Taree Salvos

Welcome to new Officers

Roscoe Holland — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:22:00 +1100

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Welcome to new Officers

On Sunday, 13th January Captains Mark & Cathryn Williamson will be installed as our new Commanding Officers for The Salvation Army in the Manning Vallley Region. The celebration will conducted by Majors Warren & Denise Parkinson from our Divisional Headquarters in Newcastle.

The Captains have come from their previous appointment in Warwick in Queensland and are looking forward to taking on their new spiritual leadership role in the church in Taree.

It would be good to have a good representation of our corps/church family present on that day. We are also having a mornign tea afterwards to welcome them - please join us.

For any further information please contact our Church Adminsitration Office. "CLICK HERE"

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Suggestions for the family these holidays

Roscoe Holland — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:13:00 +1100

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Suggestions for the family these holidays

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Have fun all summer long with our A to Z of family activities, writes Faye Michelson.

Ah, December, when the delightful prospect of the summer school holidays seems to stretch before us endlessly. And, sometimes the holidays do seem endless-with endless demands not only in time, but also on our finances-especially when the kids start saying, 'We've got nothing to do'.

But, fear not, Warcry has the answer for you with our A to Z of cost-effective summer holiday activities. Keep it pinned to your noticeboard or stuck to the fridge for easy referral when the kids start saying, 'We're bored!'

A is for aqua, H2O, water. What's summer without plenty of water activities? The good news is you don't need a pool or beach to have fun and cool off. Young children can be entertained for hours with a tub filled with a couple of centimetres of water and all the strainers, funnels, empty containers and measuring spoons you can find for them to pour water into.

A bucket and a paintbrush can also keep youngsters busy and cool while they 'paint' a wall or fence. Older children enjoy games of water tiggy, using water pistols or spray bottles to tag people. These are also fun to use for a knockdown competition-line up a variety of light objects on a low wall or table and see how many you can knock down with your water stream.

Bis for bike ride. Top up your drink bottles, put a couple of snacks into your backpacks, buckle on your helmets and organise your family or some friends to go on a ride. It's a great way to enjoy nature and get some exercise at the same time.

C is for community activities. Contact your local council to see what free activities and events are being held during the summer, particularly around Australia Day. Check to see if your local church is holding a kids' club or family activities, too.

D is for DVD marathon. Do you have a favourite series of movies or TV shows? Settle in for a long night of viewing fun with the family-making sure you have enough popcorn and other treats on hand to see you through.

E is for eating. Who doesn't like doing this? But how about taking it a step further by setting up a family restaurant? Organise a menu where different members of the family cook a course, set the table nicely and sit down to a (hopefully) delicious meal.

F is for fishing. It's calm, peaceful and relaxing to sit back on the bank of a river or on a pier with a fishing rod. Who cares if you catch anything or not? (Check to see if you need a licence, though.)

G is for games. Holidays give us the time to while away a few hours playing games-something we often can't fit in with busy school and work lives.

How long is it since you played some of the classic games, such as Monopoly, Hungry Hungry Hippos or Snakes and Ladders, with the kids? When was the last time you dusted off the dartboard or had a neighbourhood game of cricket? Rummage in the back of your cupboard and see what games you have stored there and lift the lid on hours of fun.

H is for hike. Take the family to a national park and go for a short hike in the Aussie bush. It's not often we eat a picnic lunch sitting on a rock, surrounded by stunning scenery and shaded by towering gums and tree ferns.

I is for investigate your local museum or art gallery. Not only are many of these free or low-cost to enter, they are chock-a-block with interesting and often interactive displays. Many also have kids' activities during the holidays.

Jis for journey. Take an outing on public transport. Board a train, tram, ferry or bus and take your kids on a mystery trip. Who knows where you'll end up, but it will be fun getting there.

K is for kite flying. Haven't got a kite? Then make one. (Take a trip to your local library or type 'make a kite' into your computer's search engine for instructions.) All you have to do then is wait for a breezy day.

L is for your local library. Libraries offer a lot more than books. Pre-schoolers' story time, kids' clubs, activity sessions, multicultural activities, guest speakers-check with yours to see what's on over the holidays.

M is for midnight feasts. Or, if your children are little, an almost-midnight feast. What does it matter if they stay up late or don't sleep afterwards because they've eaten at a strange time? It's the holidays! Prepare a special supper to have by candlelight or torchlight and play a game, read a book together or tell jokes.

N is for night-time stargazing. There's something special about hot summer nights. If it's too hot to sleep, stay up instead. Spread out a blanket in the backyard, grab some cushions and watch the stars and satellites. A pair of binoculars, night sky map (go to museumvictoria.com.au/planetarium/discoverycentre/sky-maps) and mosquito repellent add to the experience

O is for online games. Do you groan at the thought of your kids playing computer games during the holidays? By the time you've done all the other activities on this page you'll be glad to sit down for a while, even if it is in front of a computer.

