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Celebrating Holy Week from palm branches to brunch LEEDS WEST HUNSLET HOLY Week began with Palm Sunday celebrations as corps members joined people from other churches in a march of witness. Two donkeys took part in the march and people waved palm branches in celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

A Prayers for Easter event took place on Monday, and Wednesday’s Music for Easter featured the band, songsters and soloists. A dramatic presentation on Good Friday was the climax of the week. Produced by

Major Carol Kendall, The Nail featured five members of the corps in a moving and thoughtprovoking telling of a fictional story about the man who made the nails that were used in the crucifixion of Christ.

On Easter Day the risen Christ was emphasised, and Major Peter Kendall led a meeting of praise and thanksgiving, which was followed by Easter brunch as part of the Worship With Us And Stay For Lunch series of Sunday meetings. – L. M.

O During the Good Friday meditation at Branksome, based on the song ‘Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?’, corps folk were asked to imagine themselves in the places mentioned in the song

Yeovil corps officer Major Neil Davies presents corps pianist Derek Lush with a long-service award and a certificate of appreciation recognising 70 years’ faithful service

Newcastle City Temple plays a leading role in the traditional Good Friday procession of witness through the heart of the city before an open-air service at Grey’s Monument, which included members of other churches and attracted passers-by

Chief wants to ‘cheer at the cross’ CROYDON CITADEL

CHIEF of the Staff Commis sioner Lyndon Buckingham and World Secretary for Women’s Ministries Commis sioner Bronwyn Buckingham led Easter celebrations, which began on Maundy Thursday with a meditation by the music sections.

Good Friday included the songsters singing ‘Thank You For The Cross’, and the Chief began by declaring his struggles with the day. He explained how he wanted to fast-forward to the joys of Easter Day, but recognised that Good Friday was a day of victory in itself and needed to be fully appreciated. ‘I want to cheer at the cross as well as at the empty tomb,’ he declared.

Messy Church and a coffee morning took place on Saturday while the hall was transformed with hundreds of flowers, ready for Easter Day, which began with a corps breakfast.

The meeting began with ‘Superman, Superstar’, played by the YP band, which was augmented by the four newest learners, who made their first public performance. The singing company, songsters and band presented contributions before Commissioner Bronwyn brought an inspirational Bible address. After heart-warming moments of reflection and commitment the meeting ended with the triumphant singing of ‘In Christ Alone’.

Divisional Commander Major Val Mylechreest and corps officers Majors Lisa and Mike Lloyd-Jones supported the international leaders throughout the weekend. – C. K.

Anniversaries celebrated with Norwich Citadel Songsters SUNDERLAND MILLFIELD THE visit of Norwich Citadel Songsters marked the 129th corps anniversary weekend, which was particularly fitting as the host songsters were celebrating their centenary.

Taking the theme The King And I, Major Mark Sawyer (Norwich Citadel) explored aspects of people’s relationships with Jesus. The band supported by accompanying the timbrel group with ‘Shine Down’.

On Sunday the band joined

forces with Norwich Citadel Songsters at Sunderland Royal Hospital to witness to those in the area, before an extended march back to the hall through the community.

The weekend’s theme was further explored in the morning meeting. Members of the congregation were invited to explain, against a one-minute countdown, what Jesus means to them.

The songsters blessed the congregation on Sunday afternoon with songs such as ‘Everywhere’ and ‘I Have Seen The Glory Of The Lord’, before ‘Crown Him With Many Crowns’ encapsulated and rejuvenated everyone’s relationship with God. – R. B.

Cowdenbeath’s new Friendship Group receives a donation of £500 from Coalfields Regeneration Trust

Gateshead Junior Choir presents an excellent programme at Wallsend’s 140th corps anniversary celebrations; the relaxed evening included vocal solos, piano items and a ukulele band

NEWCASTLE CITY TEMPLE: The corps joined with Newcastle Central and the East Circuit Methodists to begin Holy Week with a united service. Alongside music, readings and prayer, the meeting included an imagined conversation between Susanna Wesley and Catherine Booth had they met. A massed choir brought items, including ‘I’ll Make My Promises’ and ‘Somebody Prayed For Me’. – B. I.

CWMBRAN: The South and Mid Wales Youth Chorus and Youth Brass led Sunday worship, bringing energy and enthusiasm. The young people’s sensitivity to their faith and experiences of God came through in testimony and music. After morning worship they conducted an open-air meeting and people from the corps were engaged in faith conversations. The afternoon meeting took the form of café church. – S. A.

Penzance corps officer Major Vincent Wall, supported by the band, delivers the Churches Together Easter message in the Greenmarket

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Ripon’s Messy Church creates an Easter garden depicting Jesus’ journey during Holy Week

Women who attend the multi-denominational knitting group at Dereham Corps did a ‘blooming good’ job at creating enough flowers to decorate a cross

CANTERBURY: Coventry City Song sters visited to present a programme leading up to Easter. A Saturday evening festival featured soloists and group items, and the songsters led the Sunday meetings, which included moving testimonies and preaching on the theme Trusting God. They also joined with the band for an open-air meeting, where many people stopped to listen and join in. – K. C.

Triumph and hope at Easter SLEAFORD EASTER celebrations began when Major David Radford illustrated the context and significance of Palm Sunday. During the week the songsters led a meditation with music, readings and prayers.

Corps members took part in an ecumenical walk of witness and open-air meeting on Good Friday, and David returned to lead a powerful scriptural meditation.

Easter Day was a time of blessing and encouragement. Divisional Commander Major Brian Slinn transferred Margaret and Roger Barnett to the songster reserve and Divisional Leader for Leader Development Major Liv Raegevik-Slinn challenged everyone to prepare a tribute to Christ and express it in their living. The DC emphasised the continuing reality of triumph and hope in the midst of evil. – N. M. The International Staff Songsters lead worship at Aberdeen Citadel as a prelude to the 140th corps anniversary celebrations next year

Yeovil Salvationists lead an open-air meeting in the town centre on Good Friday; many people learnt about The Salvation Army’s role in the community

O More than 80 people in Skewen witnessed the re-enactment of the Good Friday story in the grounds of St Mary’s Church community centre, during a united churches service led by corps officer Captain Jo Walters

O Birkenhead corps officer Major Jonathan Hamilton led an open-air meeting on Easter Day supported by Rock Ferry Band

Divisional leaders Majors Ian and Jean Harris recognise Watchet’s Corps Treasurer Alistair Austin as he retires after many years of service, which included overseeing the corps while it was unofficered; he is pictured with Kath Austin, Ian and Jean and CSM Sam Searle