Basingstoke

Connect with us for worship on Sunday, either in-person or online. This week we celebrate Harvest Sunday, thanking God for the gift of his creation. But our climate is in crisis. Only God can save our planet, but we have a role to play in protecting our environment. Come and find out more at 10:30am (live online from 10:15am) #salvationarmy #basingstoke

You can find an archive of our live broadcasts at https://basingstokesalvationarmy.sermon.net/liveworship/ or Subscribe to our Live Worship podcast: feeds.podcastmirror.com/basingstoke-salvation-army-worship-video or at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/basingstoke-salvation-army-live-worship/id1518279327

10:15-11:45     WORSHIP MEETING | Featuring songs, music, prayer & relevant Bible teaching

You can also watch on this page or at BasingstokeSalvationArmy.sermon.net/21606498

On Facebook - www.facebook.com/BasingstokeSalvationArmy/live or

YouTube - www.youtube.com/BasingstokeSalvationArmy

 

11:45-12:45 APPROX.    COFFEE FELLOWSHIP (from 5 September) &

VIRTUAL SUNDAY SCHOOL ON ZOOM (from 12 September) | Fun, Bible-based activities for tots to 11’s

 

SUNDAY AFTERNOON & EVENING (and at other times in the week) - VARIOUS HOME-BASED SMALL GROUPS MEET FOR FRIENDSHIP, DISCUSSION & PRAYER

Please call us on 01256 328178 or email us at basingstoke@salvationarmy.org.uk for more details.

 

19:00-20:00     VIRTUAL 12/16 GROUP ON ZOOM | Friendship and fun for 12-16 years (2nd Sunday of each month)

Please call us on 01256 328178 or email us at basingstoke@salvationarmy.org.uk for the relevant Meeting ID and password.

 

20:00-21:00     VIRTUAL YOUTH FELLOWSHIP ON ZOOM | Friendship and fun for teens and twentysomethings (1st, 3rd and last Sundays of each month)

Please call us on 01256 328178 or email us at basingstoke@salvationarmy.org.uk for the relevant Meeting ID and password.

OUR CURRENT ACTIVITIES

MONDAY

09:30-12:30     EMPLOYMENT PLUS | Help & support for those seeking work (from 6 September 2021)

 

TUESDAY

 

10:30-12:00     TUESDAY FELLOWSHIP GROUP | Fun & friendship for everyone, (from 31 August 2021), followed by

12:15-13:30     LIGHT LUNCH | Two course light meal & great friendship for all

 

WEDNESDAY

09:30-12:30     EMPLOYMENT PLUS | Help & support for those seeking work (from 1 September 2021)

 

 

THURSDAY

20:00-21:30    BAND REHEARSAL

 

FRIDAY

09:30-12:30     EMPLOYMENT PLUS | Help & support for those seeking work (from 3 September 2021)

 

OUR OTHER USUAL ACTIVITIES (CURRENTLY SUSPENDED)

MONDAY

13:30-15:00     BABY SONG | Fortnightly in term time. Fun, music & friendship

14:15-14:45     TAI'CHI GENTLE EXERCISE CLASS | Fortnightly. A fun way to slow down and relax

 

TUESDAY

18:00-19:15    YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHOIR REHEARSAL

20:00-21:30    SONGSTERS (ADULT CHOIR) REHEARSAL

 

WEDNESDAY

10:30-12:00     COFFEE STOP | Fortnightly. Drop in for coffee & delicious homemade cakes

 

THURSDAY

09:45-11:30    FAMILY TIME | Term time. Play & chat for babies & tots & their carers

 

FRIDAY

10:00-11:00     BIBLE STUDY GROUP | 1st & 3rd Friday in the month. Lively discussion

17:30-19:00     MESSY CHURCH | Last Friday in each month. A fun and messy way to find out more about God for children and their families. Hot meal served.

 

SATURDAY

Special events as advertised below.

Welcome to Basingstoke Salvation Army Online

Worship. Preaching.

An Online Family Where You Belong.

Each weekend we broadcast our worship meetings around the world.

You can find positive, practical encouragement wherever you find yourself.