Introduce them to some of the cute games you used to play on your old Atari or Commodore 64. Old-school games such as Pacman, Tetris and Donkey Kong can be found on free sites such as www.oldfungames.com.

P is for picnic. Everyone loves a picnic, but what if it's raining or too hot? Simple-have it inside. Pack a basket full of finger food, choose a spot to put the picnic rug and enjoy.

Q is for quiz. Have a trivia night with the kids. There are plenty of age-appropriate quizzes available online (such as www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/for_children/index.html).

R is for read a book. Choose a book to 'serialise' over the holidays. Have a regular reading time-perhaps just before bedtime-when everyone snuggles down with a hot chocolate to hear the next chapter.

S is for slip, slop, slap, seek, slide. Protect your family from sunburn and skin cancer by following these five simple instructions. Slip on sun protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible; slop on SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before sun exposure; slap on a broad brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears; seek shade and slide on sunglasses.

Tis for tent or tarp in the backyard. Not going away these holidays? Go camping in the backyard. Pitch a tent or make your own out of a tarp and enjoy the great outdoors close to home.

U is for use your camera. Holiday memories are great, but they are even better when you can share them with others. Get snap-happy and take lots of photos of your family and friends and all the fun you're having this summer. Print them off to make holiday books or collages. U can also be for 'upside down'-on the monkey bars at your local playground.

V is for vegies. See if you've got green thumbs this summer. You don't have to have a big garden or, in fact, any garden at all to grow vegetables. It's as simple as filling a few pots with potting mix and deciding what you'd like to eat. Lettuce and beans give fast results and there's nothing like picking your own tomatoes for dinner.

W is for walking. Not just any walking though. Take the kids on a treasure walk. Give them a container or bag to collect 'treasures' along the way-leaves, rocks, flowers, feathers. Or give everyone a torch and go on a night walk-you may even see a possum or two.

X is (almost) for exercise together. Get fit over the next few weeks of the holidays by going on family jogs, doing a fitness DVD together, swimming regularly or having family Wii Fit sessions.

Y is for yoyos. Learn a new skill-how to use a yoyo. Once you've mastered going up and down, try 'walking the dog', 'loop the loop', 'around the world' and chopsticks (to name just a few). Type yoyo tricks into YouTube for some impressive tutorials.

Z is for zoo. What a great place to spend a day! If all else fails, go your local Salvos and pick up a copy of Kidzone magazine, full of puzzles, crafts, cooking, stories and articles. It will keep your kids amused for hours!

Courtesy of the WarCry

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Hope in Tragedy

Roscoe Holland — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:31:00 +1100

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Hope in Tragedy

After a string of family tragedies, Shirli Congoo encountered God's grace first-hand.

In November 2009, my nephew, who was in his early 20s, died of a heart attack. I used to care for him while he was growing up. He died in Sydney, so we had to take him back to Mt Isa, which cost the family a lot of money. Not many of the family work, so we had to tap into our superannuations and take out personal loans to cover the costs.

In April the following year, one of my uncles passed away. It was a similar situation, with a lot of travel involved for the family. Then, just two days after we returned from that funeral, my younger brother, who was 37, committed suicide. While I was organising his funeral, my young nephew, who was going to Salvos' Ipswich indigenous church, rang to ask if Joel (a Salvo) could come and stay with us.

During this time, we spent about four days searching for an older brother who we hadn't seen for a while because he moves around. When we did find him, he looked like he was on his deathbed, too. We took him to hospital, but they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. He couldn't walk or talk.

The hospital staff could let only one of us in the room with him at a time, so I said to the rest of the family, 'I'll stay and you guys can go home'. My sister, who goes to church, gave me a small Bible and said, 'Can you read Psalms to him while you're in there?'

I pulled out the Bible, because if my sister asked me, I wasn't going to lie to her and say I hadn't read it to our brother. When I got to Psalm five, verses one to three, where it speaks about when you wake up in the morning you'll hear God's voice, my brother sat straight up in bed and said, 'I can talk!' It was amazing. I rang my sister and she said, 'I knew that would work. I can sleep now.'

The doctors didn't know if my brother would walk again. Joel (who was staying with us) prayed for him in hospital on the Friday, then they went back and prayed for him again on Sunday. My brother actually walked out of hospital on that Sunday and went to church for the morning session.

I said to Joel, 'Can I give you a hug?' and thanked him, but Joel said, 'Don't thank me, thank God.' It was like a light went on. I wanted to get to know that God. I started attending The Salvation Army Townsville Riverway (church). I found it difficult at first because of the historical things that have happened to Aboriginal people, but I felt comfortable with the church leaders. I said to them, 'Do I have to leave my culture at the door to mature in my faith?' They said, 'No, no, you don't have to do that.'

