Songs of Love tour

The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Chicago, was our first venue of our Songs of Love tour. The ARC provides specialist support for to up to 50 men who are overcoming addictions to drugs and alcohol and will over the next few years be renovated to double capacity.

Our message through every song and spoken word was of hope - that while today is Good Friday, we know that Sunday is coming. Our songs included ‘Blessings’, ‘Come to the Cross’, ‘Via Dolorosa’, and some upbeat numbers - including ‘Swingtime Religion’, and ‘Coming King’. All were well received.

A highlight was when beneficiaries of the ARC’s programme shared their own testimonies about how God had rescued them from dark times. How the blessings came to us.

Our second event on Good Friday was to take part in a United Good Friday Service at the impressive Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Chicago. We were supported by the superb Kroc Praise Team. 

The crosses at the Kroc Center Chicago were an inspiring and powerful reminder of the Easter message, as we presented a series of songs focusing on events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday interspersed with scripture narrative which brought home that message clearly. 

You can rewatch the livestream recording of the Good Friday meeting on the Kroc Centre’s YouTube channel.

Day two started with coffee and donuts at Oakbrook Terrace Corps and chatting with singers from the local corps and surrounding area who joined us for a Come and Sing workshop and then stayed on for our mini-concert. We also were joined by people who came to listen after hearing our concert at yesterday’s Kroc Center.

There is something special about singing together and, even better, when it is done in believed worship. 'Amazing Grace - My Chains are Gone' showed the quality of those singing with us but even that was outdone with a setting of 'To God be the Glory' which was enhanced by the brass ensemble in preparation for our joint worship together tomorrow.

After a short break we gave a brief but very meaningful mini-concert. Starting with 'Boundless In Love' around the hall, the programme moved through a variety of styles and moods including two movements from different Choral Symphonies moving from Christ's sacrifice to our redemption. 

It was special to have William Himes lead us in his composition 'When God Comes Near'. The classic 'Jesus Himself Drew Near' provided a poignant ending to our mini-concert.

It was our privilege to represent The Salvation Army at the Chicago Wolves hockey game. We sang 'America the Beautiful' before the start of the game, in front of thousands of fans who gathered at the Allstate Arena.

Listen to us sing America the Beautiful on the ISS YouTube Channel.

Unfortunately it didn't seem to help the local team to victory (they lost 6 nil)! Unlike the victory we are looking forward to celebrate tomorrow.

Thank you to the church family at Oakbrook Terrace Corps for the warm welcome and shared fellowship to celebrate the risen Christ.

We enjoyed spending time together at the Son-rise service, followed by a fellowship breakfast and Easter egg hunt. We started with the new Kenneth Downie arrangement of the ‘Old Rugged Cross’ and ended with the upbeat arrangement by Simon Gash of ‘My Redeemer Lives’. Staff Songster Graham Letts gave a powerful testimony, sharing the commitment, faith and personal humility that Jesus showed and how as ISS members we strive to follow his example.

Later that morning in the worship service we joined with the corps’ praise team and band, and the massed voices from the previous day’s come and sing event. Our contributions were ‘Anastasis - He is Risen’, and ‘Far Above All’ in the pre-meeting music. Later we sang Len Ballantine’s ‘Precious Jesus’. Dorothy encouraged all those who attended yesterday’s choral workshop to join with us to sing ‘Amazing Grace/My Chains Fell Off’.

In her Bible message Captain Christie Coreano challenged us to be Easter people.

We take with us many memories, new friendships and close connections from our time in Chicago. Next we journey to Royal Oak Corps, near to Detroit.

Watch a video of the massed songsters singing ‘Greater Things’, on the ISS YouTube channel.

Watch a recording of the Son-rise service on the Oakbrook Terrace YouTube channel. 

Watch a recording of the Easter Day worship service on the Oakbrook Terrace YouTube channel.

The beautiful stained-glass windows and Easter-themed floral and lighting displays provided the perfect setting for our evening concert at Royal Oak Salvation Army. This is an active and growing corps, with many daily activities including Bible study, youth character building classes, and a youth basketball league. 

Before the concert, the local songster brigade joined us to rehearse two massed songs that featured in the concert 'When God Comes Near' and 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands’. This rehearsal helped to 'break the ice' and make connections with people.

During the concert, once again readings and music outlined the Easter story moving through 'Via Dolorosa', 'Come to the Cross', 'From Calvary' and then 'Salvation'. No-one should be in doubt about what it means to us. Thank you Royal Oak for having us. We will remember today fondly and will hold you in our prayers.

Watch a recording of the massed songsters singing ‘He’s got the Whole World in His Hands’ on the ISS YouTube channel.

Watch a recording of our concert on the Royal Oak YouTube channel.

On day five we visited the impressive Notre Dame University and sang in the beautifully ornate Basilica. Ubi Caritas' and 'God So Loved the World' (also sung in the later festival) were fitting songs. There were just a handful of people who stopped to listen as we sang but it was a special moment of worship for us.

