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The International Staff Band plays to capacity congregations

BROMLEY TEMPLE

A WEEKEND led by the International Staff Band brought inspiration, challenge and encouragement. Soloists on Saturday evening were Jonathan Evans (euphonium), Richard Woodrow (flugelhorn) and Carl Nielsen (cornet). The band featured a variety of music, from well-established pieces to music by later composers.

During the Sunday morning meeting, after the meditation ‘Just As I Am’, ISB executive officer Major Noel Wright bro ught a message based on John 15. After the morning meeting, the corps and staff bands united in open-air witness that attracted large crowds.

The afternoon meeting

featured cornet duettists Gavin Lamplough and Nicholas Brill. The band’s ministry brought many blessings and a deep sense of God’s presence. – A-J. L.

At Carlisle Jean Hind receives a long-service award from corps officer Captain Melanie Scoulding as she transfers to the songster reserve after 70 years of unbroken service; also pictured is Songster Leader Ian Johnston

SOUTHWICK COMMUNITY PROJECT: During school holidays, at a four-day family learning course held in conjunction with the Beacon of Light, parents were taught skills required for job-seeking, and children spent time enjoying games and sports activities. At a community fun day various visitors exhibited, including falconers, RNLI lifesavers and Northumbria police with their community engagement dog. The event concluded with the craft group, Guys and Dolls, making sock bouquets. – J. J.

BRANKSOME: A meeting themed Celebration marked the return to the hall after the corps had been using temporary accommodation. The band contributed ‘Bind Us Together’ and ‘God Is Good’, and the young people enjoyed the YP prizegiving. Siblings Alfie and Harrison Bennett received their YP band commissions from their grandfather, acting music leader Colin Bright. – C. B.

Army hosts celebration of United Nations Mother Language Day EASTBOURNE OLD TOWN

CORPS Secretary Gary Muston was the MC when the corps joined with members of the Bangladeshi community and the local chapter of the United Nations to celebrate Mother Language Day.

Many people attended, including council leaders and people involved with linguistics education as well as people living nearby.

As part of the celebration, books showing some of the differences between language and culture were given to children. Opportunities were taken to speak of the work of the Army locally and worldwide. – G. M.

ABERTILLERY: Candidate Katie Sinclair, a soldier at Newtown Corps, spent a week working at Abertillery where corps officer Major Denise Wise is also the area candidates officer. Katie led the Sunday evening meeting and the home league and joined in other weekday activities, including baking cakes for the luncheon club, helping in the charity shop and selling Army papers in the town centre. – A. B.

PAISLEY: Lieutenant Hattie Arthur (Port Glasgow) led the YP prizegiving, themed Bringing Out The God Colours, which challenged the congregation to help everyone see God’s wonderful world. The YP band and singing company took part as well as the puppets, and much fun went into the singing of ‘Lovely Jubbly’. – C. T.

The Salvation Army commissions debt poll UK

THE Salvation Army operates an expanding free debt advice service and opened almost 70 per cent more cases in the second six months of 2018 co mpared with the first six months of the year.

A survey, commissioned by the Army, inter viewed 2,000 people in the UK and revealed near ly 70 per cent go over their set budget for shopping, holidays and leisure activities. One in four people said they were left in debt in January because of their December expenditure.

The research found that younger people are significantly impacted by debt and nearly half of people between the ages of 25 and 34 live with debt compared with a national average of just over a third, the most common debts being credit cards, payday loans and overdrafts.

The poll also identified that before seeking professional advice, men would be most likely to ask their banks for help if in debt, while women would be likely to turn to a family member. One in three said they wouldn’t tell their loved ones about being in debt.

Financial Inclusion Development Manager Lorraine Cook (THQ) says that debt can happen to anyone through job loss, illness, bereavement, relationship breakdowns or other unforeseen circumstances.

The Army is encouraging people to seek advice on managing debt instead of turning to further credit or struggling on alone. Lorraine says: ‘We help people get a handle on what they owe and work alongside them to make a realistic plan to help them become debt free. We can contact creditors on the person’s behalf to explore and negotiate options such as repay ment holidays and more realistic repayment plans.

‘We are limited in the number of new cases we can take on because of the resources we have, but hope to provide that life-changing service in as many locations as possible.’ – C. H.

DUNSTABLE: Adherents Secretary Sue Leadbeater led the meetings for Adherents Sunday. The theme for the morning was God Is... and Kirsty Want sang the solo ‘When You Believe’. The evening meeting was based on Desert Island Discs, with adherent members sharing interesting facts about their lives and choosing a song for the congregation to sing. Adherent member Lucy Want played the cornet solo ‘Share My Yoke’ before Sue posed the question: ‘Desert island – paradise or purgatory?’ – J. B.

