Once again this year the Canadian Staff Band was privileged to participate in the Canada and Bermuda Territory’s annual commissioning of new officers. As this year’s venue was unable to accommodate the entire group, an ensemble of 15 travelled to Winnipeg for the weekend, where we shared in ministry on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning.

 

Six of us were able to assist in the united band for the divisional salute on Friday evening at Southlands Community Church. (The others were still travelling from Toronto.) The event brought together Salvationists and friends from local corps and social services units who gathered to say farewell and thank you to the outgoing cadets. Major Kevin Metcalf, territorial secretary for music and gospel arts and recently appointed CSB executive officer, led the combined band made up of members from Heritage Park and Winnipeg East Corps.

Following morning rehearsals on Saturday, the main event of the weekend commenced at 4:00. A large congregation at Elim Chapel greeted the cadets as they slowly made their way into the sanctuary for the ordination and commissioning service. The CSB ensemble, tightly crammed into one corner of the platform, played Morley Calvert’s My All Is On the Altar as, one by one, the cadets processed in from the back, preceded by Commissioners William and Marilyn Francis and Lt-Colonels Donald and Anne Copple, territorial leaders, training college staff and the sessional flag. To accommodate the lengthy procession, we had to repeat the third verse of the arrangement five times before they were finally all in place and the meeting could begin.

Much of our contribution throughout the afternoon included congregational song accompaniments, starting with Charles Skinner’s arrangement of Crown Him With Many Crowns and ending with William Himes’ setting of O Boundless Salvation. In between were items such as Holy Ground, We Want to See Jesus Lifted High, Days of Elijah and We Are Marching. For our selection we presented Robert Redhead’s Fanfare of Praise – a bit of a challenge with only five cornets and two trombones, but we managed and it was much appreciated by the congregation. We also played Andrew Mackereth’s Shine Down to accompany a timbrel item toward the end of the program, thankful for the timbrels to cover a multitude of missing parts. After the 2½-hour meeting, we enjoyed a time of refreshments and fellowship that allowing us to catch up with friends and colleagues who were present for the occasion.

On Sunday morning we ministered at Winnipeg East Corps, where we shared in the meeting, accompanied the singing and provided special music. Selections included Fanfare of Praise and Fall Afresh. There was a child dedication, Steve Brown led a children’s time and Major Kevin Metcalf shared from the Word on the significance of belonging to the family of God.

It was a privilege to be asked to participate in this significant weekend in the life of the territory, and the CSB prays God’s blessing on the newly commissioned officers as they begin a lifetime of service and ministry.