Also participating, at the request of their bandmaster, Paul Storms, was the Concert Band of Cobourg, more formally known as The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Association – Ontario. In honour of the occasion, we played O Boundless Salvation together for the assembled crowd before various government leaders including Cobourg Mayor Peter Delanty brought greetings, congratulating the Army on its long history of practical and spiritual ministry to the community. 

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the concert band stepped off and marched right through the CSB, then performed an impressive countermarch, wheeling around and coming back through our ranks. On a double-tap from the bass drum, we headed off together, marching eight abreast, playing the well-known Salvation Army march Montreal Citadel (especially arranged for the other group, which included woodwinds as well as brass). Bystanders lined the sidewalks cheering the massed bands as we marched along the busy downtown street to St. Peter’s Anglican Church, site of our evening concert. With the community band in their red tunics and us in our navy blue, it created a very colourful picture to brighten up a rather dreary autumn day (see photo above and video below). For the CSB, the event was a definite highlight of the weekend that will be remembered for many years to come.

 

A large audience filled the church for our evening concert, which marked our first official program of the 2009-10 season. In addition to music from our latest recordings, new repertoire included William Himes’ festival march Milestone, James Curnow’s Variations on Terra Beata and Lorne Barry’s Credo. Other items included Major Kevin Metcalf’s cornet solo This Is My Story (Krister Lundkvist) and Morley Calvert’s always popular Canadian Folk Song Suite. The audience especially appreciated Cameron Rawlins’ vocal solo Were It Not For Grace, as well as Stephen Pavey’s rendition of Welsh Fantasy for Euphonium and Band and Leigh Rowney’s xylophone dexterity in Joyous Rhythm.

 

On Sunday, Salvationists and friends gathered for morning worship at the corps under the leadership of Captains Jim and Debbie Sinclair, corps officers/pastors. Featuring musical ministry by the staff band and participation by the corps mime group, Louder Than Words, the meeting included lively singing and testimonies of God’s work in people’s lives. In addition to the prelude, the CSB’s main contribution to the service was a new setting of the contemporary Christian song Refiner’s Fire (arr. Craig Woodland). In his Bible message, guest speaker Major Andy Miller, U.S.A. Central Territory, challenged his listeners to live out the next chapter of the Book of Acts by continuing to work and witness in their everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. Many responded to the invitation to sign cards of commitment as they rededicated their lives to serving Christ.

 

Following a light lunch including the cutting of the anniversary cake, it was homeward bound. It had been a short but memorable weekend that will be remembered long into the future. May God continue to bless the Cobourg Corps as it continues to serve its community in name of Christ.