Subscribe to our Live Worship podcast: feeds.podcastmirror.com/basingstoke-salvation-army-worship-video or

 

Subscribe to our Sermon podcast: feeds.podcastmirror.com/basingstoke-salvation-army-sermons or

 

Basingstoke Corps now has its very own app, downloadable on the Apple App Store (for iPhone and iPad) and the Google Play Store (for most other smartphones and tablets running on Android).

The app allows you to:

Access the latest content from Basingstoke Corps. Receive positive practical encouragement anywhere you are at anytime.

* Watch all the latest worship meetings from Basingstoke Salvation Army.

* Watch all the latest sermons.

* Join LIVE worship meetings.

* Read my blog.

The app should notify you when new content becomes available and when we go live.
 

For iPad and iPhone Users

On your iPhone or iPad, click on this link, or head to the App Store and search for "Basingstoke Salvation Army" (without the quote marks). Click on the "Get" button to download the app to your device.
 

For Android Users

On your smartphone or tablet, click on this link, or head to the Play Store app and search for "Basingstoke_Salvation_Army" (without the quote marks, but you must use the underscores ("_") due to a Play Store bug) Click on the app when you find it and then click on the "Install" button to install the app on your device.
 

For Kindle Fire Users

If you already have the Google Play Store app on your Kindle, then follow the instructions for Android Users. If you don't have Google Play installed (and most won't), there is a convoluted and complicated way of getting it on to your device. You can follow the instructions here if you want to try it.
 

For All Users

Click on the app on your device to use and explore it. The content is the same on both platforms. The app opens on the Media page, which gives you access to the main, live worship and sermon playlists. You will note that the main playlist (the top one in the list) has the next live episode at the top. This is one way to access live worship from the app on Sunday. But for now, simply click on the playlist you want to explore to access the content. When you choose an episode you will be presented with the details and the content available. The Video button accesses video of the episode, the Audio button will serve just audio of the episode, and if the PDF button is showing, then you can view a document associated with the episode (for example, our live worship episodes have access to the Worship Sheet for that week). Click on the Home button to return to the Media page.

Also on the Media/Home page is a Series button which organises the content into sermon series, in case you want to consume the content in this way.

In the top left hand corner is a "burger icon" (a series of three or four horizontal lines). This gives access to the menu for the app, to help you navigate the content:

Media

This is the place where the content is stored as described above.
 

Search

Click on this to search the app for any content that's available. Once you've clicked on Search then put your search term (e.g. sermon title, series title, speaker, date, etc.) in the box marked Search Media (you'll need to click on the magnifying glass icon on Android) and then click on Search or the magnifying glass icon on your keyboard.
 

Blog

This page gives you access to my blog posts. Choose a post that interests you and then click on it and you'll be taken to it. Click on the left arrow icon at the top of the page to return to the app.
 

Lives and Broadcasts

This is where our live broadcasts are listed. If there are any planned for the day you are looking, they should be listed under Upcoming (or Ended if you've missed it!) and if we are On Air when you are looking, it should be listed under On Air. This might be the easiest place to access our live content when we are live or about to go live (e.g. Sunday mornings).
 

About & Links

This page gives you information about the Corps, including email address, web address, a link to our Facebook page and a link to sign up to our mailing list. It also shows a map of our location.
 

Events

This page gives you details of our forthcoming events. It will ask if you want to give access to the Calendar on your device. If you click yes it gives you the ability to add any events to your calendar.
 

Bible

The Bible menu item gives you access to the Bible on youversion.com. You can read the Bible in many different translations and paraphrases (useful in the Bible reading and sermon!), sign up to a reading plan, receive a Verse of the Day and more.
 

Settings

The settings page allows you to toggle on or off several settings for the app, including if you want the app to show you a badge (the red numbers on the icon on your device) and send you a notification when we are on air.

Basingstoke Salvation Army Daily Devotional online.

Using the button below, you can click on Battle Drill, our daily devotional to read or listen online. You can can also subscribe at https://feeds.podcastmirror.com/battle-drill-daily.

Most of the daily devotionals follow on from our preaching on a Sunday. You can find the relevant sermon from here. We try to provide positive, practical encouragement from the Bible each week.

We pray that you will enjoy these daily devotionals online and that you are equipped for your daily walk with God as you go through this Battle Drill.

 

You can help us by donating your goods for reuse and recycling.

