145th Anniversary Weekend Celebrations – 23rd & 24th March 2024
On Saturday evening, the Govan Songsters, Crescendo Choir and the Glasgow City Centre Community Band came together for a Musical Festival. Majors Matt and Sarah Butler (Bognor Regis) were also special guests for the weekend.
Opening the evening with Give me a Song, the tone was set for high quality and enjoyment by Govan Songsters. Matt Ramsey’s enthusiasm as well as obvious talent for training a choir shone through as the songsters filled the hall with a wondrous sound. Lively songs such as Just Like John and Adoration, Thanksgiving and Praise ensured that there were smiles throughout and toes were tapping. But with equal accomplishment, the more sensitive singing of In The Secret of Thy Presence and O Love left no-one in doubt that the very presence of God was with us that evening. With a view towards Easter, the songsters sang Is He Worthy? and Cross For A Crown, which – along with Testimony from Lauren Hay and the soloist vocals of David Gibb – spoke clearly of the reason why they wanted to sing, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. With powerful singing I Have Seen The Glory Of The Lord brought those listening to the Interval with wonderful sounds ringing in their ears and equally were left smiling and full of joy as Praise The Lord was sung to finish the evening.
Joining the songsters was Crescendo Choir. A local community choir that rehearses at the Corps on a Wednesday evening. Brining fun and energy, they encouraged those listening to join in as they sung Ultimate Miracle, Lean on Me, Do-Re-Mi and Love Changes Everything. Iain Johnstone the choir leader, is also the Director of Faith in the Community Scotland, has gained a solid relationship with the Corps over several years. It was a delight to be able to have the choir join in the weekend’s celebrations in this way.
The recently formed Corps Community Band invited Stuart Garman to lead them for the weekend as BM. With three members of Govan joining their ranks for a few of their items, the band were able to bring music from the movies as well as the classic march God’s Children. A new march Walk of Faith was complimented by another well loved blue book piece Lord of All Creation. To mark the Anniversary, the Scottish tune Kelvingrove was given a variation arrangement, which was played at the end of the interval.
The Corps morning Worship was led by Majors Matt and Sarah. The meeting journeyed through an exploration of ‘Fulfilling Calling’. Major Matt spoke of different biblical characters who had been called by God for specific purposes that were important in His story. The Corps were challenged to hear and embrace the calling on their lives both individually and collectively and to understand their role in the ongoing story that God has for The Salvation Army in Glasgow.
A 3:00pm a March of 80 strong left Glasgow City Centre Corps, heading toward George Square. The two mile march was blessed with sunshine and was greeted all along the roads by onlookers wanting to engage with those participating. Soldiers, Adherents and congregation members from Glasgow City Centre Corps, Govan Citadel, Clydebank, Bellshill, Paisley and the Divisional Youth sections, as well as a few others, made their way through the town with lots of smiles, laughter and joy. The combined band played favourites such as Montreal Citadel and Star Lake, with the Timbrellists of Govan Citadel adding a sense of spectacle to the whole event. With two Corps flags and Corps Officers leading the way as well as Commissioner Keith Banks (R), with young people and Corps folk at the tail-end, it was a sight not seen in years in Glasgow City Centre.
At George Square, The Salvation Army en mass arrived for a 4:00pm Open Air Service. Once again, Majors Matt and Sarah led the service through with a large number of people gathering to listen to all that was going on. With enthusiastic singing from round the square of Amazing Grace, there was a real sense of the Holy Spirit at work. With items from the Youth Chorus and Massed Bands interspersing the congregational singing, there were also conversations happening all over between Salvationists and members of the public, while children were invited to sit and colour in sheets that spoke of the history and purpose of The Salvation Army.
Glasgow City Centre Corps would like to thank all those who made the weekend celebrations such a wonderful event that certainly gave energy to all to be affirmed in evangelism of this kind. Whilst celebrating and honouring the years of heritage behind us, there was a great sense of enthusiasm that more is yet to come.