Sat – Sun 25-26 November 2023. St Catherines Corps hosted Heritage Brass for a weekend of music and worship. The band arrived mid-afternoon to setup with a brief sound check before being treated to a ‘Ham and Scallops’ supper provided by a team of volunteers from the corps. A good-sized congregation of people gathered and enjoyed the evening concert. Admittance to the concert was free along with an appeal to make a donation to the Corps Christmas kettle program. A Christmas kettle was set up in the foyer and the band set time aside in their concert to officially kick off the Christmas Appeal program for the community of St Catherines. The band played a March – “Celebrate His Birth” and then Major Don Feltham (Corps Officer) made the Appeal. The band concluded the ceremony with their voices singing “The Stable Door.” Bandsman Byron Penney sang with band accompaniment “A Different Man.” Bandsman Major Cliff Hollman brought a devotional thought (Major Cliff & his wife Major Ruth were former C.O.’s of St. Catherines 43 years before).
The band returned on Sunday to lead the morning worship service. The band played a beautiful arrangement on the tune “Lavenham” in the service. Major Ken Ritson (Exec Officer) brought the message. Following the service, the band were invited, along with the corps to join together in the gymnasium where a ‘beef-on-a-bun’ was served. The band retired with a feeling that not only was God glorified in worship but felt blessed that there was this reaching into the community to assist those in need during the festive season.