Our thoughts and prayers reach out to the nation of Japan at this time, and even in writing this, words seem inadequate. I thought you would be interested in a recent response to Martin Tiplady (ISB), from Bandmaster Hajime Suzuki (Music Secretary/Japan Staff Bandmaster).

He writes:‘I was out from THQ to teach cadets and staff 'singing classes' for the commissioning service soon. It was

a little after I started classes and then...Of course we stopped and went from our school and turned on the TV set. Even our mobile phone couldn't work, preventing us from calling and sending e-mails. Our Training Principal kindly drove me to Kiyose, taking a

long time in driving. Some THQ staff could not go home because of difficulty with stopped railways in Tokyo. Some THQ staff already went out from Tokyo to help small activities for them. THQ have ordered at least two divisions to work for people. The Japan Staff Band had planned to have a special practice yesterday (Saturday) but we decided to cancel it.

We hear that so many people died and many cities were destroyed by the Tsunami. We can't know how we will recover from these circumstances. We have local corps where the Tsunami came, and wonder if our corps building, officers and comrades are well. We now really need prayer.’

If you wish to send a prayer or a message of support to Bandmaster Suzuki he can be reached at the following email address:

hajime_suzuki@jap.salvationarmy.org

developing good practice encouraging innovation and creativity providing resources building and enhancing relationships

Welcome Contents

Other

Developing good practice

Events

Publishing newsThe latest in publications here at MMU including an insight into publishing from Andrew Blyth.

Encouraging news from Mansfield Band, students’ perspective on TYB/TYC 2011 and pictures from The Southern Youth Band trip to California, USA.

Exploring vibrato.

Creative worship specialist Ira Thomas gives her account on West Midlands Divisional Musicians Councils, plus Derick Kane’s Rehearsal Report.

to this edition of the MMU newsletter. Courses for the Territorial Youth Band and Youth Choir were again held in Bournemouth in February. These courses, now well established in our annual territorial calendar, were a great success with a crowd of around 800 people attending the concert at The Lighthouse, Poole. The Easter Music Course will again be held at Sunbury Court beginning on Monday 25th April led by Assistant Territorial Music Director Andrew Blyth. The week is once again over-subscribed.

We also look forward to the ISB120 event in June. Some members of MMU are involved in different ways to support this unique weekend. The interest from the UK Territory is matched by overwhelming

interest from around the world, for what promises to be an international celebration. Full details of the weekend and listings of visiting Staff Band tours can be found on www.isb120.com. Details of forthcoming ‘120’ planned recordings are in this newsletter. Application forms and details for Territorial Music school 2011 are now available from Kevin Ashman or from the MMU website. Please encourage young musicians from your corps to attend. (An application form is attached with this newsletter).

As always, I will be pleased to hear news from you, with regards to your music-making or a particular musical section within your corps, for inclusion in this publication.

Thank you again for all your interest and support to us here at the Music Ministries Unit, and please remember that we are here to support you too!

Derick Kane

Issue 32 - March 2011

With a new year comes a fresh opportunity to energise and encourage our music groups. Sue and I were privileged to lead the Musicians’ Weekend at Derby Central in February. The corps had not had a weekend like this for a while but it was of great encouragement to us and to the many who attended. Bandmaster Alan Losh and Songster Leader Ian Hammond have sections that are blessed with numbers and musical ability and we pray that it will continue. It was also a real blessing to see so many engaged in music ministry on a Sunday!

We have also visited Southsea where we joined with the Southern Youth Band under the leadership that evening of Garry Lawrence from Boscombe. What encouraged me was the support the division gave the young people. The hall was full to bursting and the sense of excitement and joy came through – this always helps and the band rose to the

occasion. I realise that there is a huge amount of work involved to make these events happen but if done in the right way the Spirit will always touch an open heart! I have also been involved in rehearsals with the Birmingham Citadel Band who are undertaking a tour of Canada at Easter. Please include the band on your prayer list as they prepare for this tour.