They got me to go to a Christ in Culture conference with combined indigenous churches in Sydney and I've matured in my faith so much in a short period of time. I became a soldier (member of The Salvation Army) because God spoke to me and said 'You're going to become a soldier', and I know I'll be a soldier for the rest of my life.

God has done such a lot in my life. I'm a private person who doesn't disclose much to other people about my problems, but I find the Bible has a lot of answers for me. I draw so much strength from God and the Bible.

Shirli, recently appointed as a Salvation Army indigenous engagement officer in Townsville, hopes that through her new role she will be able to 'help create a just society by engaging in social issues and advocacy'.

We welcome peoples of Indigenous descent to be a part of our faith community here in Taree too. Please join us.

Story republished courtesy of Warcry.

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Welcome to new Officers

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:13:00 +1100

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Welcome to new Officers

INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS:

Captains Mark & Cathryn Williamson will be installed as our new Commanding Officers by Majors Warren & Denise Parkinson from our Divisional Headquarters in Newcastle. The Captains have come from Warwick in Queensland and are looking forward to taking on their new spiritual leadership role in the church in Taree.

The celebration will be held on Sunday, 13th January, 2013.

It would be good to have a good representation of our corps/church family present on that day. Please remember to wear your name badges to make it easier for them to get to know you.

For any further information please contact our Church Adminsitration Office. "CLICK HERE"

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2013 New Year's Eve

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:34:00 +1100

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2013 New Year's Eve

Salvos Progressive Dinner:

Some people like to have a quiet relax at home watching TV on New Year's eve-but not us!!!

Once again we will join together for our annual Progressive Dinner-Venues will be announced at a later date to keep the surprise of the locations. But the format will be:

Entrees at 5.30 pm,
move onto the main course somewhere else,
then have desserts in a new location,
then down to the river for the Fireworks.

We need to know numbers so please RSVP before Christmas by calling our Church Adminsitration office or send us an email by clicking on this link

Transport can be arranged. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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Christmas 2012

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:59:00 +1100

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Christmas 2012

On Sunday the 23rd December we will be having a combined meeting to celebrate Christmas. This will be followed by a special Christmas lunch. Hopefully you can ALL attend.

Please put your name on the sheet on the table in the foyer for catering purposes and indicate what you are able to bring. Because it IS an extra special lunch we will be charging $2 per person

IT IS IMPORTANT that all food brought be ready for serving - this is a special mornign so we want to relax and enjoy you rcompany.

CHRISTMAS DAY:

The Christmas Contemplation will commence at 9.00 am on Christmas Day. Bring your family and remember that Christ was born to redeem us. Following the meeting we will have coffee, tea and of course, Christmas cake in the Community Room.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING:

This year we would like to use the Christmas offering to purchase "Gifts that keep on Giving". We will be able to buy anything from an "Hygiene Kit for Kids" for $15 to "Clean Water" for $600. For the list of what can be bought please see the list on the Notice Board. This is a very worthwhile project so please support this cause. For more information follow this link http://salvos.org.au/said/

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General John Gowans - Promoted to Glory

Roscoe Holland — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:23:00 +1100

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General John Gowans - Promoted to Glory

Dear Comrades,

General John Gowans was promoted to Glory from a nursing home in South London today, 8 December 2012, at the age of 78, after a long period of declining health.

General John Gowans, the Army's international leader from 1999 to 2002, will be remembered for the unique, colourful and larger-than-life personality that he was. 'When God made John Gowans he threw away the mould,' writes General John Larsson (Ret.) in his foreword to General Gowans's autobiography. 'Into the gift-mix of this original he poured the potential of an unconventional thinker, an arresting speaker and a charismatic leader. He added the dynamism of a man of action and the creativity of a poet, the ruggedness of an Elijah and the spiritual sensitivity of a John the Beloved. And he topped it all with a large dollop of humanity!'

These qualities marked his term of office as General. He was passionate about the Army's fundamental mission, memorably defining it as 'saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity.' He boldly reformed the conditions of service for officers, in the process surveying every officer in the world. He markedly widened the advisory circle to the General by creating the General's Consultative Council. He unfailingly challenged his hearers around the world through messages that were vivid, pointed and prophetic. No one present at the International Millennial Congress 2000 held in Atlanta, USA, will ever forget the impact of his inspired preaching on that occasion.

A priceless legacy General John Gowans leaves us are the more than 200 songs he wrote, many of them originating in the ten musicals he co-authored with General John Larsson. These songs continue to speak to hearts and minds wherever they are sung around the Army world. His ministry will also live on through the three books of prayer poems he wrote under the title O Lord, which so clearly reveal his gifts of insight, warmth and humour. In retirement, General Gowans reached and influenced thousands by authoring Words of Life for several years.

