“This is always my favorite part of congress!” exclaims Emma as the music takes over the auditorium.
“Look there is our Ellen and Anne in the timbrels!” shouts Jennings with a “whoop, whoop, whoop!”
As part of the prelude marching into a stringent drumbeat, the training school timbrelists perform an upbeat, creative and modern routine to “Assignment” as everyone awaits for the appointment meeting on Sunday afternoon. They are synchronized and fascinating to watch. It is obvious they have spent many hours in rehearsals and make a sincere attempt to look sharp and together. Their red tunics add a particular splash to what they are doing.
Alice Hammer along with several people in the audience takes their Army flags out of the Bible and wave in time to the music as well as clap along too. There is loud chatting throughout the auditorium that challenges to be louder than the music as the program is about to begin.
People cheerfully shake hands in the aisle. Good friends hug and greet seeing each other for the first time in a year because of living in opposite ends of the territory. Liz and Robert Ferris followed by Lila and David squeezing into the row in front of the Crestwood Corps. Everyone is delighted to see all of them again. Liz shares about her new outfit she got at the mall earlier that week. Robert makes a joke about his credit cards but Liz responds that she is “worth it”. Lila tells and shows them pictures of her honeymoon which took place a month ago. David smiles and is friendly but doesn’t say a whole lot but instead as the conversation continues quietly memorizes his congress program.
Some others flip through their glossy program of pictures of the cadets, special events, and information about workshops as well. They garnish every picture and make guesses on where they think each newly commissioned officer will be appointed.
Mrs. Dashing, Jennings and Alice Hammer pour over the baby pictures that Brandon has shared on his digital keychain of Anne and his tiny precious treasure. Mrs. Dashing is a very proud grandma and shares the pictures with the newly acquainted friends in the row behind her from the corps in Mansfield Park.
Next the session flags enter one by one carried by cadets or session flag bearer if the person is present for congress. As Jennings’ session flag of “The Peacemakers” enters, she stands up and hollers with her other five session mates as Ted carries her flag down the long aisle to the platform. He warmly smiles over at Jennings as he passes. A few flags later carried by first year cadets, Mrs. Dashing cheers along with the “Undaunted” session. Sitting between Jennings and Mrs. Dashing, Brandon cheers along with many of his session mates scattered throughout the auditorium as the spotlight shines on “Ambassadors” flag enters the doorway.
Everyone claps along with the “Ambassadors” march as the flags follow one by one in the parade to the platform. One of the new lieutenants trips up the stairs. Stands up on all fours, waves his hand across his forehead and up into the air with a flourish, sticks his chest out with his nose to the air and continues walking across the platform to his seat. Alice Hammer looks to Jennings “He’s an interesting one, don’t you think?”
“Ummm . . . yes. I wonder where he will be stationed. I’m so sorry that Elton and April are moving to Bath Temple. I will certainly miss them” Jennings confidentially continues “I hear Colonel Debourgh is quite a formidable woman, I don’t know anything about her husband though. I understand that she has a daughter by the name of Anne but I don’t know much about her either. My friend, Mrs. Bennett, knows of them a little when I talked to her the other day but you never know what is true or not with her so I wouldn’t want to repeat too much.”
“I understand Crestwood is supposed to get an assistant. I wonder if we will be getting a single or a couple? That Cadet Fitzwilliam fellow looks all right, maybe we’ll get him” guesses Alice Hammer.
“We’ll see. It always seems to be a surprise and rather random to me how cadets are appointed to different places” remarks Jennings from years of guesses and observations.
The auditorium feels as if it has come alive in expectation and hope for the commissioning of the cadets. It is a highlight of the entire year in the Army world of the Northern Territory.
“Welcome! Will you stand and sing with me “Joy in The Salvation Army” greets the Chief Secretary with much enthusiasm “Joy, Joy, Joy, there is Joy in The Salvation Army . . . “
Harriet sings with all of her might next to Jennings who seems to remember all the words without having to look at them on any of the big screens. A few minutes into the second verse, Harriet points “Look! There we are!” as a picture of their aisle is projected on one of the large screen to everyone in the auditorium scanning the audience. Both Harriet and Jennings jump up and down and wave watching themselves twenty feet tall in front of them.