Once again we are blessed in being able to publish an excellent resource of brass and vocal music which hopefully will meet your needs. The selection includes emerging composers such as Noel Brooks and Roger Trigg along with more familiar names such as Erik Silfverberg and Noel Jones. The Sing to the Lord series continues to produce some beautiful songs for our worship and I highly recommend the songs Morning Prayer (Stephen Poxon/Trevor Davis) and In a baby’s cry (Joy Webb).

Andrew Blyth

Triumph Series March 2011

Sing to the Lord(children’s voices series)Volume 18

General Series April 2011

Judd Street Collection March 2011

Twelve Scripture-based SongsVolume 12

Sing to the Lord (mixed voices)Volume 18, part 2

The Assistant Territorial Music Director

March - Moreland 90 (Noel Jones)Selection - The King (Erik Silfverberg)Cornet Solo - All the ways God has shown (Howard Davies)Chorus arrangement - Oh how he loves you and me (Noel Brooks)

The very best (Kevin Larsson/Westwood)Walk with me (Gillian Pomering)God’s own child (Catherine Banister, Nick Parkhouse & Alan Williams)Dare to be a Daniel (Miller/Bliss)Father, Creator (Emma Pears, arr. Simon Gash)Mary did you know? (Buddy Greene, arr. Dean Jones/Lowry)We will rejoice (Anais Spencer & Matt Spencer)Able to save (Emma Davis/Bearcroft)

Ein’ Feste Burg (Andrew Mackereth)March - Prayer Warriors UK (Nicholas Samuel)Song Setting - The sweetest name I know (James Anderson)The joy of loving hearts (Kenneth Downie)

Battle Ready (Roger Trigg)Just like Juan! (Kevin Larsson)Variations on a celestial theme (Kenneth Downie)

Morning Prayer (Trevor Davis/Poxon)Running with the shepherds (Jane Clarke, arr. Len Ballantine)I know not why (Nicholas Samuel/Webster Whittle)In a baby’s cry (Joy Webb)I love to sing (Phil Laeger/Blomberg)I will praise you (Leon Van Veen, arr. Andrew Blyth/Devos)Bless this house, O Lord (Harold Burgmayer/Jarvis)O little one sweet, O little one mild (John Martin/Scheidt)

Draw me close to youEveryone needs compassion (Mighty to save)Give thanks to the Lord (Forever)Great big GodHe’s got the whole wide worldJesus put this song into our heartsMeekness and majestyOpen the eyes of my heartThe greatest day in history (Happy Day)There is none like youWho am I? (Friend of God)You are God in heaven (Let my words be few)

For enquires visit (W)sps-shop.com (T)+44 (0) 1933 445 445 (E)mail_order@sp-s.co.uk

Upcoming Publications from MMU

Students’ perspective on TYB/TYC 2011

What was your particular highlight of the week?

Emily Shepherd (Enfield), TYC

Learning gospel music with Fredrik Phålsson. It was a

different style of music, one which I found lively and

fun!

Matthew Frost (Norwich Citadel), TYB

All of the hard work throughout the week paying off in

the final festival.

What will you take away from this week in spiritual terms?Leah Browning (Risca), TYBI will definitely remember the Ten Commandments in order. I think during the week I have renewed and refreshed my relationship with God and I feel so close to him.Eve Woodrow (Norwich Citadel), TYBThe main message which I will take away from the week is that God has my life in control, and he has got it all planned out for me. This is something which has really been made clear to me throughout the week.Katie Stainer (Bristol Easton), TYCI will remember to pray and to speak to God more.

Is there any certain piece/song which has made an impact on you during the week? Which piece/song and why?Lindsay Parkhouse (Croydon Citadel), TYCMy favourite song this week has been Moment by moment. I like it because the words are

very meaningful and I generally enjoyed singing it.Charlotte Johnson (Hadleigh Temple), TYCThe song Moment by moment really spoke to me throughout the week. After becoming a

senior soldier in November, it sums up my thinking at this time; ‘Moment by moment, I give

all my life to you, Moment by moment, dedicate each thought to you’.Gareth Evans (Romford), TYBO magnum mysterium – Although we did not play it out in the final festival, during rehearsal

it made me feel really at rest with God and I hope to have the opportunity to play it again

someday.

