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Just the other week, my wife Wendy and I received notification from the Salvation Army that we would be moving appointments. Right now we are the Salvation Army Officers in Ayr, but by the time the summer comes we will be leaving our congregation and moving on to pastures new.
We have enjoyed seven happy years in Ayr, and we will be sorry to leave the many good friends we have made here.
But it got me to thinking that life is never often terribly straight forward. It’s true that life has its twists and turns; its ups and downs – that’s certainly been true in my life.
Christians know that God promises to be with us through it all. He never promises that there will always be good times, but he does say “Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you”.
In fact, he recognises and tries to prepare us for the tough times we will go through and promises in his Word “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown”.
Whatever your circumstances, whatever you are going through today, be it good or bad, I trust you will know the presence of Almighty God with you just where you are.
Graeme Parkhill
During the week of June 10-17 our very own Capt. Graeme Parkhill and Daniel Elliott are planning to cycle from John O' Groats to Ayr in order to raise funds for our building renovation project. They are collecting sponsors for this effort and you can sponsor them online! Capt. Graeme has set up a donations page at http://www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Parkhill where you can support their effort!
Pray for fair winds and strong legs as they undertake this adventure!
Just the other day I was talking with one of the teenagers in our congregation and he was telling me that he has just finished his prelim exams. He’s a 6th year pupil at Prestwick Academy and is hoping to study at the Strathclyde Business School – one of my old stomping grounds.
As we were talking, it put me in mind of a conversation that I had with one of my teenage neighbours a couple of years ago.
She was struggling with higher maths – don’t we all – and she knew that when I was at school, maths was one of my best subjects. So she came and asked if I would tutor her.
I explained that it had been some years since I had studied maths, but agreed to at least look through her text books to see if I could help.
However, although my exam certificate proudly shows an ‘A’ for higher maths, when I looked at her text books, it was like Double Dutch. And I mused – It’s true – “If you don’t use it you lose it”.
Religion is better kept when it is practiced. Faith is about relationships. Christianity – living a relationship with a loving God –relationships are strongest when there is much contact and communication. The same is true with our relationship with God – but watch out – if you don’t use it you lose it.
Graeme Parkhill
You should mark your calendar now to attend this concert on Sunday 17th June 2012 at 6:00 PM in Ayr Town Hall.
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 our 2011 Christmas concert and visit to Govan the Ayr Community Gospel Choir are calling all singers from 14yrs upwards (no limit!) to do it all again - this time for a Summer Concert on Sunday the 17th June 2012 at 6pm in Ayr Town Hall.
It would be great to see everybody again and you are more than welcome to bring someone new along!
The rehearsals will be in Ayr Community Church Hall 59 John Street Ayr.
- 22 March Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 03 April Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 19 April Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 03 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 17 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 31 May Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 14 June Rehearsal 7.30pm till 9.00pm
- 17 June Rehearsal 3:30pm and Concert 6.00pm
All new participants will need to register (click here!) and for those of 14-18 years of age we will also require parents’ consent.
We will request a subscription of £5 for the session, this will cover the cost of music and other expenses.
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.
Click the photograph to see more of the 2011 Carol ConcertBelieve!
Not even a power cut could de-rail the 3rd annual community carol concert at Ayr entitled Believe!
As an unexpected bonus, the concert, featuring the Corps’ Community Gospel Choir, Kilmarnock Concert Brass Ensemble and the Gordon Anderson Praise Band morphed into a “Carols by Candlelight” evening of praise and adoration of the Christ-child.
The 700-strong congregation was treated to some fantastic singing from the Gospel Choir and a collection of £1,350 was uplifted to support the Army’s work in Ukraine and a local homelessness project.
Alongside the singing of favourites such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Starry Night, the evening also included more contemporary numbers and concluded with a superb finale – Rebekah Parkhill thrilling the packed church with her angelic singing of “He is Immanuel”, followed by Bobby Irvine’s rendition of “Have yourself a merry little Christmas” and a final carol “O Come all ye faithful”.
It certainly is a great time to Believe – in God and in His plan for His Corps at Ayr.
Join with us on Midwinter’s Eve as we ponder again the Christmas Story as it is presented through the reading of nine passages of the Holy Scriptures and sung in many of your favourite carols, including Once in Royal David’s City, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, O Come all ye Faithful and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
Set in the beautiful Tudor Gothic Church recently purchased by the Salvation Army, this service follows the traditional format of the Carol Service produced by the choir of King’s College Chapel, Cambridge. Each Christmas Eve since 1928 the service has been broadcast from the Chapel by the BBC.
The Dean of the Chapel, Eric Milner-White explains, “The main theme of the service is the development of the loving purposes of God as seen through the windows and words of the Bible.”
The centre of the service is still found by those who will go ‘in heart and mind’ and who consent to follow where the story leads.
