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Concert raises money for deserving cause BELLSHILL

THE band raised £800 for Thrombosis UK at their annual Music for A Summer’s Evening concert, in memory of a soldier recently promoted to Glory.

A capacity congregation enjoyed a varied programme of modern and traditional music that included ‘Concerto For Trumpet’ by Alex Ramsey (cornet), ‘Scottish Folk Variants’ by Chris Shanks (euphonium) and ‘Black And White Rag’ by Cameron Shanks (xylophone).

Vocal soloists Daniel McMillan and Marjory Watson presented ‘Sometimes It Takes A Mountain’ and the deeply moving ‘There Is A Saviour’. The timbrel group also gave a display and the ceilidh band accompanied congregational singing.

Band Sergeant David Kendall led reflections on Jeremiah 29, encouraging everyone to strive to know the Lord better.

The evening concluded with Steven Ponsford’s ‘CrossRhythms’ and an evocative flugelhorn solo, ‘Through It All’, by Lynn Shanks. – M. S.

O Enfield Singing Company and YP Bandraised more than £800 for Stand Up To Cancer at an informal evening

Pentecost praise

SKEWEN

CORPS officer Captain Jo Walters led Pentecost Praise In The Park, an open-air meeting with Churches Together In Wales (Cytûn).

The band provided pre-meeting music and accompanied worship. Three people gave impromptu testimonies and Captain Jo used Scripture from Acts 2 to answer questions put by a church member. She also used an illustration about dandelion seeds to describe how the Early Church spread the gospel.

Many people from the area gathered in the park and heard the music, testimonies and witness. – S. L.

Enfield Singing Company visit Gladys Gathergood to celebrate her 106th birthday

‘Restore Broken Dignity’: A call to prayer and action against human trafficking IHQ

SUNDAY 22 September has been designated as The Salvation Army’s International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking.

This is an annual day of worship, prayer and action surrounding the problem of human trafficking. Corps across the globe will join together to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery and to show compassion for men, women and children who are exploited around the world.

Resources to support the day include suggested prayers, Bible readings, sermon starters, biblical reflections and songs to underscore the theme.

The day has been intentionally planned to engage churches and communities in tangible action against trafficking. Through the annual day of prayer, corps will make commitments to take action to prevent human trafficking and exploitation in local and global com - munities and to care for victims of this crime.

The resources note that trafficking is ‘not just something that happens “over there”… It affects every country in the world in some way and it can trap anyone – male or female, child or adult, rich or poor. Its victims cross racial, ethnic, geographic, economic and educational backgrounds.’

Encouraging people to ‘start locally’ and research how the problem of human trafficking affects their own community, the resource guide suggests holding special awareness-raising events, developing a local anti-trafficking strategy and educating leaders, volunteers and children. Young people in the foster care system are identified as being susceptible to targeting by traffickers, especially as they ‘age out’ of the system.

Finally, the guide highlights the importance of actively fighting the demand, whether focusing on the link between pornography and sex trafficking, or the connection between demand for cheap goods and services and forced labour. O The resources can be downloaded by visiting sar.my/aht – A. R.

LEADGATE: Music items, including the Founder’s song, filled the hall at the 95th corps anniversary celebrations. Former officers read tributes and everyone enjoyed a meal together. – D. P.

WORKSOP: Oakengates Song sters visited the corps over Pentecost weekend to present an evening of music and dance. The concert included the stirring ‘Salut D’Amour’, ‘Love Divine’ and a beautiful duet, ‘Pie Jesu’. Oakengates Timbrelists also gave a wonderful display to ‘Finale From “William Tell” Overture’. The songsters were supported by the band and Triple A Puppets. – A. D.

SUDBURY: The corps held a celebratory cream tea as part of Volunteers’ Week to thank the day care and charity shop volunteers, without whom they could not serve the community in the same way. The corps folk are grateful to God for the way the volunteers bless everyone with their dedication and enthusiasm. – R. H.

DUNSTABLE: The volunteers of the corps debt advice service were shortlisted for the Volunteer Group of the Year award at an event organised by Central Bedfordshire council. Pat Sage, Jim Burns and John Paulowski attended the presentation evening with corps officers Majors Lindsay and Stephen Brevitt, where the team received the Highly Commended award. – S. B.

Church leaders speak truth to power

BOSTON: The pupils of Thomas Middlecott Academy joined the corps for an evening meeting. Some of the young people had previously been there for an Ultimate Church Visit. As an additional treat the congregation enjoyed a display by the academy’s Taiko drummers. – G. N.

Boston corps officer Major Gerald Nicoll presents dedicated Bandsmen Dennis Scott and Henry Foggin with certificates of appreciation as they transfer to the band reserve after 61 and 70 years of active service respectively; also pictured are Bandmaster Paul Clark and Major Jayne Nicoll

SOUTH LONDON: Officers and people involved in mission and ministry attended an Effective Mission day at DHQ to explore the vast resources available from THQ and the regional service centre. A seminar programme attracted a good number of people and an Army emergency vehicle served food, enabling wider conversations. – I. W. CARDIFF CANTON: Under the theme of Walk, Wheels and Water corps members and friends took part in a unique triathlon to raise funds for the Big Collection. Members aged 2 to 88 raised £2,300 by completing a variety of physical challenges over a month. Certificates were presented to all, and special awards were given to the children, who raised £1,300 between them. – A. W.

HOLYROOD

MAJOR Carol Young (East Scotland DHQ) represented The Salvation Army at a meeting between church leaders and the Scottish government.

Representatives from ten of the main Christian denominations in Scotland met with Cabinet Secretary for Com munities and Local Government Aileen Campbell alongside other government officials to discuss issues of importance to churches. The meeting looked to challenge the government on climate change, Brexit and the way it engages with churches as key stakeholders in Scottish society.

Church leaders were united in their desire to bridge divides as the Brexit process continues to create disquiet and fear within communities. They also expressed concern that the ongoing experience was leading to distrust in the political system and political representatives.

The Scottish government’s stance on climate change was welcomed along with the new targets set to make Scotland a net zero greenhouse gas emissions economy by 2045. But the government was challenged on commitments to oil and gas exploration in the North Sea and on whether the administration would consider taking the approach of the Norwegian parliament, who are looking at stopping further oil exploration near the Lofoten Islands. – A. R.

Cwm Band supports the Royal British Legion during a remembrance service on the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings; Deputy Bandmaster Nick Brill sounded the Last Post and Reveille and CSM Paul Crump led prayers. – P. C.

POOLE: The appearance of two cowboys with pistols from within the band was one of the highlights of Winton’s band and timbrel programme at St Barnabas church. The band presented a varied repertoire, including ‘Terra Beata’, cornet solo ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, horn solo ‘Demelza’ and bass solo ‘Standing On The Promises’. The cowboys accompanied the playing of ‘RoundUp’ before the programme concluded with the timbrelists and ‘Joyful, Joyful’. The evening raised £1,300 for the church’s youth programme. – G. T.

CLOWNE: The corps Mission Development Plan suggested the occasional afternoon meeting in place of the usual 6pm meeting, so the opportunity was taken to hold a Pentecost party. This involved all-age crafts and worship with the band, songsters and Just Voices singing company, as well as the junior soldiers with a timbrel display to ‘Tidal Wave’. Refreshments followed with oodles of jelly and ice cream. Pictured are Bandmaster Dean Coates and Bandswoman Sian Cooper collecting and redistributing a prayer chain made by the congregation. – G. H.