Why did you choose to come this year? If you have been before, what makes you

keep returning?

Eloise Peek (Norwich Citadel), TYB

It is my first year and I chose to come to develop my playing and to make new friends. Also,

I came to try and learn more about God’s involvement in my future.

Gareth Evans (Romford), TYB

I had attended the final festival for the last two years as my brother had attended the course.

I thoroughly enjoyed the whole concert so I thought I would give it a go myself.

Rebecca Scholes (Croydon Citadel), TYC

I keep coming back each year as I love the music we sing and the subjects that have been

chosen in our bible studies have always been relevant to me.

Staff member Gillian Pommering gives her take on the TYC course.

I have been privileged to attend TYC for the past 4 years on staff. The week’s programme is full and varied. Daily choir rehearsals, bible study and prayer are supplemented by various activities: this year we enjoyed a quiz night, disco, beach walk, talent night, chips on the terrace and learning a Busby Berkeley-style routine using band caps!

Particular highlights were visits from three guests. Fredrik Pahlsson, a Swedish Salvationist sensation, taught us to sing in an authentic Gospel style. His high energy and enthusiasm made for a productive and memorable afternoon. Regent Hall’s Kerry Sampson, newly appointed ISS deputy leader along with husband Nik Lester utilised their wealth of experience in the field of opera with a masterclass before thrilling us with an impromptu concert.

Special mention must go to three MMU staff who helped make the week such a success: Bernice Cuthbert for her meticulous administration, Nik King for his unflappable expertise on the piano and Ira Thomas (Musical Director) for her continued vision, creativity and passion for this course for young people who want to develop their musicianship, their army friendships and their walk with God.

Kerry Sampson gives a vocal masterclass

Hannah Robson uses extended playing techniques during her solo in sirocco

Percussion section of TYB during rehearsal

I have recently been involved in leading rehearsals at Bristol Easton, Maidenhead, Regent Hall and Bristol Staple Hill.

Bristol Easton was in preparation for a ‘Friends of the band’ concert: a new initiative to contact and include former members, as well as friends from within the corps. This was a very successful occasion, with the band supported by around 20 former players for a rehearsal on the Saturday afternoon. The evening concert was given by the Bristol Easton Band (Bandmaster Nathan Cole), whose items included Psalm of Thanks (Paul Sharman), Cry of the Celts (Peter Graham), accompanying myself in The Better World (Norman Bearcroft) and Home on the Range (Erik Leidzen). The last part of the programme included those who had come along in the afternoon. They joined to play Montreal Citadel (Norman Audiore), In Quiet Pastures

(Ray Steadman-Allen) and the Triumph of Peace (Eric Ball). The evening was supported and ably compèred by Professor Philip Wilby.

I always find it a privilege to visit corps sections, and it was a pleasure to visit the Maidenhead Band for two rehearsals. We looked at several pieces including, Arise my soul arise (Dean Goffin), Canadian Folk Song Suite (Morley Calvert), Power of the Cross (Paul Sharman) and Lightbringer (Martin Cordner). After working extremely hard, there was a welcome cup of tea at the end of rehearsal (a weekly ritual!)

Six stops on the London Underground took me to my next rehearsal with the Regent Hall Songsters (Songster Leader Major John Martin). With a good start at 7:40pm, the songsters immediately sounded good as John ran them through a song for Sunday. I worked with the songsters on several pieces including, Grace Sufficient (Dick Krommenhoek), and Shout for Joy (Jim Anderson). The songsters sang with a good sense of style, sound and balance, and also sight-read well. Notable too were the fine

accompanying skills from their three pianists that evening!

