USA East Music BULLETIN - FALL 2019 - ISSUE 3 | 页面 3

“THE STARS SANG TOGETHER * ”
By Rob Jeffery, ETSS Communications Secretary
OCTOBER 4-6, 2019 — On October 4-6,
2019, the Eastern Territory held its third bi-
annual Singing Stars. This wonderful event,
led by the Music Department with support
by the Eastern Territory Staff Songsters
(ETSS) is a very focused weekend of mass
choral singing, vocal workshops, and
worship. It is made up of youth from across
the Eastern Territory who are involved in
divisional youth choruses and their corps’
songster brigades. The setting for this
idyllic weekend was Star Lake Camp, which
was alive with the beautiful colors of fall.
This year’s Singing Stars was truly unique
in that joining us for the first time was the
entire Youth Chorus of The Salvation Army
Central Territory. Our combined East-
Central participants filled up the lodge
to its maximum capacity, with over 75
youth! To see so many young people from
different walks of life come together as one
to sing the Lord’s praises was both moving
and Spirit-filled.
Our special guests for the weekend from
the Central Territory included the notable
Dr. Harold Burgmayer, Territorial Music
and Creative Arts Ministries Secretary,
and Joe Caddy, Fine Arts Ministry Director
for the College for Officer Training in
Chicago. Our Bible guests were Kevin and
Sheryl Slous from the Canada & Bermuda
Territory who spoke on the theme of stars
and God’s special design for our lives. The
mass chorus was also led by our own ETSS
Leader, Gavin Whitehouse, Divisional Music
Director for the Eastern Pennsylvania &
Delaware Division.
The music selected was challenging,
but after a few sessions it began to come
together. There was American Gospel
(I Sing Because I’m Happy – arr. Rollo
Dilworth), thoughtful choral devotionals
(God of the Deep – Eileen Berry/Dan
Forrest), triumphant full-bodied hymns
(When He Comes Again – arr. Burgmayer),
and Salvation Army songster classics such
as Garden of My Heart (Sidney Cox arr. Terry
Camsey).
On Saturday evening we held a recital
at the lodge with selections from the
ETSS and the Central Youth Chorus. To
our delight, we were treated to a few
dramatic sketches from the Bill Booth
Theater Company. The performances were
both funny and moving, imparting some
poignant spiritual insights.
On Sunday morning we held our
own worship service at Star Lake. It was
an intimate time of testimonies – young
people sharing their joys, struggles, their
service to others, and their hopes for the
future. One song that the Holy Spirit used
to bless our hearts during this time was
2 • USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN | S U M M E R 2019
God Loves You (arr. Bill Wolaver). A line from
this quiet, yet stirring song that resonated
strongly with the youth was “God loves you,
and made you for the pleasure of knowing
you.” This profound and moving truth
spoke to us and caused many people to
come forward to the mercy seat. Not even
a sudden loss in electricity (caused by a
fallen tree) could distract the young people
from seeking the Lord in that moment.
The worship carried on to our finale
concert held at Montclair Citadel (New
Jersey Division). To a healthy crowd of
onlookers, the Singing Stars performed
their pieces, interspersed with testimonies
and a devotional thought by Sheryl Slous.
After expressing thanks to our visiting
guests from the Central Territory, we
concluded the concert with Lee Fisher’s,
Go in Peace, Go in Love. The weekend
was a wonderful time of singing, learning,
and being encouraged in the faith. Both
the Eastern and Central territories should
be very proud of their Salvation Army
youth, who, week after week - participate
in the songster/chorus ministry. They do
this because they love the Lord and they
love the mission of The Salvation Army.
Our Singing Stars do indeed shine bright!
*Job 38:7 – “while the morning stars sang
together and all the angels shouted for
joy?” ■
W W W. M U S I C . S A CO N N E C T S . O R G