The CSB is on the bus heading back to THQ and from there home after a great visit to Pekin, IL. Captains Mount seem to be on top of things and it appears that the Salvation Army is wll supported in Pekin, a town of about 35,000 people. As stated last night, the concert on Saturday was well attended at the 1st Church of the Nazarene with about 450 in attendance.
This morning, we were on duty at the first (i.e. 8:15 am) service at the United Methodist Church. That too was well attended. (Prior to the service the church provided the members of the band with a hot breakfast at 7:15.)
Due to space limitations only an ensemble from the band actually played but the full chorus was able to sing. The children's message “The Instruments of the Band” didn't go exactly to plan since no brave child could be found to learn to play a horn in one easy lesson. However, the point was well made anyway.
Following that service we loaded up and headed to the Salvation Army, arriving just at the tail end of their Sunday School opening. Following that opening some members of the band attended Sunday School classes and others set up the ensemble which was again on duty given the size of the platform. The Mounts gave the worship service over to us and our Executive Officer spoke on the “Stones of Israel” reminding us significant incidents in the New Testament. At the end, each in attendance were given the opportunity to receive a white stone signifying our innocence obtained by the blood of Jesus Christ.
It's always good to report that the Salvation Army hall was full. While there were a few visitors from DHQ in nearby Peoria, for the most part the hall was full of people from Pekin. That bodes well for the future of the Salvation Army in Pekin.
All in all it was a good weekend but given the hour of rising this morning it's a very quiet bus at the moment as people catch up on their Sunday afternoon nap. Once this is posted I will try uploading some photographs on our Chicago Staff Band Facebook page. If you're not a fan of that page, why not become one?
OK... Band Geeks... here's the line up from the program last evening that I promised. If you're not a band geek I'll see you next time.
Dance Like David
Jubilance (soloist, Peggy Thomas)
Good Old Way
Soon & Very Soon (vocal item)
He Leadeth Me (vocal item)
Testimoy (Sang Kim)
Glorious Ventures (soloist, Jeremy Rowland)
Memory (soloist, Kory Strand)
Symphonette
Intermission
Southmount (Heartland Divisional Band, Captain Peter Mount conducting)
Concert Piece (soloist, Brett Tolcher)
You Raise Me Up (soloist, Heidi Strand)
Devotional Thought (Lt. Colonel Mickey McLaren)
Vitae Aeternum
Nicaea (combined/massed bands)
Cairo Red Shield (combined/massed bands)
Choral Benediction