Back in Bristol, this time to visit the Bristol Staple Hill Band (Bandmaster Nathan James). How encouraging it was to walk into the hall and hear the YP Band playing so well. It was indeed, a good introduction to band rehearsal.We rehearsed different styles of music including, Motondo (Donald Osgood), Take Time (Kenneth Downie), Ein’ Feste Burg (Andrew Mackereth), and Vitae Aeternam (Paul Lovatt-Cooper). To finish the rehearsal we gave a run through of the beautiful meditation Here at the Cross (Ray Steadman-Allen).

Thanks then to all leaders and members of these sections for making me so welcome, and the encouragement we found making music together.

Next rehearsal stops: The East Midlands Youth Band and Youth Chorus, (along with Ira Thomas), then an evening with the Lurgan Band for a rehearsal prior to the ISB’s weekend visit.

Derick Kane

Southern Youth Band trip to California

Dr Stephen Cobb conducting the band at the Crystal Cathedral

Rehearsals report

In concert at the Pasadena Tabernacle Salvation Army

27th December - 5th January

Marching in the San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade

In 1995, the Corps Leader at Kirkby in Ashfield, Major Peter Pratt, asked Tom Hynd to form a YP band.

Tom, a former BM at Mansfield, was a soldier at Kirkby. Tom asked his brother John, a retired bandsman at Birmingham Citadel, for some music and help so John went over once a fortnight to assist. As Kirkby was John and Tom’s home corps, they were both pleased to have the opportunity of putting something back into the corps which had given them so much in their young impressionable years, musically and spiritually.

About the same time, Captain Melissa Rocky (Clewlow) began teaching a group of learners at Mansfield and also asked John for help. Because of the distance from Birmingham, the only way to do this was to put the two groups together at Mansfield so in February 1996 the two groups came together for the first time.

They began by dividing most rehearsals into three parts, theory groups, playing groups, and playing together using basic, simple arrangements. The young people worked on structured grade work in theory and practical. When possible, band training days were introduced when a volunteer catering group provided a meal and snacks etc. and time was given for games, assorted DVDs of SA work using LINK, to Mr Bean, a favourite. These days ended with parents and friends joining us for a playing together

session and an epilogue.

E v e n t u a l l y , the great day came when they began ‘playing out’ once a month using easy hymn tune arrangements and folk songs for beginner band as band tune book keys and range were still beyond their ability.

As all band leaders know, progress was slow, as most young people do not practise from one week to the next, but improvement was gradually made. The young people were encouraged to attend the East Midlands Summer Schools and returned improved in playing and attitude.

Their first experience of playing with other bands came later that year when they joined other YP bands at Nottingham Memorial Halls for a band training day with Band leader David Daws and Hendon YP Band. All this may sound too easy but we also had our disappointments. We were disappointed with the slow progress and also we found it difficult to hold a few young people and eventually they left us. However we ‘pressed on believing’ and 2009 saw the Birmingham YP Band pay a return visit to Mansfield.

All these events helped to improve the playing and enthusiasm of the band and gradually the young people began to mature in all ways which was very encouraging. In December 2009, regrettably, Kirkby Corps was closed and the soldiers transferred to Mansfield.

The present situation is that we now have a band of thirteen players

at Mansfield: six junior musicians and seven adults. Keith Lawson, who

acted as deputy and librarian, has taken responsibility for the band but is committed to Sutton Corps on Sundays. Therefore, John travels over to conduct on Sundays as often as possible, and to a rehearsal every month. It is not an ideal situation but we are praying for a permanent leader for the band.

Our numbers have been boosted by the arrival of new Corps Leaders Lieut. Kenny and Sarah Allan and their son Robert, who all play. Leiut. Kenny, former BL at Bellshill Corps, steps in to conduct when Keith and John are unable to be there. The band now plays more regularly on Sundays and has begun to accompany the singing on the easier tune book tunes. After five years of ups and downs, we now have a band at Mansfield.