We later met some of the young choristers in the Notre Dame Children's Choir and were delighted to sing to each other and with each other. We hope our visit will encourage them further. 

Then it was on to our second visit to a Kroc Center. We knew we pleased at least one person when 'I Have Seen the Glory of the Lord' was announced as a cry of 'yes!', was heard from the auditorium! The audience enthusiastically joined in with 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands' and also enjoyed 'Swingtime Religion', Elliott again doing his own swingtime in motion on saxophone. Emma and Martin’s duet 'I Will Rejoice" was the solo item for the evening sung.

We wish the South Bend Kroc Center well for the future and the work for the community that goes on there. Thank you for your hospitality.

Day six was a slightly different day in that our visit to Akron in Ohio found us with a little time to enjoy an arranged visit to a Manor House built in the Tudor style. This allowed us a little relaxation before our evening festival at the Akron Summit County Public Library which includes a concert hall.

We greeted the assembled audiencel before singing 'Boundless in Love' and then, in position on the stage, 'O Love' to set the mood for prayer leading into 'I Have Seen the Glory of the Lord'.

We were pleased to have pianist Andrew fit and back with us and his skills were needed to the full in the major work of the evening, 'Vita Meo Domino' which was followed by the contrasting 'Ubi Caritas', contrasting again with 'Swingtime Religion' - Elliott is trying to be the most photographed member of the ISS!

'Introit' began the second half before tonight's Easter journey included 'In the Name of the Lord', 'Via Dolorosa', 'From Calvary', and 'I've Just Seen Jesus'. The 'Coming King' continues to be a very popular item as the solos from Gemma and Hazel. There was then our traditional items to conclude.

Our thanks go to the good people of Akron for their hospitality and generosity. You will remain in our prayers.

Watch the ISS sing the ABBA-inspired ‘Coming King’ (link to our Facebook page).

Watch a recording of the ISS sing ‘I’ve Just Seen Jesus’ on the ISS YouTube channel.

Day seven - we travelled through three different states and sang in two of them and even managing to draw a small crowd around the 'jam' room in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Will we be inducted? Time will tell.

The day started with a visit to the Divisional HQ in Cleveland where we shared devotional time with the staff. As well as our songs, we shared with those gathered our prayers and testimony about the blessings we have received.

In between the devotional time and our next call to the ARC in Erie, we made a quick stop at the Hall of Fame. Never ones to miss an opportunity to witness (and have fun at the same time) some of our group sang 'The Coming King'. 

We have been really blessed by what we have witnessed over these few days and again the work of an Adult Rehabilitation Centre left us full of admiration for the work undertaken at Erie. We were shown around the thrift store premises and talked through the processes of sorting donations etc. which was very impressive. The store itself has been refurbished which is a tale in itself and was due to re-open the next day. We had a sneak look and (hush) some purchases were made.

After we had some lovely food we sang to the beneficiaries and members of Erie Corps, and enjoyed sharing personal stories of how God is working in our lives.    

The Choral Convocation weekend kicked off in Toronto on Friday night with a gala dinner for all of the staff songsters and a concert given by us to the other brigade. 

Awards and recognitions were presented to many long-serving songsters and leaders - including our Ruth Unwin who has been in the ISS for 44 years. The 235 songster voices joined in worship, including the Canadian Staff Songsters, the ISS, and the four USA Staff Songsters.

In attendance were UK and Ireland Territorial Leader Commissioner Paul Main, Canada and Bermuda Territorial Leaders Commissioners Lee and Debbie Graves, as well as General Linda Bond (Rtd), General Brian Peddle (Rtd) and Commissioner Rosalie Peddle. 

Hundreds of Salvationists and friends gathered at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto for an unforgettable night of music, as the sounds of A Choral Convocation filled the church with God's praise.

This historical event brought together six staff songster brigades from around The Salvation Army world: hosts the Canadian Staff Songsters, ourselves and the Central Territory Staff Songsters, Eastern Territory Staff Songsters, Western Territory Staff Songsters and Southern Territory Staff Songsters. The event was also supported by the Canadian Staff Band.

Watch the replay of the event on YouTube.

The Choral Convocation weekend came to a close on the Sunday as the six Staff Songster brigades provided ministry at five Salvation Army corps in the Greater Toronto Area.

We visited Yorkminster Citadel Corps with the Canadian Staff Songsters. We led morning worship with support from Executive Officer Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts and our UK and Ireland Territorial Leader Commissioner Paul Main, as well as Yorkminster Citadel band. Later we presented an afternoon musicale concert with the Canadian Staff Songsters. 

Our last event of the day and our tour was a visit to the Toronto Grace Health Centre.

Watch the Sunday morning service on the Yorkminster Citadel YouTube channel.

Watch the afternoon musicale from the ISS and CSS on the Yorkminster Citadel YouTube channel.