside Evangelical Church Hall (John Street Ayr).

1. 11th March Kick off – reunion night 7:30 till 9:00pm
2. 25th March Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
3. 15th April Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
4. 29th April Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
5. 13th May Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm
6. 27th May Choir Rehearsal 7:30 till 9:00pm

We are planning an open night on Thursday 11 March at 7.30pm in Riverside Church Halls, John Street Ayr. You can meet existing Choir members and find out more about the Choir. There will be tea / coffee and we will be showing the DVD of ‘The Joy of Christmas’ carol concert which will also be available to take home for a donation of £5. This will be an opportunity to bring other interested friends and neighbours from our community along. We will also have a sing and begin preparing for the Summer Concert.

For further information please go to www.salvationarmyayrcitadel.info or telephone 01292 285237.

All new participants will need to register and for those of 14-18 years of age we will also require parents consent.

This invitation is to members of the local community and beyond to come together and form a ‘Community Gospel Choir’ which is open to everyone aged 14 and above – you, your friends, local people …. In fact, anyone whether they have a faith or not.

Had enough?

Had enough? Aghh!!!

I wonder of you ever get to the stage where there are so many demands placed upon your time that you simply feel that they are threatening to swamp you?

Perhaps you feel that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that you need, or that you've got to the stage where you've pushed yourself so hard for so long that you simply don't have the energy to keep the pace up any more.

The temptation is to run away from it all – or stare hopelessly as the mountain of jobs grows in front of your eyes.

The Bible recounts the story of Elijah. His problem wasn't busyness, but a death threat put on him from Jezebel (1 Kings 19). His solution was to run away – to the desert – where he sat under a tree and prayed, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, Lord. Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors."

God came to Elijah, but not in the mighty wind, not in the earthquake, and not in the fire… but in a still, small voice. (1 Kings 19:12)

If you're feeling like you've had enough … for whatever reason … may the words of Psalm 46:10 revive you this week as you put them into practice:

“Be still and know that I am God”

May God richly bless you.

Graeme Parkhill

Stand Firm!

We sometimes make good resolutions at the beginning of the New Year. These two snowmen were built at the same time. The one on the left started off well but got a bit lopsided once he began to thaw out. The Salvationist snowman, on the other hand, seems to have weathered the conditions rather better. The person who lowers their standards, in response to a change in the climate around, that is to fit in with the standards of the crowd, is weakened and sooner or later their lives fall apart.

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind”. Romans 12:1,2 (Good News Bible)

Major Paul Latham

Welcome 2010!

This is a guest editorial by Major Clayton Gardner who is the Corps Officer of the Concord, California Corps.






Wow! It's a new year! Have you made your new year's resolution yet? Some of you will know that I encourage it! I love to hear that people are making or have made a resolution. You know why? Because I've never heard a person make a resolution to be worse than they are right now. We make resolutions because we want to better ourselves.

The other thing about resolutions is that there is no time like the beginning of of a new year to change. It's just something about the way we're wired, but there is something about having a brand new year laying out ahead of us to help us achieve change in our lives.

Last year, as you may recall, I made a resolution to spend less time watching TV and more time in my study - and you know what, I did it! Not as much as I had hoped, but definitely better than the year before. So, while I've heard a lot of people say that they never keep their resolutions, I can testify that it does work. (Now I'm hoping to lose some weight.)

So think about it - you have a brand new year ahead of you - what are you going to do with it? There are lots of good things you can do, but can I suggest that you think about God as you do your resolving? Perhaps you could read through the Bible? Or at least read it? Perhaps you could attend Bible Study? And, how about helping someone become a new person in 2010! Could I suggest that you consider sharing your faith? I mean actually resolving to share your faith. Perhaps with a co-worker, a friend or neighbour, family member - even a complete stranger. Could you at least pray about it?

May God richly bless your year!
Major Clay