As the Commissioner takes the podium she prays a blessing for the cadets and their future ministry in the appointments where they will serve across the territory. Mrs. Dashing prays along privately for both of her girls, Brandon and Ted who will soon be going on their summer assignment.
Five cadets take the stage for a dramatic responsive Scripture reading from Acts about going into the world and bringing others to Jesus. Ellen, Anne and Ted are part of this group as first year cadets. They emphasize a particular phrase and word by acting it out and in unison or with solo voices bring the Scripture to life.
The training school principal takes his place at the glass podium and offers a few statistics about all the cadets in the school in regards to family size, children, education, previous careers, age differences, and their callings. He explains where the different cadets are from, who traveled the farthest and the closest to come to the school, and highlights special events that have happened that year including the country fair to raise money for world services, future officers fellowship week-end, and the cadets festival.
One of the top academic cadets being commissioned this year, Cadet Charlotte Lucas, shares her personal testimony of her calling and where she sees God leading her in the future. She is sincere and her words are compelling.
The Creative Arts team performs a dance to a modern Christian song that has recently been frequently heard on the radio. It is beautiful and moving as they are able to portray the lyrics of the song in a deep and meaningful response.
A member of last years service corps, Ben Wick, takes the platform and shares about his summer experience in Peru last year. Harriet yells “Yeoww!” when Crestwood is mentioned and then again when “Peru” is announced. Jennings whistles too for support in solidarity and some special effects. The entire service corps delegation joins him on the stage in their matching blue jackets with the shield near the left shoulder.
“I think that is Fanny Price going to Mexico for the summer. I need to check my program. We went to Sunbeam camp together as children” explains Jane to Grant who is looking at the program for the names of each member and what corps they are from around the territory “We took our Commissioner’s Sunbeam test together. She was always my best friend at camp every summer.” The five service corps teams will be leaving the week after congress for a summer of ministry around the world in different places.
“Captain Wentworth is leading the team to Peru. He has been stationed at the training school for years. He was my favorite teacher because he was so enlightening and interesting to listen to. If Anne and Ellen weren’t already taken, I would take the time and introduce them. I think either of them would be a very good match for him” states April then looking down the row adds “Emma, I think is too bossy”. Emma hears her name and raises an eyebrow, smirks, and tries to ignore April and her comments.
The Territorial Business Administrator announces the entire balance of funds that have been raised across the territory for world services. A huge check has been printed about ten feet long and three feet tall with the total amount written in letters two feet tall so even someone in the balcony can read the final total. Two cadets hold each end of the gigantic check as it is highlighted in the program.
This is followed by a special piece by the territorial band of professional and semi-professional musicians who are music education teachers, music students, and working in the secular music arena. It is exciting and moving while providing a perfect response to the day of sending out into ministry.
As the screen focuses on a few of the members while they play, “Wow! I haven’t seen Darcy in ages. He didn’t come to the concert last Easter. He looks great though” exclaims Grant to Jane sitting next to him “He’s a nice guy even if he is quiet and keeps to himself most of the time. He’s one of the most spiritual guys I know. He’s very trustworthy and he is always there for his friends.”
“I see Caroline Bingley too. She looks as confident as ever” frankly states Jane impressed with her musicianship but not with Caroline’s prideful attitude about it which actually overshadows her ability to play in most minds in the auditorium. Grant smiles at her impressed with her insight and places his arm around her.
“Isn’t that Wickham in the band too? I always thought he would be a good match for Caroline. They use to hang out a lot together at territorial youth camp” suggests April to Harriet letting her know the personal history in her opinion of the band members “However he always seem to be dating a lot of different women - maybe too much for Caroline’s taste.”