John Gowans was born in Blantyre, Scotland on 13 November 1934, of officer parents. He entered the International Training College, London, in 1954 as a cadet of the 'Soulwinners' session. There he met Cadet Gisèle Bonhotal, who had entered training from Paris, and they married in 1957. John and Gisèle became parents of two sons, John-Marc and Christophe, and there are now four grandchildren.

John and Gisèle Gowans served as corps officers in the then British Territory for 16 years, held administrative appointments in their home territory and also in the USA Western Territory, and were divisional leaders in both of these territories. They served for eleven years in France, in time becoming the territorial leaders. This was followed by territorial leadership of the Australia Eastern and United Kingdom territories.

Details of the funeral services will follow.

We thank God for giving the Army the gift of John Gowans. Our thoughts and prayers are now with Gisèle and the other members of the family.

Yours sincerely,

Barry C. Swanson, CHIEF OF THE STAFF, International Headquarters London.

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MEDIA RELEASE...

Roscoe Holland — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:53:00 +1100

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MEDIA RELEASE...

4 December 2012

"NO CRIB FOR A BED" THIS CHRISTMAS

Salvation Army statistics shed light on the issue of homelessness

The Salvation Army is urging individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas to get help early to avoid becoming homeless.

It is estimated that 25,000 families will be homeless around Australia this Christmas. Salvation Army statistics reflect the extent of the problem across the country:

16,934 homeless individuals and families assisted by The Salvation Army in 2012
2,164 individuals and families assisted by The Salvation Army in 2012 who were sleeping in their car, a tent or an improvised dwelling

(See regional breakdowns further down page for detailed statistics.)

"Our front-line staff members are telling us of some of the extreme cases they are seeing. For example, we have heard about a family of ten people living in a car, and of a tiny rental property being shared by two families (with both sets of parents working) just to meet the cost of living. We are hearing of mums and dads and kids living in tents in caravan parks…it's heartbreaking," says Major Harmer. "What kind of a Christmas will these children have?"

This Christmas, The Salvation Army will give hope to more than 300,000 Australians by helping with food, bills and accommodation. Around 500,000 gifts - generously donated by the Australian public (mostly via the Kmart Wishing Tree) - will be given to families doing it tough.

"Our centre staff are doing the best they can by providing help with food, clothing and household bills - even giving people tents and sleeping bags in some cases - because there is simply not enough emergency housing to cope with the number of people who are forced to sleep rough," says The Salvation Army's Major Bruce Harmer.

The Salvation Army operates a number of programs to assist people at risk of becoming homeless, including its Emergency Relief Vulnerable Persons Program, and also has a limited number of crisis accommodation beds for those who find themselves with nowhere to go.

"The message that we want to give to people who are having trouble coping is to seek help early and to pay their rent first - before any other bill," says Major Harmer. "It is easier for us to help people before they become homeless than when they are on the street."

ENDS

Media Enquiries: Major Bruce Harmer is available for interviews. Please call The Salvation Army Media Office to facilitate on (02) 9266 9820 (diverts after hours).

Communications & Public Relations Department

140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (PO Box A229, Sydney South NSW 1232) T 02 9266 9820 F 02 9266 9600

salvos.org.au

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SALVATION ARMY HOMELESSNESS STATISTICS - A REGIONAL BREAKDOWN

Number of homeless people helped at Salvation Army Centres across Australia:

Australian Capital Territory

The Salvation Army assisted 268 homeless individuals and families in the Australian Capital Territory in 2012.

New South Wales

The Salvation Army assisted 3,534 homeless individuals and families in New South Wales in 2012, with the regional breakdown as follows:

Sydney: 1,025
Western Sydney: 658
Blue Mountains: 38
Central Coast: 127
Illawarra: 107
Newcastle / Hunter: 361
Northern NSW: 678
Shoalhaven / Southern Highlands / Southern NSW: 247
Western NSW: 293

Queensland

The Salvation Army assisted 1,969 homeless individuals and families in Queensland in 2012, with the regional breakdown as follows:

Brisbane: 521
Central QLD: 214
North QLD: 298
South QLD: 936

Victoria

The Salvation Army assisted 3,473 homeless individuals and families in Victoria in 2012, with the regional breakdown as follows:

Melbourne Central: 2,074
Eastern Victoria: 1,855
Western Victoria: 580
Northern Victoria: 1,038

Western Australia

The Salvation Army assisted 1,755 homeless individuals and families in Western Australia in 2012.

Tasmania

The Salvation Army assisted 742 homeless individuals and families in Tasmania in 2012.

South Australia

The Salvation Army assisted 2,123 homeless individuals and families in South Australia in 2012

Northern Territory

The Salvation Army assisted 996 homeless individuals and families in the Northern Territory in 2012

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MEDIA RELEASE... Alcohol Awareness Week 2012

Roscoe Holland — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:01:00 +1000

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MEDIA RELEASE... Alcohol Awareness Week 2012

Alarming new research from The Salvation Army (as part of their annual alcohol awareness campaign to create more debate in the community about alcohol) reveals 4.2 million people (22%) say they know families where they think children are not being properly cared for because of someone's alcohol abuse.

