Good Friday

Last evening our Corps (church) held Maundy Thursday meeting. It was good we were able to share fellowship and to be reminded of the sufferings of Jesus. We pondered over scenes of the Upper Room and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This morning we joined our brothers and sisters in a Combined Service at Central Corps Bishan. The theme of the meeting was "Were you there?" The service began with the band piece "Passion Chorale" beautifully played by the combined bands of Central and William Booth Corps under the leadership of Bandmaster Bruce Gale. It really touched my heart.

This beautiful German hymn "O Haupt voll Blut und Wundun" was written by Bernard of Clairvaux and translated by James Alexander into English. I cannot recall this beautiful hymn used in a Salvation Army meeting since we returned to Singapore thirteen years ago. It's a pity such gems are not used any more by the younger officers. I've used this in my private devotions often for my own spiritual benefit.

We sang a number of the old songs associated with Good Friday. The Territorial Commander Colonel Keith Burridge gave the message 'Were you there?"

It was a beautiful service that ended with the singing of the old hymn "Man of sorrows..Hallelujah what a Saviour.