Monday 28 July 2014

12th and 13th July 2014-Visit of Birmingham YP band and singing company

There was a buzz in the air as the young people from Birmingham began to arrive at the hall in Horsham.
Once the children had brought their belongings in, they tucked into a light tea.
At 6p.m the corps at Horsham were treated to a feast of music. There were band pieces,singing company songs, timbrels, a cellist soloist, a cornet duet to name a few items.
The singing company entertained us when we had a rendition of 'If I only had a brain' from wizard of Oz.,complete with a Dorothy,Tin man,Scarecrow and Lion.
Following an interval we had a great arrangement of 'Happy'..you just couldn't help but join in with them clapping!
Particularly special moments were the bands playing of 'More than a song' and the singing company's singing of 'All that I am'.As they sang stronger and stronger...Take every passion,every skill,take all my dreams and bend them to your will....you knew that these children meant every word they were singing.
The evening finished with the singing company standing around the hall accompanied by the band, singing 'In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path' -  a song staying in our thoughts for a while to come.
Once all the congregation had left and the children had run off some steam outside, it was time for supper .....all meals organised by Ann Potter
After being led by their leaders in prayers and having a bedtime hot chocolate,it was time to try and get some sleep, with all children and leaders sleeping in the army hall.

The next morning a cooked breakfast was served before preparations for morning worship were made.

Morning worship was led by the singing company and yp band and focussed on the characters of the Wizard of Oz. Members of the band and singing company gave their testimonies on these characters and what they needed.
Once again the beautiful singing of All that I am was a poignant moment in a beautiful service.
Following the meeting a roast dinner was enjoyed by the visiting young people ,followed by the always popular ice cream factory!
It was then time for the young people to jump into their mini buses and to make their way into the town centre.
There was a lot of interest as the young people played and sang. One man came to ask if any of the players would like to join a band he was starting up and was quite disheartened when he learnt that they were all from Birmingham!
The Horsham children were very enthusiastic in handing out balloons and bags containing kids alive magazines.
Once back at the army hall the children packed their belongings back onto the minibuses, took their packed teas and got ready to travel back home.

A great weekend of fellowship,laughter and fun,but most importantly an weekend where God was at the centre of all that took place.







Monday 20 January 2014

Saturday and Sunday 18th/19th January 2014 - visit of The International Staff Songsters

Around 2.00 p.m on Saturday members of the International Staff Songsters began arriving at The Capitol Theatre. After setting up we were thankful for dry weather as we walked to Swan Walk.
The International Staff songsters then sang in the shopping centre, and attracted a lot of interest - the sound resonated around the shopping centre and out into the street.
One person asked if it was a flash mob and if Gareth Malone had organised it!
After a rehearsal at the theatre, the songsters made their way back to the army hall where they shared a meal together,prepared by Sheila Jannels and her team.
The evening festival was held in the Capitol Theatre and it was good to see so many people there. It was an amazing evening,full of many special moments.The singing of ' The Power' and 'The magic flute' overture showed their versitality, whilst 'The Christ of Calvary' brought a pure sound echoing round the theatre.
Solos from Margeret Launn,Rob Moye,Susan Turner and Richard McIntosh enhanced the evening.
'More than wonderful' has become a tradition for the ISS to sing, inviting former members of the group to join in singing with them.Cath Maughan, Kaytie Harding,Mel Gunn and Rachel Horwood accepted the invite to join them.
The songsters finished the festival standing round the theatre singing John Rutters 'The Lord Bless you and keep you'.
With billets safely matched with their hosts,everyone headed back for a nights sleep.

Sunday morning began with a prayer meeting led by Ross Mercer for the ISS and corps folk,which set us up for a good day.
Sunday worship began with the ISS singing the beautiful 'Your grace still amazes me' And we were led to remember the words in Isaiah ' Those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength'
Horsham children contributed to the meeting with Doug Horley's song 'Nothings too big'.
Towards the end of the morning meeting the songsters sang 'With wings as eagles,in which the words say - We will rejoice in the lord,we will rejoice in the god of our salvation. Those who wait upon the lord will renew their strength'
A time of fellowship followed over tea coffee cake and biscuits!
The songsters were then fed well again,this time with lunch prepared by June Belcher and her team.
Already we had come to the final meeting of the weekend. This was again a time full of beautiful God inspired music, from the lively Count Your Blessings arr.Richard Phillips - Staff Songster pianist where Richard and Melanie Ellis provided the accompaniment, to the beautiful ladies voices 'You are always there'.
'Come to the cross' was a real spine tingling moment at the end of a beautiful weekend.
Soloists this afternoon were Rachel Gray singing Handels 'Lascia Ch'io Pianga' and Ross Mercer in the song 'Another Tree'.
The home sections contributed with the band playing 'The flag still flies' and the singing group ' Sing a song of Christmas' (an idea to sing a lively song - and one we had practiced ALOT prior to Christmas!).
The singing group joined with the ISS to sing 'To God be the glory'  - a highlight for all the group I'm sure.
The ISS brought the weekend to a close with 'Praise his holy name'.
It was then time for the members to collect their belongings and travel to their homes around the country.
I'm sure that this will be a weekend that the members of Horsham Corps will remember for a very long time.
A weekend where we were left in no doubt that God was at the centre of their singing and the reason for all they do. Our prayer is that they will continue to bless people through their singing and bring people closer to God through this very special ministry.