The research also reveals 2.9 million people (16%) say they know families where they think that children may be unsafe because of someone's alcohol abuse.

Alarming new research from The Salvation Army released today (Monday September 17^th, 2012) as part of its annual Alcohol Awareness campaign reveals 4.2 million people (22%) say they know families where they think that children are not being properly cared for because of someone's alcohol abuse.

The research also reveals that 2.9 million people (16%) say they know families where they think that children may be unsafe because of someone's alcohol abuse.

The Salvos say the research conducted by Roy Morgan Research paints a deeply disturbing picture of what is happening in some Australian families.

The Salvation Army's Clinical Director of Recovery Services, Gerard Byrne, says the findings from the research are alarming and need to be addressed immediately.

"It is very clear there are large numbers of people out there who know families where children aren't being cared for properly, according to them, because of alcohol," he said.

"To think that a child feels unsafe due to the alcohol use of a family member is very concerning. Alcohol is the most widely used and widely accepted drug in today's society and yet we know people will often drink harmfully - without even considering the impacts. As a result, the amount of alcohol that is consumed and the effects that this has on children, families and friends, is never really taken into account," said Byrne.

The research further revealed that 2.6 million people (14%) said the use of alcohol had caused problems with other family members in their immediate or extended family in the last 12 months (either sometimes, often or always).

"When an individual has a problem with alcohol, it affects everyone around them, work colleagues, friends, the community and most importantly their family and in particular their children. Many people who seek assistance from The Salvation Army state that alcohol has been a central or contributing factor to their situation," said Gerard Byrne.

Australia's leading Child and Adolescent psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, is also supporting the Salvos Alcohol Awareness Week and says the social and emotional scars from alcohol abuse in families can last a lifetime.

"I am concerned for many reasons. The role of a parent is to provide their children with an environment where they feel safe, valued and cared for. Parents who have issues with alcohol may find this difficult and as a result, the child suffers. There can be a very big domino effect and children's routines aren't followed because of issues with alcohol and kids are placed in what amounts to unsafe environments.

"Children from families where there are drinking issues my experience low self-esteem, behavioural issues, emotional problems, difficulty with social interaction and maintaining relationships with peers," said Carr-Gregg.

Ian Dalton - Executive Director of Australian Parents Council - said: "Parents are the primary educators of their children and the examples they provide to their kids have a significant effect on their children's life choices and behaviours. Any time that adults use alcohol in front of children they influence the choices those children will make later on, so it is important parents are aware of their responsibility to provide a positive example."

The message for Alcohol Awareness Week this year is clear, says Gerard Byrne: "We are simply asking people to consider their drinking choices and to reflect on how their abuse of alcohol affects themselves and others. We acknowledge there are many Australians who are drinking responsibly. However, as this new research shows, many children are ultimately paying the cost due to alcohol abuse by a family member/s."

Alcohol Awareness Week is an initiative by The Salvation Army designed to stimulate more discussion and debate in the community around the social impacts of alcohol abuse. The campaign also urges people to consider their drinking choices and the impact this is having on themselves, their friends, families and children.

Each week, The Salvation Army assists more than 500 people who find themselves addicted to alcohol and other drugs. For more information about addiction services or if you know someone facing addiction, please call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) or visit salvos.org.au/aaw.

Key findings of the new Roy Morgan research include:

4.2 million people aged 14 plus (22%) say that they know families where they think that children are not being properly cared for because of someone's alcohol abuse.
2.9 million people aged 14 plus (16%) say that they know families where they think that children may be unsafe because of someone's alcohol abuse.
2.0 million people aged 14 plus (11%) say that in the last 12 months the use of alcohol had 'sometimes' caused problems with other family members in their or their extended family. Another 2% said 'often' and another 1% said 'always', making a total of 2.6 million people (14%) saying that in the last 12 months, in their family or extended family, someone's use of alcohol had caused problems with other family members.
2.1 million people aged 14 plus (11%) say that someone in their family or extended family had been unreliable to family or friends due to alcohol use in the last 12 months.
3.1 million (16%) of Australians aged 14 plus indicated that alcohol had caused some form of disruption within their immediate or extended family within the last 12 months.

Media enquiries to: Ross Woodward or Homira Samadi on (03) 9769 6488

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New soldier enrolled...

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:32:00 +1000

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New soldier enrolled...

On Sunday 19th August 2012, Miss Tierney Holland was enrolled as the newest Junior Soldier of The Salvation Army in Taree.

The Salvation Army has, since it's early days, encouraged members to make a special covenant between themselves and God. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, invites us to live in a way that is marked by honesty, integrity and love. This covenant declares that they will promise to try and live lives worthy of the call of Jesus.

