Concord Chronicle

This week's happenings at the corps included three distribution days of various kinds of items. On Tuesday, we give out gifts to the adopted families; Thursday, we gave food and gifts to our Angel Tree families; and Friday, we focused on the rest of the families that were food only.

It's a blessing to be part of the gift giving days, because it is when we have a chance to reconnect with the families. Some of the families are overwhelmed with happiness and some are taken over with tears when they receive their gifts. Two to four families may come in one vehicle to pick up their items. And there are those that come by bus or UBER to pick up their gifts. It's in those moments that I love to offer those recipients a ride home.

I had the opportunity to drive home a family originally from Guatemala. The older daughter translated for her mother and little sister. It turns out that they are the musicians for their church. They sing and play instruments in praise to God. She's studying English in college now because she wants to work in the medical field. And she knows that by improving her English, it will help her overall in school.

I took another family home who just emigrated from Russia six months ago. It took a little more patience taking them home as their little boy did not want to go in the booster seat. But thankfully, with the father's care and attention to his needs, we were able to calm him down, get him buckled in, and on the way home.

It was on this second trip that I noticed my low gas fuel light was on. I had 9 miles of gas left in my tank; and it was 5.5 miles to get to their home. WHEW! I dropped them off and fortunately, the nearest gas station was a couple of blocks away from where I stopped.

This was a good reminder to me that in order to help others, we must take care of ourselves. Illnesses are running rampant through our fellowship and team of staff and volunteers, but we keep pressing on because of the commitments we made to our community. However, I'm grateful they I could spend one day home to rest so I personally can keep going.

We continue to do our best in caring for each other and carrying each other's responsibilities, but keep the team in prayer as the long days and nights seem longer! There is still joy in service, but our bodies can only take so much.

"Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices." Hebrews 13:16

"Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others." Philippians 2:4

"Don't withhold good from someone who deserves it, when it is in your power to do so." Proverbs 3:27

Keep fueled up with Jesus!

AnnMarguerite Jones

In approaching Bible Study, I have come to realize that nothing Jesus is recorded as having done in the Gospels is without meaning or symbolism.

As you read the narratives of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you will often come across words saying that Jesus did something “so that scripture might be fulfilled”. This tells us two things, that Jesus knew the scriptures that needed to be fulfilled and that his observers would also be aware of the symbolism.

We today use symbols all the time to convey meaning. If I type the symbol “$”, my readers world-wide know that I am talking about “money”. That one-character symbol is just a convenient way to make the connection with cash, price, bargain, value, and a host of other monetary related concepts. My grandchildren are adept at using emojis (emotional symbols) to convey feelings - my favorite is when they send me hearts ( <3 or ❤️) to signify love.

The scriptures of The Old Testament with which Jesus was intimately familiar are filled with similar symbols that God uses as a shorthand for deeper meaning. For example, when you see a rainbow you should remember one of God’s promises to humankind is that He will not flood us all out of existence. Good to know!

Let’s look at a familiar symbol of peace and love — the dove.

Prior to Jesus’ baptism, the dove was seen sporadically throughout the Old Testament. Each reference to the dove in Scripture had symbolic meaning even then, and would be eventually fulfilled in the greater context of Jesus’s life and ministry, beginning with His baptism and continuing through the movement of the Holy Spirit, which lives on today.

The earliest reference to a dove occurs in the story of Noah and his floating zoo:

After another forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the boat and released a raven. The bird flew back and forth until the floodwaters on the earth had dried up. He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside. After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back. Genesis 8:6-12 NLT

And so the image of a dove and an olive branch passed into our vocabulary as symbols of hope, peace, new life, and goodwill.

A second piece of symbolism that would eventually find fulfillment in the life of Jesus can be seen in the sacrificial system of the Mosaic law, where doves and turtledoves were the only birds that could be offered as acceptable sacrifices because of their perceived purity. (Genesis 15:9, Leviticus 12:6, Luke 2:24)

It is also worth mentioning that doves and turtledoves were often purchased and used by those who could not afford one of the more expensive offerings, such as a spotless lamb. Interestingly those were the sacrifices purchased by Joseph and Mary when they brought Jesus to the Temple as a baby.

