Sunday 5th April 2009

Arriving in the early morning sunshine at the new Montclair SA Hall, Palm Sunday began at 09:15am with pre-meeting prayers led by James Hunter, remembering particularly those left at home in Derby.
The morning meeting at 09:30am commenced with the Songsters singing “This Day” and “Morning has broken”. The altar table and front of the expansive platform was strewn with palms which at the end of the meeting were handed out to the congregation by the host CO’s. Those with handicraft talents made simple crosses from the palms as keepsakes. The theme of the meeting was focused on the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem with familiar words from Luke 19, prayers from Trevor Baxter and personal testimony from Andrea Smith. The meeting concluded with the congregation singing a massed benediction.

After the meeting the vast majority of the songsters crowded into Sunday School and re-lived their days as junior soldiers with Emma, Philip and Lynsey leading a “getting to know you” session with the addition of a couple of old familiar choruses. The YP Band, very ably led by a talented young lady (Emilee Bennett – 1st Baritone NYSB) played several items including “Hand me down my silver trumpet”.

Following Sunday school much socialising and a light lunch, the songsters visited 3 residential nursing homes (splitting in two for the first two homes and amalgamating for the third) where we presented gifts and musical programmes to the residents. It was remarkable how “at home” many of the songsters appeared to be in these homes!!!
We returned after some local sightseeing (the New York skyline and September 11th memorial - see photo's) to the lovely suite of buildings which comprise Montclair Corps to enjoy dinner and social time together.

It was a fitting end to an inspiring day in God’s service. So tired now – all we need is sleep!!!!

Report by Clive Purkiss