Morning at 614, Afternoon with Favourite Hymns

On 12 November 2006, the Melbourne Staff Band (Bandmaster Ken Waterworth) joined with the community and members of the Melbourne 614 project, located on Bourke Street in the heart of Melbourne's Central Business District. Following the worship services at Melbourne 614, the Staff Band moved to the Melbourne Town Hall for a program entitled “Our Favourite Hymns”, presented by The Bible Society and 89.9 LightFM Radio.

Melbourne 614 is based on a worldwide model of Salvation Army work for inner city regions, with the name of the concept taken from Isaiah 61:4 – “They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.” The Staff Band joined in to the morning worship service. The meeting began with the 614 worship group leading Every Day I'll Praise You and This Is How We Overcome. Two new adherents were then enrolled by Major Brendan Nottle. Retired General Eva Burrows, who was a part of the preparation classes, also said a few words. Following the enrollment, Darren Waterworth continued the time of congregational singing and prayer.

Neil Roper presented the cornet solo Swedish Hymn (Peter Graham). The band played a movement from Endless Praise and accompanied vocal soloist Rachael Peterson for the song You Raise Me Up. The Staff Band's executive officer, Major Robert Paterson, delivered the message for the morning, with the topic “Don't be afraid”. During the time of response following the message, Rachael sang Be Still, again accompanied by the band. The meeting closed with the song Shout to the Lord and a bendiction. The band played the final movement of Endless Praise as a postlude.

The band then went to Melbourne Town Hall for the “Our Favourite Hymns” show. For the afternoon of music and hymns, the Staff Band was joined by a 130-voice choir, made up of vocalists from 18 churches, including the Box Hill Songsters (Songster Leader Graham Roper). The featured organist was Roslyn Carolane, who also provided accompaniment for much of the singing. Congregational songs included “Shout to the Lord”, “And Can It Be”, “In Christ Alone”, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”, “Amazing Grace”, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, “Abide With Me”, “It Is Well With My Soul”, “Blessed Assurance”, and “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”. In addition to providing support for many of the songs, the Staff Band also presented Laudes Domine (William Gordon), Sursum Corda (Brian Bowen), Endless Praise (William Himes), Since Jesus (Leonard Ballantine), Hymns of Praise (Robert Redhead), Swedish Hymn again with Neil Roper as soloist, and Simple Gifts (Ray Steadman-Allen) as feature items.