God made provisions for everyone, regardless of their wealth or status, to bring their best offerings before the Lord (Leviticus 5:7).

Old Testament writers also used the dove poetically as a symbol of purity, gentleness, and grace.

“How beautiful you are, my darling, How beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves” Song of Solomon 1:15

“When you lie down among the sheepfolds, You are like the wings of a dove covered with silver, And its pinions with glistening gold” Psalm 68:13.

“Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest” Psalm 55:6.

Taking these and other numerous examples into consideration, the Jewish people certainly would have known and understood the symbolism of the dove from Old Testament stories and teachings. For the Spirit to descend upon Jesus in the form of a dove at His baptism was a public display of Christ’s divinity, a confirmation of His anointing, and a connection between His ministry and previous symbols of the dove (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32).

Not only that, but in Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospel, we read that immediately following Jesus’s emergence from the water and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the voice of God the Father came from the heavens saying,

“You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” Luke 3:22.

Jesus would fulfill much of the symbolism of the dove in early Scripture.

He was:

• the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
• the promise of new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• the pure and perfect sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:14-24).
• the way for all to come before God (Ephesians 1:17, 2:18; Hebrews 10:19-22).

In John’s gospel, John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Messiah.

“He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God” John 1:33-34.

With the coming of the Holy Spirit, which had been promised and prophesied in the book of Joel, we also have access to that same spiritual covering that had descended upon Jesus at His baptism and moved through Him throughout His earthly ministry.

The Holy Spirit descending on Jesus was both a symbolic fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and a preface to the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and empowered them with the gifts of the Spirit (Acts 2), just as promised by Jesus at His ascension (John 14:15-17).

There is much spiritual truth to be had by studying the symbols in scripture. May I suggest you start by looking at all the places Jesus said He was fulfilling scripture, and trace back the reasons for them to be fulfilled.

For my Salvationist readers, how about the symbols of Blood and Fire?

🕊️

Blessings on you and yours,

Jim Black

P.S. If you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study

SUNDAY

9:00 AM - Praise Team & Youth Chorus Rehearsal - Chapel

10:00 AM - Songsters Rehearsal - Chapel

10:00 AM - Discipleship Classes

• Adult Sunday School - Library
• Young Adult Bible Study - Classroom 3
• Corps Cadets/Teen Bible Study - Prayer Room

10:30AM - Prayer Time - Prayer Room
11:00 AM - Worship Service - Chapel

• Junior Church is dismissed during the message.

12:15 PM - Food and Fellowship - Fireside Room

TUESDAY

5:00 PM - Craft Class - Library

6:00 PM - Men's Bible Study - Fireside Room

7:00 PM - Songsters - Chapel (last one of the year)

8:00 PM - Senior Band - Chapel (last one of the year)

WEDNESDAY

10:00 AM - CAMEO: Christmas Party - Fireside Room

THURSDAY

9 AM - 3 PM - Distribution Day - El Sobrante Food Pantry & Silvercrest

FRIDAY

10 AM - 6 PM - Corps Cadets Makeup Day & Service Project

NEXT SUNDAY, CHRISTMAS EVE

Traditionally, we would have an evening candlelight service. But as we will already be gathering for worship in the morning, we do not feel it necessary to call everyone back together in the evening. We will enjoy a birthday cake and hot cocoa. Then you are free to spend time with your family.

Incarnation explores the meaning behind the names of Christ and what they tell us about the child whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Reflect upon the significance of the Christ-child for our lives and the world today!

The five-week series includes worship service materials for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve Service, and Sunday after Christmas.

This series is inspired by Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas by Adam Hamilton (Abingdon Press, 2020).