To donate good quality clothes and accessories, linens such as curtains and fabrics, homeware such as bric-a-brac and kitchen items, books, CDs, DVDs or toys, please call our charity shops in Andover on 01264 352129, Newbury on 01635 552796 or Aldershot on 01252 316144.

For old clothing, footwear, bags, belts, towels and bed linen, please donate these at one of our clothing banks around the town, Click the button below to find your nearest one.

If you are contacting us to donate furniture, we suggest you try the British Heart Foundation on 01256 442800.

We are unable to accept any items for reuse or recycling at our address in Wessex Close.

The Salvation Army works with some of the most vulnerable people in society. As we face the worst public health crisis in our lifetime, people on the margins need us now more than ever.

From running food banks and checking up on people who live alone, to offering counselling and supporting NHS isolation units, The Salvation Army is responding to the crisis in dozens of different ways.

Please visit our Justgiving page or click on the QR code or Call to Action button and donate what you can. Help us support as many people as possible.

As you know, the UK Government has moved England on to Step 4 of their Roadmap to Recovery from the COVID-19 Coronavirus as from Monday 19 July 2021. This has implications for us and the use of our building.
 
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul gives the church at Corinth some advice concerning eating meat bought in the marketplace. The Corinthian Christians are concerned that the meat may have been sacrificed to idols. What should they do? Paul says that whilst they may think they are allowed to do anything, not everything is beneficial to them. Moreover, there might be occasions when they should choose not to eat the meat for the conscience of someone else, saying, “I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT).
 
As a Christian family, that is a good rule of thumb for approaching the next step out of lockdown. We may now have the freedom not to maintain social distancing or to wear masks, but for the good of our church family and for the wider community, we should consider doing so.
 
This is what you should expect when you attend worship or for any other activity in our building over the next few weeks:

• Every activity we undertake needs a written risk assessment, which must be signed off by another person (an officer) before the activity begins.
• The most effective way out of the Coronavirus crisis is for as many people to get the vaccine as possible. We continue to urge you to do so, if you have not done so already.
• If you have any symptom which is potentially a sign of COVID-19, you should not enter the building. This includes any of the following: a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or any loss or change in taste. Thinking of the good of our church family and community, we would also ask if you would not attend if you have a headache or any cold symptoms, even if you are sure in your bones that you have a common cold. We must appreciate that in the current climate, many people will feel uncomfortable sharing space with someone who has those symptoms.
• If you are instructed by NHS Track and Trace to self-isolate or if you know you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 you should be self-isolating and not coming into the building.
• If you have been diagnosed as clinically extremely vulnerable, then you are advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else. However, as someone who is at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if you were to catch COVID-19, you should think particularly carefully about precautions you can continue to take.
• Social distancing is now a personal choice. There is no longer any need to pre-book a seat – you can simply turn up as you used to do! We have set aside an area in the main hall as the area to sit in if you wish to maintain some distance from others. Every other row in that block will be blocked off. We would ask that if a row in that block is already occupied when you arrive, please do not use that row, but find a free one. If you are sitting in that area, you may wish to bring an item with you to put on the seat next to you, to deter others from joining you. Stewards will continue to be available to direct people to “quieter” places in the hall.
• Everyone should seek to keep as much distance from others as they can, being gracious to those who do not yet want to mix very much and watching for crowding or clustering in various areas of the building (for example, around the doors leading from the main hall into/from the lobby and the lobby itself, etc.). The lobby is available for people who would like to come to worship but don’t yet feel ready to come into the main hall. We will provide you with a seat if you want to sit out there.
• Wearing a face mask is also a personal choice. However, bearing in mind the risks and with an overarching desire to protect our church family and the community at large, we expect and recommend that anyone entering the building wears a face mask whilst moving about in the building and when singing (see below). You may remove your face covering whilst seated, but it is equally acceptable for you to carry on wearing it if you feel safer in doing so. If the wearing of a face covering would prevent you from coming to the building for whatever reason, please speak to the Commanding Officer and we can come to an agreement.
• We will ensure the spaces we use are well ventilated, before, during and after any activity. When using the main hall, we will open the windows, use the fan in the roof ventilation system, keep the double doors from the lobby into the main hall open and keeping at least one external door at the main entrance open. For that reason, we ask you to always keep all personal belongings with you, and not to use the coat hooks outside the kitchen. We will need to be more vigilant when it comes to the security of the building when in use.
• The NHS COVID-19 app is a vital part of the NHS Track and Trace system. We will therefore keep the QR code in the lobby to enable you to log in when you attend the building. We would encourage you to use it. In addition, if you do not have access to a smartphone or prefer not to use an app, then we will provide a paper system on Reception for you to leave your name and contact details if you want to check in for the purposes of Track and Trace.
• We need to continue to maintain the simple and effective personal hygiene behaviours we are used to:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser as you enter and exit the building. Hand sanitiser will continue to be provided in the lobby.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and washing your hands before and after if you do need to touch your face (for example to put on or take off your face covering).
  • Covering your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze or sneezing into the crook of your elbow (not your hands) if you do not have a tissue.
• The NHS is still providing free lateral flow tests to anyone who does not have any COVID-19 symptoms. You can order them from the gov.uk website or pick up a free box from many local chemists. You may wish to consider taking advantage of this scheme, again as a way of keeping our church family and community safe.
• Surfaces can become contaminated with viruses like COVID-19. We will therefore not be providing Song Books or Bibles for the moment, though of course, you are able to bring your own to use. There is very little risk to you in picking up material to take home with you, such as our periodicals and the weekly Grapevine newsletter, so copies of these may be provided. An offering plate will be available just inside the doors to/from the lobby into/out of the main hall (as opposed to the lobby itself – for security reasons). Surfaces will be cleaned regularly both by our cleaner and by activity leaders where necessary.
• There are now no restrictions on singing or the playing of instruments in worship and rehearsal, both for musical sections and for the congregation. We will reintroduce congregational singing but expect and recommend you will wear a mask when doing so. We also encourage you not to sing at the top of your voice. When the band plays and rehearses, they will continue to use bell covers.
• We will not be reintroducing coffee fellowship in the hall after worship for the moment. We are being advised to minimise our time together and this is another way we can minimise any risks.
• Whilst cases continue to rise, we will not be bringing the minibus back into service.
• Sunday School will continue to be online at 3:30pm on Sundays over the next few weeks, though it is hoped our children and young people will be able to meet face-to-face from September.
• In terms of our weekly community activities, these can be restarted based on the principles set above. I will be asking all activity leaders to meet with me in the coming weeks to plan any reopening and to agree a risk assessment for their activity. Please monitor Grapevine for more information.