HARLOW: Leader of the council Councillor Maggie Hulcoop, Councillor Frances Mason and Regional Community Service Specialist Debbie Charles (Bishop’s Stortford Service Centre) were guests when territorial leaders Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill led the meet ings. After contributions from the music sections the TC posed the question: ‘What have you been doing?’ He suggested the reply from the guilty might be ‘nothing’ as they had something to hide or some who felt their lives amounted to very little may answer the same. He concluded by saying Jesus became ‘nothing’ so that we may become ‘something’. The music sections took part in the afternoon meeting and the singing company was accompanied by puppets. – C. H.

Coventry City YP Band and Singing Company lead the meetings at Leek, blessing the congregation with their enthusiasm and sincerity

Major David Wise (Abertillery) runs in the Wokingham Half Marathon to raise funds for the Cancer Unit at Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport

Divisional youth band shares concert with Scottish championship band WEST SCOTLAND

THE West Scotland Divisional Youth Band shared a concert with Scottish champions, Whitburn Band.

The youth band played ‘Crossbearers’, ‘For The World’ and ‘Glorifico Aeternum’. Youth band members Callum Gibb (Govan) and Hannah Mont gomery (Bellshill) were interviewed about their faith, Christian journey and the part that music making plays in their lives.

Whitburn Band played ‘When Thunder Calls’, ‘La Fiesta’, ‘The World’s Greatest Storyteller’ and ‘MacArthur Park’. The bands then united and presented a short programme including the festival march ‘Able’ and ‘Turris Fortissima’. The bands surrounded the congregation to play the benediction, ‘A Gaelic Blessing’. – M. S.

Restaurant provides food for community kitchen HINCKLEY

RESTAURANT 26 provided and cooked a three-course meal for guests and volunteers at the community kitchen, which was initially opened to support vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness.

Thom, who, along with his brother Ben, is chef and co-owner of the restaurant, said: ‘Having homeless and vulnerable people on the streets does not only apply to cities but also to smaller communities such as Hinckley. We are proud to help the helpers.’

Corps officer Major Carol Evans says she is delighted with the way the community kitchen has developed: ‘People are coming along to receive food and other services, such as foot care, haircuts, showers and a change of clothes, which is great, but the fact they now stay for the evening to enjoy fun and friendly conversation means that this has become more than just a cold-weather provision.

‘Because of our amazing volunteer team from across the churches, and the support of many people who have made donations, it has been decided that the community kitchen is here to stay.’ – B. A.

BRIDLINGTON: Hull Citadel Band, assisted by a number of guest musicians, presented a festival at the corps. The band’s varied programme included ‘Written In Red’, which was the theme of the evening. After the festival everyone shared fellowship over tea and cake. – M. K

The Salvation Army helps provide cycle maintenance and volunteering opportunities

LIVERPOOL STONEYCROFT

RECYCLES Merseyside, affiliated to the Army’s Steps to Work scheme, has been based in the corps building for three years. They provide cycle maintenance and volunteering opportunities for young people with learning disabilities, giving them on-the-job training in refurbishing old bicycles donated by the public.

The bicycles are then sold, allowing the young people to learn customer and retail skills. As they prepare to move to more suitable premises, project manager for Recycles Merseyside Phil Doragh said: ‘I am so grateful to corps officer Lieutenant Sam Tomlin for supporting us these past three years. Being based at the church really helped to establish Recycles Merseyside as an important service at the heart of the community.’ – A. R.

SHOEBURYNESS: The 136th corps anniversary weekend started on Saturday evening with a visit from Chelmsford Band. Compèred by Major Howard Russell (THQ) the Saturday evening festival included ‘Guardian Of My Soul’, ‘Lord Reign In Me’ and ‘The Kingdom Triumphant’. A retiring collection raised more than £200 for corps funds. Some members of the visiting band returned on Sunday and united with the host corps band. Major Howard spoke about the need to focus on Kingdom building and how everyone is treasure in the eyes of God. – C. D./R. D

SOUTHAMPTON SHIRLEY: Majors Agripina and Gerardo Góchez (IHQ) led missionary appeal Sunday. The majors hail from South America and have first-hand knowledge of the Army’s work in the Caribbean Territory, particularly Jamaica, the recipients of this year’s appeal. Gerardo’s Bible message took the theme See The Difference You Can Make. – J. W.