On the weekend of May 2-3, 2009, the Canadian Staff Band was privileged to help The Salvation Army in Collingwood, Ontario, celebrate their 125th anniversary. The small town of about 17,000 is situated on the southern shore of Georgian Bay in northern Ontario and is home to the Blue Mountain ski resort that is very popular in the winter months. For 125 years The Salvation Army has shared the love of Christ and given practical assistance to those in need of its services.
Arriving early Saturday afternoon, our scheduled outdoor concert was curtailed by inclement weather, so we gave an impromptu program indoors at the corps to an appreciative audience of local Salvationists and folk who had travelled in for the weekend. Supper was followed by our evening concert at the New Life Brethren in Christ Church, where we were preceded by the Town Crier and “William Booth” who proceeded to welcome us all to Collingwood for the corps anniversary.
The band performed many items featured on its just-completed recording that will be available in June. We were also privileged to accompany the guest vocalist for the weekend, Melissa Cory, who presented Righteousness, Peace, Joy and They Could Not. Scripture and devotions were given by Colonel Donald Copple, chief secretary for the Canada and Bermuda Territory, who was the guest leader for the weekend.
Sunday morning the band ministered in music and accompanied the singing. It was an inspirational meeting with two highlights being the personal testimony by Julie Spears and the gathering of local Salvationists at the mercy seat following the message in an outpouring of love and support for their current corps officers, Captains Mark and Wendy Crabb.
The weekend ended with a final program by the band in the afternoon, fittingly concluded by “William Booth” giving his famous “I’ll Fight” speech to inspire the local troops.
May God bless the soldiers and friends of The Salvation Army in Collingwood and give them strength to continue fighting for him in the days to come.