Birth of Jesus celebrated in Salvos Stores around the country

Coffs Harbour Salvos Stores staff, volunteers and chaplain Major Greg Pack with the Mid North NSW store’s Nativity Scene.

Corps Officers, mission leaders, Salvos Stores staff, volunteers and customers have paused in stores across Australia to celebrate the birth of Jesus in special ‘Christmas Reflection’ ceremonies.

This year, the theme was Making the Ordinary, Extra-Ordinary, and it focused on the fact that the Christmas season is about an extraordinary event that took place more than 2000 years ago – the birth of Jesus.

Customers were invited to attend the in-store Christmas reflection at Salvos Stores across the country.

 “This baby would grow to be the man who showed us what love truly is – and who, at Easter, would give his life for all of humanity – ‘a gift that means more’. This is why this season is extra-ordinary,” the devotion, which was delivered across hundreds of stores, read.

The reflection was a time for store staff, volunteers and customers to remember the year that was, celebrate and acknowledge any special achievements, and pause to commemorate significant loss.

At Shire Salvos Helensburgh, those present were gifted a small book of Scripture verses, and store staff and volunteers enjoyed a tray of home-baked treats following the reflection.

“It’s a wonderful time to stop and connect with our people at Salvos Stores,” said Shire Salvos Helensburgh Mission Leader Lauren Martin. “And for customers to realise that Salvos Stores are more than just an ‘ordinary’ retail store. They are places of connection, places of community, and places where people can find hope.”

Salvos Stores prepared reflection service material for Easter and Christmas and invites local mission leaders and corps officers to use the reflections to present the gospel in stores.

Many corps and mission expressions across Australia, like Shire Salvos Helensburgh, also undertake missional activities in Salvos Stores.

Salvos Online provides a selection of photos below showing Christmas Reflection services being held in Salvos Stores around the country:

Retired officers Majors Leonie and Rodney Ainsworth led the Christmas reflection at Dapto Salvos Stores in the Illawarra region of NSW.

Salvos Stores chaplain Captain Steve Spencer (right) with staff and volunteers from Greenhills Salvos Stores in East Maitland, NSW.

Salvos Stores Area Manager Rebekah Shoobert (centre) with the Salvos Stores Helensburgh team, including Shire Salvos Helensburgh mission leader Lauren Martin (second from left) and volunteers.

Captain Ashley Biermann delivers the Christmas reflection at Salvos Stores Logan in Queensland. 

Salvos Stores chaplain Major Judy Shaw delivers the Christmas reflection at Salvos Stores north Adelaide, South Australia.

Salvos Stores chaplain Stephen Thomas delivers the Christmas reflection at Salvos Stores Berrinba in Queensland.

Tamworth Corps Officer Major Tony De Tommaso (in the red hat) conducted the Christmas reflection at Salvos Stores Tamworth, NSW.

Salvos Stores Executive Officer for Mission Major David Collinson provided musical accompaniment to the Christmas Reflection at Salvos Stores north Parramatta, NSW.