Bristol Easton Salvation Army

11/06/2026

In April I was privileged to spend a weekend at the corps in South Shields with the ISS. The North East is a beautiful part of the country with spectacular scenery, glorious beaches and we received an exceedingly warm welcome.

During my preparation for the weekend, I decided it would be good to include some music by Bandmaster George Marshall and that it would be helpful to discover more about his background.

George’s parents brought up nine children, three boys and six girls, in a small house in South Shields. His father worked as a miner but was also a talented musician, a skill he shared with his children, leading them in the family choir and orchestra. George’s mother was a soldier at South Shields Corps and she insisted that all the children went to the Army. Apparently, George was a featured soloist at one of General William Booth’s campaign meetings when was a child.

Following in his father’s footsteps, George became a miner alongside composing a wide range of brass and choral works for the Salvation Army. Tragically in 1918, only four months after his marriage to Jenny Berry, whilst working three miles under the North Sea, George suffered a dreadful mining accident when the roof above him collapsed. He was eventually rescued from below a large stone roof panel, however, his spine was broken in two places and his legs were amputated. He was not expected to survive the accident, but it is said that focusing on Jesus’ agonies gave him strength and a vision to triumph over tragedy.

George’s brass and vocal compositions continue to touch hearts today, as they come from a profound Christian experience and are incredibly well written. They excite, challenge and inspire the listener. Being in a wheelchair did not inhibit his desire to share the gospel message in any way, he miraculously travelled all over the country to encourage and teach others.

In 1950, General Albert Osborn conferred on him the Order of the Founder and the citation states, “George Marshall, though seriously handicapped for over 32 years by a major accident, has refused to be defeated or discouraged, and has succeeded heroically in surmounting every obstacle to his continuing active service as a Salvationist, soul-winner and master musician”.

One of my favourite Songster pieces is called “Jesus Himself drew near”, with words by Brigadier Arch R Wiggins. During my time in South Shields, I discovered that originally the poem finished with the words, “Jesus Himself drew near” but it was George Marshall who influenced the Brigadier to add the words “and walked with me”. Those four words are incredibly poignant anyway, but even more so given the Bandmaster’s physical challenges.

The song reminds us that whatever situation we find ourselves in, whatever our physical, or psychological state, Jesus will come near, give us peace and walk with us, we only have to ask.

It is my hope that the music & words will inspire and reassure you, as you listen to this beautiful song—they certain mean a great deal to me.

I give thanks for the life, fortitude, spiritual depth and creative abilities of Bandmaster George Marshall and also have such gratitude for his family and friends, who enabled him to respond to God’s calling. His legacy and impact continues today.

𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿
(Arch R Wiggins/George Marshall)

I set out a pilgrim sad at heart
To walk a lonely road;
Doubt had marr’d my simple trusting,
Doubt a future ill forbode;
And as I pondered o’er my grief,
My shattered hopes and unbelief,
A Stranger to my soul’s relief,
Drew near and walked with me.

𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳,
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴’𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.

I deign’d not to raise my drooping eyes,
Nor sought to learn His name,
Tho’ His voice, like heav’nly music,
Set this heart of mine aflame.
He seemed to read my every thought,
To know the pain my fears had wrought.
And with His gentle words He brought
An atmosphere of peace.

𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳,
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴’𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.

The shadows of evening fell apace,
New dangers lay ahead;
But, with my Companion walking,
I no longer felt their dread.
I begged Him ne’er to quit my side,
With me to constantly abide;
In gracious tones my Lord replied
‘My peace I leave with thee.’

𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳,
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴’𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥,
𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦.

Dorothy Nancekievill

Words: Arch R WigginsMusic: George MarshallPresented by the Inte...

03/06/2026

Surprisingly my thought for today began not when I was out walking, enjoying the lovely weather, but when I was sitting on the bus, in the Weston-super-Mare Interchange, waiting for a change of driver.

It was very hot outside, but lovely and cool on the bus. Through the window I could see people walking. Initially three of them came into view, one by one. The first was sauntering, not in a hurry, quite calm and collected. Just off a bus, I guessed, feeling the heat, but knowing where she was going, and relaxing into the new environment.

Right behind her, but quickly catching her up, then overtaking her was a guy who was obviously in a hurry. He seemed to know where he was headed, but was panicking, and I guessed he was rushing to catch his bus, which was about to set off.

The third person was a lady who was shambling along, anxiously looking all around her. Perhaps she was wondering what stop she needed to go to in order to catch the right bus, or maybe she was deciding where the shops were.

In the next five minutes I saw many people on their journeys, all of them part way through their planned day, and I tried to guess just from their walks where they were headed, what their state of mind was, and how well, or unwell they were feeling. I was tempted to get off my bus and offer help to a couple of them, who seemed to be in some distress—tempted, but not enough to leave the bus that was taking me to the place I was due to visit!