In review, we've been blessed to worship together as we reflected on the themes:

• December 3 - Jesus is King - With Commissioners Doug & Colleen Riley
• December 10 - Jesus is Savior - With Open City Dance Troup

We will continue with the series tomorrow with:

• December 17 - Jesus is Worthy
• December 24 - Jesus is Here
• December 31 - Jesus is Lord

We hope that you will be able to join us!

This initiative of turning our thoughts and prayers towards the same part of the world at some point in the same week is a beautiful way to unite us as a global Army family and I thank you for the commitment you each give to this.

The Philippines Territory

Territorial Leaders: Colonels David and Elsa Oalang

Prayer Requests:

Praise and Thanksgiving:

The Territorial Theme for 2022-2023, “God is able to superabundantly bless, beyond our greatest prayers, hopes and dreams” (AMP Ephesians 3:20) received an overwhelming response from our comrades. In spite of the pandemic, the Self Denial and Helping Hand giving increased. Most of the corps have recorded increase in their local income. Various local initiatives on property development, corps and divisional programmes helped in the increase of soldiership and evangelism.

Prayer Concerns:

• For more young people to respond to the call to officership and for the training of ministry volunteers - those who are willing to offer certain number of years for service. Afterwards, they may eventually decide to enter the Officer Training College or return to service as local officers.
• For greater impact of community based social programmes that focus on developing disaster preparedness/empowerment and resilience.
• That our social services Inc. will be able to renew its accreditation as a donee institution so we can get better and bigger donations from the public.
• The Bethany Children’s Home that sheltered abused girls had to move to a government facility because our building was declared unsafe. Please pray for the future of BCH.
• For property concerns as we grow in number both in soldiership and number of corps.
• For the educational services (learning centres/schools), that the schools will continue to recover from the challenges caused by the pandemic.
• For the new Territorial Theme 2024 “EMPOWERED AND UNASHAMED” based on Romans 1:1 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
• May this theme inspire salvationists to stand courageously and serve as light and salt of the world. Please pray for more intentional and radical evangelism/mission initiatives.

Commissioners Douglas and Colleen Riley, Territorial Leaders of the USA Western Territory have announced that the territory will hold a Congress in June 2024.

This will be an opportunity for Salvationists from across the territory to join in times of corporate worship, celebration and fellowship.

On accepting the invite to the Congress, The General said, “We are thrilled that we are able to accept this invitation. We love the theme, Testify. We want a Salvation Army where people feel confident to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Never underestimate the power of a Testimony!”

Commissioner Douglas Riley says, “We are praying that the events that take place not only Glorify God, but challenge each one of us to tell the story of Jesus more often, and to more people, through words and actions.

During the Congress delegates will:

• Attend four main meetings featuring the preaching of The General and Commissioner Buckingham.
• Share in five family-wide meals.
  
• Have the opportunity to learn more about “sharing your own story”.
  
• Attend workshops and training seminars on holiness, bible study, and evangelism.
  
• Celebrate our creativity through music and worship arts concerts.
  
• Witness our youth participate in Encore and Bible Bowl.
  
• Experience the joy of Commissioning events.
  
• Witness The General enroll new soldiers.
  

The weekend will be centered around the challenge found in 1 Peter 3:15:

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

View Program Guide (PDF)

Where? (Where America's Got Talent is filmed!)

Pasadena Convention Center

300 E. Green Street

Pasadena, CA 91101

When? June 14-16

Officers' Councils (including Retired Officers) will be held on Thursday, June 13, with The General.

Registration Information - ONLY $100

Registration INCLUDES all the main meetings or child care AND five congress meals.

Register here: https://events.usawest.org/

Please let Majors Gwyn or AnnMarguerite know if you are interested in going. We need to book hotel rooms VERY SOON! The Corps will help subsidize some of the expenses. We would like to have a large delegation or representation of the Concord Corps.

Email: annmarguerite.jones@usw.salvationarmy.org
Website: https://www.SalvationArmyConcordCA.org
Location: 3950 Clayton Road, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 676-6180
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tsaconcord