“Isn’t that Knightly in the band?” asks Harriet “It certainly looks like him. I didn’t know he played in the territorial band” as the camera focuses on him Harriet adds “He looks really handsome on the big screen in his red tunic!”
“Yes, he’s been in the band for a long time now. I know for at least the last five years” answers April “I would often see him at territorial events as a cadet. I have always thought he was a wonderful player. But of course, I think my Elton plays well too” reassuringly patting him on the arm as he listens to the music next to her.
“Do you know Willoughby and Sophie Grey? They were playing in the praise team yesterday. She has such a lovely voice and he plays the guitar so well. The praise team often played at the school for special events last year. There was some big mayhem last year at the FOF week-end right after he asked Sophie to marry him with some girl” and then April suddenly connects the dots, remembers who was involved and their connection to Crestwood. She nervously adds “But I don’t remember all the details. It was such a long time ago, it doesn’t really matter anyway.”
After the band finishes Cadet Fitzwilliam, the session speaker, nervously takes his place at the podium with the etched crest. He shares a few jokes which have the entire audience laughing along with him because of being able to relate to the situations of his humorous stories. He is eloquent. His message is clear and hits the heart of the matter.
The new “Messengers” lieutenants and now the second year “Crusader” cadets stand together to sing their session song “He talks and walks with me” written by one of the fellow cadets. As the camera scans the cadets as they sing, it is obvious that one cadet in particular is exaggeratedly mouthing “watermelon” so everyone is able to read his lips. For every pause in the music, his lips still continue to move while the others listen to the bridge in the music. Harriet, Liz, and Lila giggle quite loudly at the goofy cadet’s movements as he sways in his own version of keeping time.
“Who is that?” asks Emma to Harriet who has her program tucked away in the seat next to her. Emma opens it up and looks for a matching picture. “It’s somebody named “William Collins”. I wonder where they will be sending him . . .”
After the new lieutenant closes his thoughts, the Commissioner takes center stage for the appointment service to begin. At his side is the Personal Secretary with a handful of envelopes which contain the future destiny of the nervous cadets and their anxious children waiting off stage. This will be a new home, a new school, new friends, new life which they are not prepared for in advance of that moment. They literally could go anywhere in the territory in exactly two weeks to begin a new life with people they have never met nor know. It is a very anxious moment on many levels, but the new lieutenants are excited because they feel that they are walking in faith and living within the parameters of God’s will for them.
The cadets stand and walk off the platform to the music of the territorial band. The names are announced one by one. Each lieutenant or couple is called out to join the commissioner on the platform. The cadet salutes with one finger signifying going to heaven with Jesus.
“Lieutenant William Collins” announces the personal secretary standing next to the commissioner. A tall lanky disheveled man parades across the platform in his own personal style. He raises his hand to heaven and clicks his heels at the same time. The commission remarks, “That was an interesting and original entrance lieutenant.” Lieutenant Collins immediately responds “I added my own ‘souls for Jesus’ – get it soles . .” pointing to his heels of his black polished leather tie shoes. The commissioner smiles, not entirely amused. “I’ll have to think more about that one.”
“Lieutenant Collins, I challenge you to discover all that you can and to reach out to anyone you see in need. You are currently being appointed to the Crestwood Corps as the assistant officer.”
There are loud gasps from the two rows of current and former Crestwood members. No one says anything for a moment until Jennings states “Well, I guess will be looking for him a wife too!” All the women give each other short glances back and forth starting to giggle and laugh. Alice turns to Jennings and jokingly states, “Maybe Jennings, he’s the one for you” to which Jennings rolls her eyes in response. “He might be just a little too much for me” honestly states Jennings which makes for an explosion of laughter from everyone relieving a little bit of the tension at concern of this new appointment.
Names of the new lieutenants continue to be announced followed by the statement of their appointments. Lieutenant Mark Fitzwilliam and Lieutenant Charlotte Lucas seem like bright spots in the new session.
The meeting ends with a flare and sending out inspiring all those who are in attendance. It has been a great and memorable day.
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