These precautions will be kept under constant review and will be formally reviewed with the Corps Council on a regular basis.

SUNDAY

10:30am Harvest Praise Meeting | Caring for Creation

Live from 10:15am on Sermon.net –  https://basingstokesalvationarmy.sermon.net/21606498

Facebook – https://fb.me/e/r9oBgR2U3

YouTube - https://youtu.be/nmLowIw-JFc

 

11:45am approximately Coffee Fellowship & Sunday School (in-person)

 

05:00pm Harvest BBQ at the home of Ian & Jan Hixon. If the weather is wet this will take place at the Hall at the hall.

 

Monday 20th September

9:30am-12:30pm Employment Plus

 

Tuesday 21st September

10:45am Tuesday Fellowship followed by light lunch at 12:00 approx.

 

Wednesday 22nd September 2021

9:30am-12:30pm Employment Plus

 

7:30pm. Pastoral Care Council Meeting (Whitchurch Room).

 

Thursday 23rd September 2021

Tai’Chi Thursdays

With Marie Behenna, our Tai’Chi guru! Thursdays at 6:45pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4136732200 or go to join.zoom.us on PC/Smartphone/Tablet (or dial 0330 088 5830 from telephone) and use Meeting ID – 413 673 2200. The password is studio41. Please let Marie know on 07753 668843 if you are planning attend.