Tierney made a public declaration that she knows "Jesus saves us and she loves Jesus because He lives with her". She then (with some prompting from her father) recited the Junior Soldier covenant.

The Junior Soldier promise/covenant states the following:

I know that Jesus is my Saviour from sin.
I have asked Him to forgive me my sins, and will trust Him to keep me good.
By His help, I will be His loving and obedient child, and will help others to follow Him.
I promise to pray, to read my Bible, and to lead a life that is clean in thought, word and deed.
I will not use anything that may injure my body or my mind, including harmful drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

All our Junior Soldiers are given a mentor that will help disciple them as they grow in knowledge and stature. Miss Sammy Selby has agreed to disciple Tierney and also to pray everyday for her.

Pictured is Captain Roscoe, Tierney Holland and Sammy Selby. Our CSM Owen Tisdell is holding the flag.

We also held our Renewal service for other Junior Soldiers in our church/corps.

Alesha & Caitlin Lannoy, Tara Copp, Isobel Holland and Nina Tisdell were all delighted to re-confirm, their promise to love God and serve Him through The Salvation Army. We acknowledge our kids who were not present on the day but also are vital people in our church: Daniel and Jessica Hickey, Caleb Whitehouse, Taylor Veitch, and sisters, Kiah and Jannali Griffiths.

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Father's Day family movie night

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 10:55:00 +1000

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Father's Day family movie night

We are inviting all families to come and join us for a family movie night on Saturday 31st August 2012.

Doors will be open from 6.30pm onwards and the movie will screen at 7.00pm. The movie runs for approximately 1 hour 40 minutes and is rated PG [Parental Guidance recommended].

There will be free popcorn, tea and coffee and there will also be cold drinks and treats on sale too. All proceeds will go to help our children's ministries in Taree.

"Courageous" is a film about 4 law enforcement officers who face danger every day. Yet, when tragedy strikes close to home, these men are left to struggle with their hopes, their fears, and their faith. From this struggle will come a decision that will change all of their lives.

With action, drama, and humour this fourth picture from Sherwood Pictures embraces God's promise to "turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers". Souls will be stirred, and hearts will be challenged to be... courageous!

Follow the Courageous link for more details on the movie.

For more details please click on this link to contact our church administration office.

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Father's Day Combined Worship Event

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 12:51:00 +1000

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Father's Day Combined Worship Event

On Father's day we will not be holding our regularly scheduled worship services at The Salvation Army in Taree - Kid's Church, Holiness meeting & the 1am Worship Project.

Instead we will be holding a combined worship service that comences at 10.00am and will conclude with a huge church-family luncheon out in our Community Centre at midday.

We would love to see you there with your family and friends... and if you are able, please bring some salads or cakes to share with everyone over lunch. We will provide the barbeque portion.

For more information telephone our church administration team or email us. Follow this link for details.

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Salvos Launch National Appeal for flood affected Philippines

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:14:00 +1000

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Salvos Launch National Appeal for flood affected Philippines

11th August 2012

The Salvation Army has today launched a national appeal for the millions of people now affected by widespread flooding across the Philippines.

Around 80% of the country has been affected by the floods with hundreds of thousands of people seeking emergency accommodation in evacuation centres. More than 2.4 million people in 144 municipalities have been affected by the weather so far and more than 3,100 homes have been damaged. While the death toll from days of heavy rains and floods in the Philippines has continued to rise forcasters are expecting even more heavy rain across the main island of Luzon.

Although there appears to be a lull in the deluge, the impact of displacement, sickness, hunger and distress will continue to place pressure on the people of the Philippines.

Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army says the Salvos are already hard at work helping these people through a very difficult and ever changing natural disaster.

The Salvation Army Australia has today committed to an initial financial support of $100,000 for disaster relief with more to come as people support The Salvation Army's Philippines Disaster Appeal.

"This will no doubt be the start of a long recovery process for the Filipino people. The Salvation Army has served in the Philippines for many years and we are committed to providing assistance in whatever form is required during this natural disaster and in the months to follow.

"We urge everyone to please give generously to help these people recover from this shocking and ongoing disaster", said Major Harmer.

To donate, simply log on to salvos.org.au/odr (overseas disaster relief) or call 13 SALVOS (13 72 58).

ENDS

For further comment, please contact:

Major Bruce Harmer, Communications and Public Relations Secretary, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory: 0407 048 095

For any other media enquiries, please contact The Salvation Army media office on (02) 9266 9820 (diverts after hours).

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Death toll from Philippines floods rises

August 12, 2012|By the CNN Wire Staff

The death toll from floods in the Philippines soared to 85, authorities said Sunday, following days of torrential rainfall that has affected more than 2 million people.

Most of the deaths were from drowning and landslides associated with the week of flooding, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said.

Others died from electrocution or in landslides associated with the rain and floods.

Floods have affected more than 2.4 million people in 144 municipalities so far, officials said.