I saw people walking at different speeds: I saw some focussed on where they needed to be; I saw some looking very confused as they tried to work out where to go; some were looking straight ahead, some looked all around them; some looked at the floor. I saw people leaning on walking frames, or walking sticks, or on a companion. I saw some struggling with heavy bags, with shopping trolleys, with unruly children. Some were alone and some were in a couple, or in groups.

So many people. It made me think about the journey of life, and the very different walks we are all on. What am I focussing on as I make my faith journey? Do I know where I am headed? What burdens, or baggage do I carry? What obstacles am I meeting on my way, and how am I able to cope with them? How helpful am I to others whose paths I cross?

So many questions. Other people may be able to guess our stories from our walk, but only ourselves and God can truly see the truth of our situation. Scripture came into my mind, on the subject of walking, and I leave the following verses to guide our thoughts, with no further comments from me.

INSTRUCTIONS

Deuteronomy 11:22 Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Deuteronomy 10:12

And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

PROMISES

1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

PRAYER

Colossians 1:10

And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

The following song also added much to my musings today:

He walks with God who speaks to God in prayer,
And daily brings to him his daily care;
Possessing inward peace, he truly knows
A heart's refreshment and a soul's repose.

He walks with God who, as he onward moves,
Follows the footsteps of the Lord he loves,
And keeping him forever in his view,
His Saviour sees and his example too.

He walks with God who turns his face to heaven,
And keeps the blest commands by Jesus given;
His life upright, his end untroubled peace,
Whom God will crown when all his labours cease.

May we all experience the blessings of His presence wherever we are today.

Love and prayers,

Sandra Moran

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27/05/2026

Are you enjoying the weather?

The weather is a funny thing, isn’t it? We Brits seem to be obsessed with it and the variety of temperatures and weathers that can come within just a few days. Obviously, the heatwave might be restricting some more strenuous activities (a great excuse though to get the ice cream from the freezer), but the sunny, dry, breezy days are a real bonus to those of us who love to get the washing blowing on the line.

I’m thankful for my garden—even when I spot the weeds that need pulling from the borders or patio—and love to see the washing blowing and drying outside as we move through the year. Some of you, like my sister, may not have that luxury and you need to dry washing inside either because of your lack of outside space or, I hear, people who suffer from hayfever are better keeping their washing inside to save the spores from ‘latching’ onto the clothes. Having seen the Sahara dust on my car some days, makes me wonder if I’m doing the right thing but, hey ho!

A couple of weeks ago my local boutique ‘sale rail’ (somehow I convince myself that my nonchalant visit through the shop to this rail isn’t obvious)—I digress (again!)—had a pair of white jeans, in my size, half price. Was I thrilled? I have had my eyes on these at full price, but now… My moment had arrived and I quickly made my purchase.

They were hanging beautifully on the line, making my other whites look not quite up to par, but imagine my horror when I took them indoors to find they were splattered in bird p**p! My online cleaning gurus gave me the much needed, although revolting advice that I was to let it dry, scrape it off with a knife (yuk), soak and rewash.

I did this but I could still see the stain. I toyed with the possibility of, as it was on the inside, wearing them any way. It didn’t look too bad from the outside, but I knew it was there. Should I dye them?

Instead, I persevered and repeated the whole soak thing and rewash. Hoorah! If you know and meet me you may be lucky to see me wearing my newly cleaned jeans!

It made me think about how we might look okay from the outside, or possibly ‘okay enough’ but that inside we have things that are hidden and that we hope to keep hidden.

When we talk in Sunday School about those things we need to try to improve to make us more like Jesus, the children are often stumped as they don’t seem to argue with siblings and aren’t unkind to friends. I was probably the same at their age but with a growing maturity we know, don’t we, those things where we need to do better and those qualities we need to improve.

In 1 Corinthians 13 we read these very familiar words:

𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩. 𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴.

My hope that people will see Christ in me more and more.

Hilary Gambling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CloOereb6SQ

Sung by the International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army, this beautiful song about Christ living in and through us is a beautiful prayer. Enjoy the ...

20/05/2026

On 1 April (no, it wasn’t an April Fool’s Day joke!), police officers appeared at my door and advised that a parcel containing contraband which was addressed to my home had been intercepted by the Border Force. They were fairly reassuring that they believed my story that I was not involved. The thought that I was being interrogated about a significant crime made me reflect on how I appear to strangers and was I believable. This situation made me think about the uncertainty of our world when stuff suddenly happens which we couldn’t have predicted, such as the current conflict in the Middle East. It made me reflect on the fact that I have a God who has known me from my mother’s womb and is with me through all the twists and turns of my life.

