Celebrating new beginnings to faithful service could have been the theme for our weekend in the Pendel Division. After a long bus ride from Territorial Headquarters our weekend in started in State College, PA. The Salvation Army recently re-established the corps in State College under the leadership of Envoys Betty Ellen & Derek Barret. We presented many new works, ranging from a straight ahead jazz arrangement of the Classic Rock of Ages, to a new euphonium solo by Ivor Bosanko, Precious Jewels. The audience at the Assemble of God church was very warm and receptive and it is our hope that the music we played will invigorate the Salvation Army’s work in the State College.
After the concert it was back on the bus and heading to Carlisle to celebrate 100 years of the Army’s work in that community. Arriving at the hotel it was a blessing to be greeted by our host Captain Mike Davis, and more of a blessing as we entered our rooms and found a letter that expressed “we have bathed each of you in prayer for this weekend…” and we would come to feel that over the next two days. We started the day at the Ottobein Methodist Church. The first part of the day was planned for the band to work with young people from all around the division. By 10am over 200 beginner brass players had arrived to celebrate their work in the “Regional Prep Day.” Over the last year all of these young people had been learning music at various levels and this is the day each year they all come together to make one enormous beginner band and chorus. The program started with a mini-concert by the Staff band to introduce them to the kids, and in hopes to get them excited about participating in Salvation Army music. We opened with a piece by Pendel’s Divisional Music Director, Dr. Harold Burgmayer, Fortress. After a few more fun items it was down to work. The massed chorus rehearsed two items led by Regional Music Director, Ronda Atwater. Following that everyone picked up their horns and sticks and spread out around the room the rehears with the staff band on two items written especially for the occasion by Dr. Burgmayer. Then a short program open to the public where everything was presented, including items worked on by individual groups and Timbrels. It was a special event to see so many kids with horns, singing, and timbrels at that beginner level and we look forward to them developing their gifts in years to come!
This was just the beginning of the day. Following lunch we were taken back into the heart of Carlisle where an open-air was planned for the band in the city square. We presented a short program to a very welcoming crowd, a devotional by Col. Maynor and closed with William Himes, God Bless America that had all in attendance singing. The evening took us back to the Ottobein Methodist church for a concert Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Salvation Army in Carlisle. Majors Alma & Jon Riley, and Captain Mike Davis had put a lot of preparation into this event and it was evident as we came out to a very full chapel for the concert. It was a full program with new works like Raise the Song by Simon Morton, Power and Glory by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, and classics like Shine as the Light by Peter Graham and Crown of Conquest by Ray Steadman-Allen. It was a very exciting program and after an already special day it was a blessing for the members of the band to be able to celebrate with the Salvation Army of Carlisle on the landmark anniversary.
Sunday is always special with the band and this Sunday was no exception. We filled into the Carlisle Salvation Army and prepared for Holiness meeting. There was a beautiful, vibrant congregation their for worship and we were fortunate to be with them. Preliminary included a new arrangement in honor of the weekend, a paraphrase on Carlisle, by Dr. Burgmayer who had the opportunity to lead us in his work. There was a rousing sing of In the Sweet by and By. John Opina gave an inspiring testimony about change and how God will always be with you. The service came to a solemn close with members of the band praying with members of the congregation. There was no more an appropriate way to end this celebration weekend then by celebrating God using us as His instrument and seeing peoples lives change.