This would probably not have been achieved without the willing co-operation of a team who, with no previous teaching experience, were willing to teach a structured course in playing and theory to small groups. Much credit is due to them. Of course the results were mixed. Some young people made slow progress whilst others went on to take external exams and others are continuing with the course. We hope and pray that, by reading this article, others may be encouraged to start a beginner group. There will be disappointments, but the rewards and satisfaction of trying to serve God in this way are far greater.

Beginners receiving individual tuition from John Hynd

Melissa giving instruction on the tenor horn

Joan giving theory instructionNew Band

at Mansfield corps

It is generally in good health. Several pieces still arrive on my desk from around the Salvation Army world each week, with a number of new names coming through. There is also a good age range of composers reflecting their own musical taste and compositional style. We still maintain a level of publishing that is comparable to thirty years ago.

Yes! New names are coming through and being published. It is important to remember that composition is comparable to many gifts from God - they are there to be nurtured and developed. I always try to encourage where possible, remembering that this is the composer’s own gift as such. There is a danger that we could publish a work with a fair amount of ‘editorial’ preparation being made – this can give a false sense of security to the writer who thinks that what he is doing is good enough. Ultimately we are a publishing house and not a university! Several people have made visits to THQ to have consultations with Dr Kenneth Downie on matters of composition which have proved to be an excellent help but these are just to point people in the right direction.

We have a lot of music that is rhythmically driven and I would like to see more melodic and harmonically driven music. Hymn- tune arrangements would be nice to have. There are still around 900 pieces for consideration, so a piece that says something different would be welcomed. A well-written march is more of a rare thing these days although I do acknowledge we have a fair amount of decent marches! As regards to vocal music, we have a need for faster, up tempo music, and will always welcome songs for the Children’s Voices Series.

Firstly, it was felt the Festival Series had run its course on a commercial and financial level. We were selling very few sets in the latter stages. Having said that, we still believed that an advanced journal was needed and necessary but just sold as separate pieces. Trevor Caffull at SP&S has been tremendously supportive of all that we have tried to do and I believe that the new format has been justified by the sales figures that have been achieved. With regards to the reprints of older music, this has been welcomed on a number of levels including the larger A4 format which makes the music far easier to read. The reprints assist many bands that no longer have parts for certain pieces of music. Also, it reproduces older music in a quality updated production.

The Territorial Music Council meets each month for the purpose of agreeing music for publication. I realise that leaders can choose and play any music they want to with the officer’s permission; however, I feel that it is important for our music / lyrics to have the official approval of The Salvation Army. I guess you could describe it as a filtering system that gives our music integrity for a wider usage.

Note – I haven’t had these questions in advance!) A lot of corps now meet on Sunday morning only and therefore require more functional music. We are getting music from composers who write for their own setting, so understand the process of writing music for a specific purpose. I think there is a good balance of band and vocal music with a range of ability level. I do welcome feedback from leaders regarding our publications. This said, let’s not always be looking for the next new piece – we do have a rich heritage of music to choose from!

General Shaw Clifton asked that a new song book be produced in the next 4 to 5 years. Around 950 tunes will be included. Lieut.- Colonel Trevor Davis is co-ordinating the music and I am there to help and assist. The songs have been chosen by The General and the Song Book Council. The new tunes will need new arrangements and we look at all the existing tunes and assess each one. This is a huge task, which last time took over fifteen years! I am hoping (praying) that we meet The General’s deadline. We will do as professional a job as is possible on this new production.

I can see a bright future if we can keep our music resources together (i.e. our bands and our songsters). There are more young people involved in writing music than I have seen in my 20 years in the music department. It is an important role for our bands and songsters to encourage this and to be open to new manuscripts being tried out in rehearsal. At the moment I would say things are going well, but we mustn’t rest on that alone. There are good points, and challenging points too, but I believe the future can be sustainable and together, we can make it work. We will all need to be encouragers and be thankful for the fact that today we are still a movement with a rich musical resource that is to be valued and developed.

My thanks to Andrew for his thoughts and insight into our music publishing. Thanks to him and his team for all they do from week to week to enhance and support the musical life of our Territory.

