USA East Music BULLETIN - SPRING 2019 - ISSUE 2 | Page 15

PENDEL YOUTH MUSIC WEEKEND
By Kelley Bowin, Regional Music Director, Pendel
MARCH 8-10, 2019 — This year for their
annual ministry weekend, the Pendel Youth
Band, Drama, and Chorus, led by RMD Kelley
Bowin, DCAD Brad Cain, and S/L Aaron Harris
respectively, went to the Williamsport corps
in the northwest corner of the division. On
Friday night they were met with food and
immediately after supper went into band
and drama rehearsals. Everybody then met
together to pray over the weekend, both
for the young people participating and for
everybody who would hear their message.
After the hours of traveling and rehearsal the
kids were more than ready to go to the hotel
and sleep.
Saturday started with a trip to a local
roller-skating rink. Some of the teens glided
around as if they were born on wheels
while some became one with the floor. By
the end of the two hours everybody had
gotten the hang of skating with some even
bravely participating in the limbo contest.
After lunch and a chorus rehearsal the
groups went to their first concert at The
Meadows, a local assisted living facility.
One of the highlights was watching the
audience members mouth the words
while the band played In the Garden
(Broughton). After some punch and
cookies the group rushed back to the
corps to perform another concert, this one
for corps and advisory board members.
On Saturday night the group had some
time to relax and eat ice cream. There was
some highly competitive Mario Kart and air
hockey as well as more casual basketball.
Many members of the group then went
swimming at the hotel pool.
On Sunday morning Majors Sheryl
Hershey and Sharon Cupp led the corps in
united Sunday school, with help from the then elaborated on its message of why
we should pass on the stories of Jesus and
how one spark can set the whole world
moving. After a meal with corps members,
the youth band members left to go to their
homes, leaving the people of Williamsport
youth drama team in a skit about Jonah and
the whale. Church began with preliminary
music from the band and then reflective
pieces from the chorus. A true highlight
for the congregation was learning You
Are Holy (Prince of Peace) by Imboden/
Rhoton and singing it along with the youth
chorus. The youth drama performed a
piece called Intentional Communication,
based on Psalm 78. Captain Jason Knaggs with the knowledge of the opportunities
they can have in the Salvation Army and,
most importantly, the challenge to spread
Jesus to everybody. ■
15 • USA EAST MUSIC BULLETIN | S P R I N G 2019
W W W. M U S I C . S A CO N N E C T S . O R G