The Bellshill Band (Bandmaster Yvonne Ferguson) traveled to Guisborough for a ministry weekend, 16 – 17 November 2013. The weekend included a Saturday evening festival, Sunday morning worship, a march of witness and open air meeting, and an afternoon praise concert.
Saturday, 16 November 2013
The first program of the weekend, the Saturday evening festival, got off to a great start as the band played Temple 85, followed by the beautiful song setting In the Love of Jesus.
Bellshill Band on stage
Several of the band’s soloists were featured. Amy McMillan (soprano cornet) played Silver Threads. Vocal soloist Daniel McMillan sang Can’t Stop Talking About Him. Chris Shanks (euphonium) played Euphony and Lynn Shanks (flügelhorn) played Through It All.
The highlight of the program was the band’s very moving rendition of Eric Ball’s tone poem The Kingdom Triumphant. The silence which followed the end of the piece gave a clear indication that the music had challenged and, hopefully, inspired those present.
The festival was brought to a conclusion with the festival march Celebration and the benediction The Lord Is Gracious.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
The Sunday morning worship began with the band playing Lord, with My All I Part, setting the scene for the theme of the meeting, “Dedication”. During the meeting, two of the band’s retired members who had joined the group for the trip to Guisborough participated. Jim Crombie opened the meeting in prayer and Sam Ritchie gave a personal testimony.
The Guisborough Singing Company and Songsters supported the Bellshill Band, with both sections participating in the morning meeting. Claire Ferguson got the children involved with a Children’s Spot about dedication.
Before David Kendall gave the Bible message, thoughts were focused on dedication to God. First, Ernest Hamilton sang the beautiful song Do You Know Why I Love Jesus?. Then the band played Dedication with great sensitivity.
The Bellshill Band on the march
Following the morning meeting, there was a march of witness and a short open air meeting.
The afternoon praise meeting began with the band playing The Redcliffe March followed by the chorus setting Take Time to Be Holy. The trombone section was featured in Peter, James and John. Brian Allen (piano) played the Andante from Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, accompanied by the band.
As the worship portion of the afternoon began, Melvyn Shanks (tenor horn) played A Time for Peace before the Bellshills corps officer, Major Chris Connelly, presented the message. The time of worship was concluded with the band’s presentation of Leslie Condon’s tone poem Faith Reborn. This piece tells a highly emotional story, which was reflected in the band’s performance.
A fantastic weekend concluded with the congregational song “I’ll Go in the Strength of the Lord”, followed by the band playing Dance Like David.
Source:
Bellshill Band web site, original reports by Dorothy Neil and Robert Addie