A ‘behind the scenes’ look at our publishing

Q. How would you assess the current status of MMU publishing?

Q. Are new composers being published in our journals?

Q. Are there any particular types of new compositions you would like to see more of?

Q. Can you tell us the logic behind so many Judd Street Collection reprints?

Q. Is the function of the Territorial Music Council still important, and indeed, necessary?

Q. As a corps Bandmaster (Gainsbourough Corps) along with many who are using ‘functional’ music, do you think you provide us with a wide and good choice?

Q. Can you tell us a little about your involvement with the preparation of the new song book?

Q. How do you see the future of The Salvation Army publications?

Derick Kane in conversation with Andrew Blyth.

Contact Information: MMU is commited to helping and resourcing wherever possible. Please do not hestitate to get in contact with us.

Derick Kane Training & Development Specialist: 020 7367 4967 (derick.kane@salvationarmy.org.uk) Ira Thomas Creative Worship Specialist: 020 7367 4973 (ira.thomas@salvationarmy.org.uk) Nik King Information & Resources Co-ordinator: 020 7367 4514 (nicholas.king@salvationarmy.org.uk)

I always think it’s a great pity that music and the arts are not represented on a divisional level as are other units are (Childrens Ministries, Adult and Family Ministries and Alove). These posts are obviously attributable to an age profile and maybe a representative for the music and arts may appear something of a luxury. Therefore, resource and support has to come from the Territorial level and this can make us all feel a little remote at times.

It was therefore with much delight that Dr Stephen Cobb and I were asked to be involved in the West Midlands Musicians’ Councils held at the Birmingham Conservatoire. The themes for each meeting were Empower, Equip and Evangelise, and that is exactly what the whole experience succeeded in achieving.

The weekend began on the Saturday with a day of training for the young people of the division. Around 60 children (the youngest being four years old) met at Cradleigh Heath Corps, where they joined together as a band and a singing group. It always gives me a real sense of amazement that we ask our young people to spend all day learning new music which we then present in the evening, often without music. Educationally and

musically, ‘a little and often’ rehearsals will produce the most confident results, so it is a tribute to those who work with our young people consistently, that they are able to maintain this stamina and ability.

The Sunday was a very full day with a total of four meetings. This allowed great opportunity to include many of the musical sections, which was a huge blessing. We were spiritually led by Retired General and Mrs John Larsson, who always bring humour, affirmation and great love wherever they preside.

It is not enough just to be inward looking, and so the opportunity to bring two Salvation Army musicians from Nairobi (Benton Kioko and Stanley Makau from Quarry Road Corps, Kenya East) to support them in their ministry was a great privilege.

So thank you to Major Stephen White and all who assisted him in this event. Holding Musicians’ Councils has so many benefits and encourages us all. Exhausting, yes but worthwhile? - Absolutely! Thank you from the Music Ministries Unit for including us in this very encouraging endeavour.

Ira Thomas (Creative worship specialist).

Birmingham Citadel Band

Droitwich Spa Songsters

Coventry Citadel Band

Oldbury Timbrels

West Midlands Division

Percussionist Sam Ellis

developing good practice encouraging innovation and creativity providing resources building and enhancing

de veloping good practice

a musical effect consisting of a regular pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music.

Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors:

1. The amount of pitch variation (extent of vibrato). 2. And speed with which the pitch is varied (rate of vibrato).3. The ‘spinning’ of the sound.

Much has been written and said about the use, or not, of vibrato in brass playing and in singing. Firstly, I would ask a question. Can a good speaker hold our attention without a) expression, b) changes of pitch, c) varied emphasis?

Ask then, the same question of a brass player or vocalist. You will probably agree with me, that the same elements

(in a musical way), are required to enhance our performance.

Excess in most cases isn’t a good thing. Similarly, in music, excess is not good either. So, with regards to vibrato, how much is too much, or how little is not enough?

Do most good players / singers employ the art of vibrato? My answer is yes to that question. In fact I think too much is better than too little! (but that is only my opinion). I appreciate that other people are entitled to their viewpoint, however, music must be made interesting to the listener.