August is generally the wettest month of the year, and days of rain drenched have drenched the area.

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-12/asia/world_asia_philippines-floods_1_national-disaster-risk-reduction-tropical-storm-washi-flood-waters

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MEDIA RELEASE...

Roscoe Holland — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:39:00 +1000

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MEDIA RELEASE...

5th August 2012

SALVOS TRIAL NEW INITIATIVE TO ASSIST PROBLEM GAMBLERS

The Salvation Army has announced today that they will take part in trialing a new approach to identifying and assisting problem gamblers within the gambling environment.

Speaking about the trial, which will see a uniformed Salvation Army Chaplain visiting a Central Coast Club for up to 15 hours a week, Major Paul Moulds, Director of Social Programs, said it provided The Salvation Army with the opportunity to do what it does best, build relationships with people.

"This is all about visibility and proximity. The Salvation Army has always been on the front line, in the places where people are struggling and doing it tough. This initiative will allow The Salvation Army to place a trained person directly in the Club environment where we know some people are struggling with all sorts of life issues, including addiction to gambling. The Chaplain will be available to give non-judgmental support, and provide referrals, practical help and intervention to any of the staff or Club patrons. They will be particularly equipped to provide support to people who have gambling addictions", said Major Moulds.

Major Moulds also clarified that the Salvation Army is fully funding this trial, and that Clubs NSW are supporting it by providing access to the Mingara Club on the Central Coast.

Major Moulds also rejected the suggestion that this partnership would restrict The Salvation Army's ability to speak out against the negative impact of poker machines on communities.

"We are totally committed to support measures that reduce the harm done by poker machines", he said. "Our addiction treatment services treat hundreds of people each year whose lives have been devastated by the impact of gambling. This new initiative is one small contribution we can make to test new approaches to assisting people experiencing gambling addiction and secondary issues resulting from their gambling patterns. But we also remain supportive of broader measures by the Government and community to limit the damage that poker machines have on individuals and the community".

The Eastern Territory of The Salvation Army has always been supportive of a trial of mandatory pre commitment and remains so and is supportive of investigating the viability and effectiveness of the proposal to cap pokies bets to $1 a spin.

The Salvation Army are committed to providing assistance to people experiencing gambling addiction and working with communities toward providing a better community environment. The Salvation Army will continue to seek out new and innovative methods of limiting and removing the negative social implications of problematic gambling.

ENDS

Communications & Public Relations Department

140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000 (PO Box A229, Sydney South NSW 1232)

T 02 9266 9820 F 02 9266 9805 salvos.org.au

For further comment, please contact:

Major Paul Moulds,

Director Social Programs, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory: 0413 673 323.

Major Bruce Harmer,

Communications and Public Relations Secretary, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory: 0407 048 095.

For any other media enquiries, please contact The Salvation Army media office on (02) 9266 9820 (diverts after hours).

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Celebrate Life... 1942 was a good year!

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:08:00 +1000

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Celebrate Life... 1942 was a good year!

Our Senior's Ministry had a guest visit on Wednesday from Majors Joan & David Tong, the Newcastle & Central NSW Divisional Over 50's Ministry Coordinators. The theme for the morning was 1942 was a good year (we found out Major David was born in this year).

After a sumptuous morning tea, the Tong's led us through a trip down memory lane with songs with piano accordion and ukulele accompaniment, such as "Blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover", "Que sera, sera", and who could forget "Home, home on the range". All these songs had significance to 1942 but moreover pointed to the fact that life reflects the splendour of God, the guidance of God and the security and familiarity of God.

Major Joan went on to say that our life is a journey. Our past and our family's history is full of memories and significant moments. But all life is like a pilgrimage, and for Christians it is a pilgrimage with God. Our past may be colourful, sad, exciting and memorable but we can see God in those moments when we reflect back. We carry our past with us and we use those experiences to move forward.

We don't know what lies ahead, what tomorrow may bring, but we choose to face the day with the certainty that God is there. We also face these days with the intention to do something so as those generations who follow us will remember our deeds and learn from us. And hopefully they will learn from our example to follow and trust God.

Matthew Chapter one talks about the many generations that followed God. Our journey is with God. We must be an influence for good especially for God.

The Tongs finished with a promise from Major Joan's grandmother's promise box. It was Ephesians 6:16 "...take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."

We thank the Tongs and also their travelling companions, Majors Max & Noreen Clanfield, for making the trip and entertaining and teaching us so well.

Majors David & Joan Tong entertain and teach the Senior's Fellowship of TSA Taree Corps, 25 July 2012

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Media Release.

Roscoe Holland — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:09:00 +1000

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Media Release.

Media Release

18 June 2012

THE SALVATION ARMY POSITION ON HUMAN SEXUALITY

As are many Christian churches, The Salvation Army (TSA) continues to have a healthy and vigorous internal dialogue about the way it deals internally with issues of sexuality. There are a range of diverse views in an organisation as large and broad as TSA, and these views are being heard and considered.

