NEWS
COMMUNITY
Officers honoured for ‘incredible support’ BEDFORDSHIRE
MUSIC
Symphony Sounds presents virtual performances UKI FOR the second year running the annual Symphony Sounds concert could not be held in Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Instead, the Music and Creative Arts (Maca) Unit broadcast Symphony Sounds 2021… Virtually! on YouTube. Paul Sharman, Maca’s assistant director (brass and choral), began the 35-minute video by explaining that it would feature virtual performances produced by groups during the past year, before introducing the International Staff Band playing the march ‘Praise’. Current and former members of the International Staff Songsters (ISS) and members of the Amsterdam, Canadian, Melbourne and USA Central Territory Staff Songsters combined to bring ‘Whole World in His Hands’. The beauty of that world and the majesty of its Creator were then depicted
in the song ‘Indescribable’ interpreted by the Maca dance group in a presentation that first featured in the online territorial congress last October. Music in a reflective mood followed, with the song ‘Be at the Centre’ from the delegates of the Easter Music Course 2021 (pictured above), and the piece ‘You Encircle Me’ by members of the Territorial Youth Band 2021. The cast of No Zoom at the Inn!, Maca’s virtual Nativity play, brought the lively song ‘Shine’ before the prayerful ‘When God Comes Near’ from the ISS. General Brian Peddle introduced the next piece by referring to Luke 13:29, in which Jesus says that ‘people will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God’. Fifteen staff and territorial bands from around the world then played ‘They Shall Come from the East’. The Territorial Youth Choir 2021 concluded the varied and enjoyable programme with the up-tempo ‘Love Theory’. – JR O Watch Symphony Sounds 2021… Virtually! at youtu.be/RitL2xT5wjw
THE high sheriff of Bedfordshire, Eric Masih, presented awards to acknowledge the work of The Salvation Army in Dunstable and Luton during the coronavirus pandemic. The high sheriff commended and recognised the care and dedication of Dunstable corps officers Majors Lindsay and Stephen Brevitt, thanking them and the corps for ‘the incredible support that you provide’. The corps works in conjunction with the local Trussell Trust food bank, delivering food and prescription medication to people in isolation. Luton Corps was twice awarded by the high sheriff for its community work during the pandemic, distributing more than 10,000 food parcels, Christmas gifts for children and hot meals, and for its outreach to older people, the lonely and vulnerable. More than 1,000 children received toys through the Salvation Army toy appeal, donated through an Amazon wish list. Luton corps officer Major Ralph Walker was awarded the citizenship award for his work serving local people during the pandemic. – AR
PRESENTATION MEETING BOURNE Corps folk were excited to be able to meet in person for the first time since March last year. Thirty members, with children, attended the socially distanced Pentecost Sunday meeting, which was held on the green adjoining the town’s Red Hall. It was so successful that the corps hopes it will be able to continue meeting for worship in this way, weather permitting, until the full congregation can meet in the hall. – CG 4
Salvationist 19 June 2021
TENBY Corps officer Captain Linda Read presented CT John Johnson with a certificate of retirement, acknowledging his 19 years of service in Tenby and past long service as a local officer at Hillingdon. Major David Morgans was commissioned as corps treasurer in the same meeting. – LR