So what does vibrato do?For me it allows the performer to use the combination of both air flow and rate of vibrato to feed a note (i.e. help its full value). It aids the creation of a nuance within a phrase. That said, it should remain an enhancement to your sound, and not the substance.

If vibrato is an element of expression can you teach this?I’m not sure you can. You can request vibrato on this note, that note (i.e.

prescribed), but I do not think you can put expression into the person. Music is reliant on innate responses.

How do we improve this area of musicality?Listen to good players and singers• how they go from one note to another• how they keep the note filled• how they create a nuance in a phrase

Play and sing lots of melodic material to improve your sound-flow.

Think about the ‘spinning’ of the sound – practice this at slow and fast speeds

So, am I in favour of vibrato in our playing/singing? Yes I am, as stated already. Most excellent performers use it. What we must learn to do however, is, control it within the music, use it to help our performance and intrigue the listener.

My view – ESSENTIAL – however, be careful with this most valuable expressive asset.

As part of the 120th Anniversary celebrations of the International Staff Band, all eight Staff Bands of The Salvation Army will take part in a spectacular March of Witness down The Mall in Central London at 2pm on Sunday 5th June.

Some 250 Staff Band musicians from Amsterdam, Canada, Chicago, Germany, Japan, Melbourne and New York will march with the ISB and together will perform a short concert in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

Prior to the March of Witness, there will be plenty going on in St James’ Park around the bandstand. Make sure you are there to

support our leaders and international guests on this never to be forgotten day!Melbourne Staff Band will arrive in the UK on Wednesday 25th May to commence their tour, while both the Chicago & Japan Staff Bands will tour the week before the big weekend. The full itinerary of each band can be found by visiting www.isb120.com

All eight Staff Bands will be in concert at different venues on Friday 3rd June. The concert featuring the ISB and the New York Staff Band is already a sell-out, so please ensure you guarantee your seat in Basingstoke, Chelmsford, Hadleigh, Maidenhead, Maidstone or Stowmarket.

Where will you be on 5th June?

ExploringVibrato:

DOES GOD SPEAK TO ORDINARY PEOPLE?

COLIN SPRINGATESHARES HIS EXPERIENCES

IN HIS BOOK

It’s interestingIt’s amusing

It’s thought provokingIt’s available now!

£3.99 + 45p p&p (Cheques payable to Veil Ministries)Only from

Veil Ministries Publishing,21 Eclipse Drive Sittingbourne Kent ME10 2HR

Tel 01795 428232

God

...and me

Devotional - selected by Crystal Manners, as part of her work experience within MMU.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man who saw into the future and was able to visualise how the world should be. In his famous speech ‘I Have a Dream’, he shared with his audience his unquenchable vision for America.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. . . I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.”

Apostle Paul was also a dream-driven man. His vision was to reach all the nations with the gospel before the coming of Christ. He wanted to see the Gentiles and the Jews joining in God’s kingdom side by side, putting aside their differences in custom, culture and language. He was convinced that God

made the gospel freely available for all to receive without the requirement of the law. He believed that the Church should be one with Christ as the foundation: no geographical and ethnic divisions. So he encouraged the church in Ephesus to affirm her fellowship with the church in Jerusalem by sending her their offerings when the Jerusalem church was in need. However, where there is a vision, there is also opposition. As Paul wants to go and visit Jerusalem this time around, he is strongly warned by his fellow Christians about danger awaiting him in Jerusalem. Out of genuine concern for his well-being, they discourage him from going. But Paul doesn’t give in. The same Spirit who called him to be the missionary to the Gentiles compels him to go to Jerusalem (20:22). As a captive to Christ with a strong vision that fuels him, he cares less for his life than for fulfilling the vision given to him.

Reading2 Thessalonians 1:3

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.

PrayerDear Heavenly Father, you have always been with me in my life and now my future is in your hands. I praise you and thank you because you have taken total control of my life and future. Thank you for hearing my prayer. Amen.