 

8:00pm – Band Practice

 

Friday 24th September

9:30am-12:30pm Employment Plus

 

Sunday 26th September 2021

10:30am Happiness | The Source of Our Joy

Live from 10:15am on

Sermon.net –  https://basingstokesalvationarmy.sermon.net/21606498

Facebook – https://fb.me/e/3XUch4JfT

YouTube - https://youtu.be/8QoYQyMBaeU

 

OTHER NEWS & INFORMATION

COMING EVENTS

Thursday 23 September – Officers divisional Retreat Day

Sunday 26 September – 3pm. Mayor’s Civic Sunday Service, St. Michael’s Church

Sunday 3 October – Youth Councils, Dunstable Corps (Please note correction on venue)

Sunday 14 November – 6pm Festival of Remembrance (in addition to Morning Worship)

Saturdays 27 November, 4, 11 & 18 December – 10:30am-1pm Carolling in Festival Place

Sunday 12 December – 10:30am. Young People’s Carol Service

Sunday 19 December – 6:00pm. Corps Carol Service (in addition to Morning Worship)

 

Worship Sheets

This week’s mailing will see the last of the worship sheets produced during the pandemic. There were at least eighty issues! We hope you have found them useful whilst we have been unable to meet for worship in the hall. The vast majority of those who receive a mailing each week are able to join in worship via the internet or by DVD or CD during the week.

 

Big Collection 2021

Salvation Army Corps across the UK, such as Basingstoke, still raise around £1.3 million for our social services through the Big Collection each year. So, it is important we keep doing as much as we can. However, fundraising does not have to happen just through door-to-door collecting. We can do it in a variety of ways throughout the year. Lt. Rob has therefore taken the decision, in consultation with the Corps Council, not to organise door-to-door collecting this year. We do encourage members to consider enveloping and collecting their particular street. If you would like to do that, please see Major Ron or Brenda King for envelopes and a permit. Any door-to-door collecting needs to be completed by 30 September. We will be fundraising throughout the year, including taking an altar service in June/July 2022, allocating a proportion of the monies collected during carolling to the Big Collection, allocating company and organisation donations to the Big Collection, a special event and standing days. Please be ready to help in any way you can.

 

Community Food Hub

In consultation with the Corps Council, Lt. Rob has agreed with Community Food Link (CFL) that we will shortly become a Community Food Hub. CFL, which operates out of the URC in London Street, collects waste food from local supermarkets and then distributes it to hubs around the town for any member of the public to collect and use. We will be operating on Monday mornings from 10am-12 noon. The food is mainly bread, fruit and vegetables and a small amount of refrigerated and frozen products (depending on what the supermarkets have to donate). We need volunteers to help run the hub. Some will need to help set up and break down the tables, unload the food from the CFL van and display the food. Others will simply need to be around in the Whitchurch Room to supervise those coming in to collect food and to be a friendly face. Stuart is coordinating the Hub, so if you are willing to help, please speak to him as soon as possible.

 

Children’s Sleepover

This takes place on Friday 5-Sunday 6 November at Oakwood Youth Challenge in Wokingham. YPSM Gail and Joe & Kezia Hixon are part of the staff team. Please see Gail if your child is interested in attending.

 

Encounter Prayer Gathering

This is an opportunity for Salvationists across the UK to meet together to reflect and pray together under the theme, What is the Spirit Saying to the Church? It will be led by our territorial leaders, Commissioners Anthony & Gillian Cotterill. It takes place Friday 21-Sunday 23 January 2022 at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick. If you are interested in attending, please speak to Lt. Rob as soon as possible as we can make a corps booking. There is an early bird discounted price of £165.00 per person if we book before 30 September.

 

BATTLE DRILL DAILY DEVOTIONAL

This week we explore the redemption of creation. Our climate is in “code red” crisis. Can it be saved? And as God’s people, what can we do to help. You can receive the devotional by email or by post, listen to it in your favourite podcast app or in our WhatsApp group or on Facebook or YouTube. For more information, go to www.equippinghispeople.com/daily-devotional or contact Lt.

Rob.

 

INFORMATION FOR GRAPEVINE

If you are an activity leader and there is a change of information for your activity, or if you have an item of news for corps members, please send it to Patrick Hurley at Patrick.Hurley@salvationarmy.org.uk by 9:00am on Monday Please give at least a week’s notice for any changes to the corps programme, if possible.

• Pray that each of us would hear the cry of the world for the damage we have done and be moved to protect it for future generations to enjoy.
• Pray for those facing droughts, floods and storms. That God may give them strength and hope for the future as they adapt to climate change.
• Pray for the worldwide Church. The we might be a beacon of hope throughout the world, reminding everyone of our responsibility to care for and to protect God’s precious gift of creation.