CLARIFICATIONS

1. Statement on homosexuality

A Salvation Army statement on homosexuality that dates back to the 1990s has been the subject of public debate this week. The Salvation Army today clarified that the statement was not posted as part of the current debate on gay marriage, and has been on The Salvation Army website for many years.

2. Provision of social services by TSA

The Salvation Army does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the delivery of its services. All Salvation Army social service programs embrace and work with people ONLY on the basis of need. Salvation Army social service centres around the nation have had multitudes of gay people stay and find acceptance, support and love in TSA's care.

3. Employment and volunteering with TSA

TSA does not consider sexuality a factor in deciding who we employ, or in the engagement of volunteers. Some of our best employees and volunteers are people who are openly gay.

4. Church involvement with TSA

In terms of Salvation Army church life, homosexual people are welcome to worship with, and join in the fellowship of, Salvation Army churches. TSA is founded on strong Christian principals which drive and underpin its compassion and desire to work with anyone, without giving up, for as long as it takes.

RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS

TSA respectfully suggests that, under the standards some have suggested people follow in determining which organisations to support, most of Australia's faith-based organisations would effectively be excluded from eligibility, despite their enormous range of vital and effective programs to all members of the Australian community.

TSA would suggest a more appropriate measure for people to use is to look at how an organisation treats and deals with members of the community who are marginalised, vulnerable, experiencing disadvantage or oppression. On that measure, TSA is one of the most compassionate and non-discriminatory in the way it works with people who are marginalised in our community, including many people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

For further information or media comment please contact:

Major Andrew Craib

The Salvation Army (Territorial Media Relations Director, Australia Southern Territory, VIC, SA, TAS, WA, NT)

Tel:03 8878 2406 Mob: 0417 537 950

Territorial Communications & Fundraising Department, 95-99 Railway Road, Blackburn VIC 3130

Major Bruce Harmer

The Salvation ARmy (Communications and Public Relations Secretary, Australi Eastern Territory QLD, NSW, ACT)

Tel: 02 9266 9530 Mob: 0407 048 095

Territorial Communications and Public Relations Department, Level 6, 140 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 1232

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Taree Youth Worship Night

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:58:00 +1000

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Taree Youth Worship Night

It's on again... Youth Worship Night.

Guest Speaker is our very own Glenda Battishall from Taree Salvos.

We'll be letting our light shine and reflect the true image of Jesus Christ at this one.

Taree Salvos ensemble will lead the worship time followed by supper and sharing.

Check out the facebook page too for this event.

See you there?

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2012 Youth councils

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:51:00 +1000

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2012 Youth councils

HEART AND HAND

Newcastle and Central NSW Divisional Youth Councils

Saturday 3pm to 9.30pm - Music Fest with Luke & Joel (From X-Factor) Northlakes Band & Supercahrged Band

Sunday 9.30am to 5pm - Electives / Church & More

Accommodation is available. Email DYS Angela for bookings angela.cairns@aue.salvationarmy.org

Rego is $15 by 5th August. Rego includes:

Saturday dinner
Sunday lunch & mornign tea
Freebies

Fredom Stories Skating Rock Climbing

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All-in Kids Church

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:30:00 +1000

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All-in Kids Church

The Salvation Army, Newcasle & Central NSW Division, are holding an All-In Kids Church - inviting families of pre-school and primary schol aged children to come together for worship, food and fun.

Special Guest - Cherry the Cowgirl.

As this is something new for the Salvos in this area we here at Taree are organising a bus and a few cars to travel down in convoy for the afternoon. So if you have primary school aged kids and want them to experience worship just for them, let us know and we'll organise to get you there.

All you'll need is $5 a family for bus petrol and some extra cash for "snacks" at the road stops.

Contact the adminsitration office and they'll pop your name down.

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"Go Red" because we all have a heart...

Roscoe Holland — Fri, 25 May 2012 11:24:00 +1000

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"Go Red" because we all have a heart...

Hi everyone;

Almost 12 months ago, my world was shaken. I had a heart attack. I didn't fit any of the risk factors, but it happened. I am so grateful for God's protection, and I enjoy fantastic health today. The reality is that it could have been so much worse - I could have been left with a permanent disability or passed away, leaving Roscoe with three little kids to care for.

As I come to the anniversary, I want to make a difference, so I have joined with the heart foundation to raise funds for their programs and research. In addition to that, I am personally committing to a healthier, more active lifestyle, and trying to raise awareness wherever I go.

If you are in a position to donate to the appeal, just follow my link. Look up www.everydayhero.com.au. On that page, use their search function, typing in my name (Melanie-Anne Holland). And you're in... You can also get into the page through my facebook page.

Feel free to share this information, if you would like.

Thanks so much, Captain Melanie Holland

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