Psalm 139 says:

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,nI know that full well

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Because at the centre of this universe I am fully known by God and yet am loved by him with all my flaws and failings, I can face whatever happens with God by my side. It helps us so much when faced with life’s challenges to know that God is so close. One of my choir mates died recently after being faced with a mortal illness at a relatively young age. We sang to him in hospital a couple of times and he chose The Blessing as one of the songs for his funeral recently. It was composed in 2020 by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, incorporating quotes from the Old Testament. At a time when the world was threatened by an unpredictable pandemic it feels like a wonderful gift from God, reminding us of his promises. The first lines are from the Old Testament book of Numbers, Chapter 6:

The Priestly Blessing

The Lord said to Moses…
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

https://youtu.be/PUtll3mNj5U?si=t4_zAVXIEHBjVRfz

Jan T

113K likes, 6.4K comments. "The UK Blessing — Churches sing 'The Blessing' over the UK"

16/05/2026

🙏🏻 The thanksgiving service for Marjorie Harrison, held at Bristol Easton corps earlier this month, is available to view. You can access it via this link:

Music and tributes honouring the life of Marjorie Harrison

14/05/2026

A cruise to visit parts of Alaska has been fantastic, not only for the scenery, but also the sights of orcas, dolphins and sea otters amongst others. The sight of a bald eagle having its ‘lunch’ in a tree for all to see was an education into the realities of nature’s food chain (although have to feel sorry for the lunch which we believe was some form of seagull). We have all seen pictures of glaciers but for those who have visited and wondered at the sight the reality is so much more, particularly as so much ice breaks away and drifts towards the sea.

On our final day we have been to a magnificent garden (the Butchart Gardens—worth Googling). The diversity of trees, bushes, shrubs and flowers, and the associated colours was breathtaking. These well known words express our gratitude for all we see.

All things bright and beautiful
All creatures great and small
All things wise and wonderful
The Lord God made them all

Each little flower that opens
Each little bird that sings
He made their glowing colours
He made their tiny wings

The purple-headed mountain
The river running by
The sunset and the morning
That brightens up the sky

The tall trees in the greenwood
The meadows where we play
The rushes by the water
We gather every day

He gave us eyes to see them
And lips that we might tell
How great is God almighty
Who has made all things well

Peter Bruce

10/05/2026

“Your name is great and your heart is kind.
For all your goodness I will keep on singing”
Today’s morning worship is available here to watch!

On Candidates' Sunday our young people take part as we consider what Jesus wants us to be and how we need to step out of the boat

10/05/2026

As you gather with friends in church, take a moment to look around. Is there someone who has come alone? Someone new? Someone returning after a long time away? Someone carrying a heavy week?

Why not invite them to lunch?

At Bristol Easton, we hold a monthly Sharing Lunch straight after the morning service—and everyone is welcome!

Some people bring homemade dishes, others bring something from the shop, and some simply bring themselves. There’s always plenty to share.

We’ll sit together, eat together, talk together, and enjoy fellowship as a church family.

So whether you come on your own, with family, or with friends, we’d love for you to join us for food, faith, and friendship!

06/05/2026

Most days, when I was working, I would arrive home, make a cup of tea, and sit for a while relaxing, often looking back on the day and recalling things the children I worked with had said and done. Sometimes I would think about things I needed to get done that evening or about what the next day would bring. But often I would sit in complete silence, recharging my batteries, too tired to even think. Dictionary definitions of silence are absence of any sound or noise, quietness, stillness. Babies and young children need silence to process and respond to what they have heard. Likewise, we need silence to hear, listen and respond to God’s voice.

These days it can be difficult to find moments of complete silence. Whether inside or outside there always seems to be noise of different kinds and volumes—voices, music, traffic, birdsong, television, radio, phones, laughter, footsteps, rain… But silence can be beneficial and appreciated when sitting in a comfy chair, in a favourite spot outdoors, when walking in the park or woods, or along a cliff top, or even during a sleepless night.

In Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle which I am singing next week with my choral society there is one bar in the whole work which has the instruction ‘silent’. How important and significant this is as we continue by singing ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’. Silences at the conclusion of a symphony or concerto, a choral piece or a song of worship sung together or listened to can be a collective breathing space, a time of reflection, contemplation or an absorption of emotion. Some songs that come to mind about silence are:

Silence is Golden by The Tremeloes;
Silent Night, Holy Night; and
The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.

The Bible references occasions when Jesus was silent.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth.
Isaiah 53, verse 7.

In Matthew 26, verse 62 we read that “Jesus remained silent” when facing accusations from the High Priest.

Jesus chose times to be by himself in the silence of the desert and in the Garden of Gethsemane.

God speaks to us during the hustle and bustle of daily life and also in the quiet moments—a still small voice of calm. I came across the words of a hymn written by Oswald Jeffrey Smith in 1938 which says:

God is waiting in the silence
For a heart that He can fill;
He must find it cleansed and empty,
With a spirit calm and still.

God is waiting in the silence
As the world goes rushing by.
Will not someone stop and listen,
Answer quickly, ‘Here am I’?

A time to be silent and a time to speak.
Ecclesiastes 3, verse 7b.

Go placidly amidst the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
Desiderata.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God thy will to see.
Open mine eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine.
Song 786, Salvation Army Song Book.

I will come to you in the silence
I will lift you from all your fear
You will hear my voice
I claim you as my choice
Be still and know I am here.
David Haas.

Heather

05/05/2026

🙏🏻IN CASE YOU MISSED IT! Tap here to watch Sunday’s morning worship, led by TE Kim Whyard.

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