Picture: Donald Montgomery
The brass band perform during the final festival A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
The whole school Picture: Donald Montgomery
The musical theatre group perform during the final festival had something for everyone. In a departure from previous years there was just one brass band who worked with different conductors throughout the week to bring a range of challenging pieces including Sam Creamer’s ‘Happy Song!’ and Martin Cordner’s powerful ‘Boundless Spirit’. The Founder’s words from ‘Send the Fire’ resonated through the building as the band presented ‘Truth Aflame’ by Kevin Norbury. The band embraced different genres and their message was enhanced by the use of multimedia created during the week by TMS delegates. The vocal main study group – under the leadership of Sue Blyth – brought together
THIS year’s venue was a good change, writes Joe Pearson (Cannock). The sense of community from going to TMS is brilliant as you are able to go, not knowing anyone, and find new connections. This stems from all the members of staff as they are all for encouraging young people to explore their faith and are passionate about The Salvation Army. I chose brass band as my main study, which included three rehearsals a day with three influential leaders of music: Gavin Lamplough (Birmingham Citadel), Assistant Director of Music and Creative Arts (Brass and Choral) Paul Sharman and Director of Music and Creative Arts Dr Stephen Cobb. We explored a variety of music and words associated with a message of God and becoming better players. As my option I chose SATB choir with Music Editorial Manager Andrew Blyth (THQ), who helped with emphasis on the words and the meaning behind them to explore the connection we have with God. In free time, all students were able to have fellowship and share faith together in the main central hub, where there was plenty of seating, drinks and a pool table. As the eldest Bible study group (25-plus) we discussed different aspects of our world, day-to-day lives and how we could show
musicianship and clarity in their renditions of classics, including ‘Part the Waters’, ‘Take My Hand’ by Alan Williams, and the premiere of ‘Just Let God Love You’, a new song by TMS staff member Andrew Wicker, with words by Keith Banks. The SATB choir presented Andrew Blyth’s rousing ‘My Father’s House’ and Joy Webb’s ‘The Candle of the Lord’. The musical theatre ensemble – who were accompanied by the house band – explored the concept of belonging using contemporary show tunes, including ‘You Will Be Found’ from Dear Evan Hansen and ‘Reflection’ from Mulan. Their section
Joe Pearson God’s love through encouragement to the younger delegates. I led Vespers (prayers) on Tuesday night, using the theme of the week, God’s Love. We used the song ‘Jesus Loves Me! This I Know’ (SASB 807) and this affirmation kept appearing throughout the week – including singing it at the top of the William Booth College tower to all of London. If I could ask anything from the people who are reading this, I would ask you to carry on encouraging young people in The Salvation Army and carry on praying for people’s different situations in this ever-changing world.
concluded with the application of Scripture to express the power of Jesus to bring true belonging. Territorial Youth and Children’s Secretary Major Helen Schofield challenged everyone present to pray for their young adults, to include them in every aspect of their corps life, to ask them about their walk with Jesus and, importantly, to then listen. As the evening concluded with a wholeschool benediction written by Andrew Blyth, there was the sense that something established and significant – and yet new and pioneering – was emerging in this historic Army space. Salvationist 13 August 2022
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