This Sunday morning we welcome Colonels Beryl and Keith Burridge, currently territorial leaders in Singapore, will be returning to the UK and leading us in worship at 10am. Before taking up leadership in this territory, the colonels worshipped at Forestdale for a number of years. They are in the UK for International leaders conference in London. Please come and join us. A light meal will follow afterwards.

The service of celebration and thanksgiving for Dorothy Avis Harrison was held in the East Chapel at Croydon Crematorium this morning at 11.15am. Captains Ian and Susan conducted the service, and David Coles shared a church tribute.

Others was the focus for LIFT HIM UP, our monthly celebration for adults, while children enjoyed their Praise Party with Susan. They looked at growing together and designed an amazing banner to help with this for the church. Others explored teaching from Matthew 25, and how we are taught by Jesus Himself about judgement and how we are taught we should be serving God, thus serving others. A time to give in our summer challenge gift appeal was given, and we are thankful to those who have supported this. During a time of prayer a number spent time before the cross praying for themselves and others.

Please remember in your prayers the Norton Family. Recently we have been praying for Major Jo Norton, who with her husband, Alan, leads the Salvation Army in Wandsworth. We are sad to inform you that this afternoon Major Jo died - and was promoted to Glory (Praise God!) ...... we remember our brothers and sisters in our prayers

As we prepare to give in our summer challenge tomorrow, the following hymn, written at the beginning of the 1900's has been found, and is a helpful reflection in our considerations:-


Others

Lord, help me live
from day to dayIn such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to prayMy prayer shall be for—
Others.

Others, Lord, yes others,Let this my motto be,
Help me to live for others,That I may live like Thee.

Help me in all the work I doTo ever be sincere and true
And know that all I’d do for YouMust needs be done for—
Others.

Let “Self” be crucified and slainAnd buried deep:
and all in vainMay efforts be to rise again,Unless to live for—
Others
.
And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heav’n’s begun,
May I forget the crown I’ve won,While thinking still of—
Others.

Charles D. Meigs

The funeral service for Mrs Dorothy Avis Harrison will take place on Tuesday at 11.15am at Croydon Crematorium, and conducted by Captains Ian and Susan Woodgate

a great afternoon was enjoyed by our Little Acorns!

Mrs Dorothy Harrison who has been linked with this church for some years, died this afternoon at 4.30pm. We remember her family in our prayers, and thank God for her life.

THE FATHER'S DAY: This morning we took the whole worship meeting to explore what a day with the Father is all about, and explored various passages of Scripture to understand what this means, especially Psalm 118. We explored being the Fathers People; knowing the Fathers Presence; being the Father's Property. The children helped us by sharing what they would do with the congregation if they were the King, and also the types of house they would live in. We explored together how God as Father could chose to live anywhere - but lives right here among His People. During the meeting we thanked Cadets Debbie and Will Pearson who have supported us in recent months by attending worship and gave them a gift from the church. We also prayed with them before their commissioning as Salvation Army Officers in a couple of weeks times.

Following their journey to Malawi with other divisional leaders in The Salvation Army - Majors Joan and Mike Parker (who worship with us) shared an evening of their experiences and time in this country. A meal started the evening, to which we then enjoyed listening, and talking through much of which they experienced and shared in over their few weeks away.

Have you seen a Balloon floating in the sky? Yesterday at KIDS ALIVE at 6, our children were exploring about telling other people about the Good News of Jesus. As a result the released balloons which shared this message with the world, and somewhere today we are praying someone will hear the amazing Truth of Jesus Christ.

Majors Brenda and David Sterling led Sunday Worship, and looked at the theme of growing together - and how we are a church need each other to grow and develop into what God wants us to be. The meeting fitted brilliantly into our focus for this year and we are thankful to the majors for their ministry. Songs today included:- What a Faithful God have I; Faithful God; I've found a friend in Jesus; Great is the Lord and most worthy of Praise; All Heaven Declares; Lord I Lift Your Name on High; Strong Oaks.

SUMMER CHALLENGE - SUMMER FAIR
The church continued it outreach into the community by arranging a stall for the Courtwood School Summer Fair. £130 was raised towards the challenge.

THE SUMMER CHALLENGE captured the imaginations of KIDS ALIVE as they gave up their weekly meeting to hold a bring and buy sale, to raise funds for the appeal. Stalls, which had items supplied by the children themselves, together with craft areas, face painting, card making and refreshments, all added together to raise £200 for our support of the annual appeal to contribute towards our social and community services within The Salvation Army. As the event was donation only (ie people gave what they could) we were so impressed at the amount raised, as we were the many who supported - and again it was great to see parents and their children enjoying this time together.

The Summer Show was THE EVENT for June, and saw new faces attending, which is always great. All generations gathered together for this morning of sharing our talents, which included singing and dance. It was a great opportunity to see what we have in each other. But it was more than that- it was a reminded of the part that we have to play, and the worth we have - whether its up front taking part, or sitting down and encouraging those who might be standing up. We were encouraged to play our part and to ensure we are not a missing part within the body of Christ - and as a sign of our promises to God people were encouraged to bring their part to God in the form of a jigsaw piece.