Live updates from Friday at Together 2025

Updates from Birmingham on the first day of Together 2025.

10.15pm

Applause fills the Bradshaw Hall at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for what’s been a great start to Together 2025.

The finale of ‘I Have Seen the Glory of the Lord’ by Chris Brindley saw the International Staff Band, International Staff Songsters and Canadian Staff Songsters all join forces, leaving spirits soaring before the final benediction: ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’ by John Rutter.

As we round up tonight’s reporting, here’s a key verse from the short thought Territorial Leader Commissioner Paul Main shared with the audience: ‘Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts’ (Colossians 3:16).

Commissioner Paul asked: ‘What will you do with the love of God?’

Pick up next week’s issue of Salvationist magazine (19 July) to read our full report on tonight’s concert.

In the meantime, you can:

• Read a testimony from Canadian Staff Songster Julianna Gerard (Oshawa Temple) in this week’s Salvationist magazine (12 July).
• Listen to International Staff Songster Leader Dorothy Nancekievill in This Is My Story, This Is My Song, a monthly podcast hosted by Andy Wileman and Ali Thornton-Dean.
• Tune in to Salvationist Radio for your favourite Salvation Army and Christian music 24/7.

Be sure to join us tomorrow morning for live reporting on day two of Together 2025!

8pm

Tonight’s sold-out music festival at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire is now under way!

The International Staff Band kicks things off with ‘Temple 85’ by Norman Bearcroft, followed by the Canadian Staff Songsters with Kurt Carr’s ‘Great God, Great Praise’, arranged by Bradley Knight.

Follow @SalvationistUKI on Facebook for some sound bites from tonight's concert.

5pm

Welcome to live updates from Together 2025.

I’m Beth and I’m part of the Salvationist team.

If you haven’t already, download the event guide and spend some time praying for the weekend.

Our theme is Mission 160: From Generation to Generation. As we celebrate 160 years of The Salvation Army, we'll be reflecting on the vital role each of us plays in sharing the good news of Jesus with the next generation.

Our special guests this weekend are the international leaders of The Salvation Army, General Lyndon Buckingham and World President of Women’s Ministries Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, along with the Canadian Staff Songsters.

The messages from our international and territorial leaders in the event guide highlight some things we can be praying for at the start of our weekend:

• May this time together encourage us to examine how we are leaving a legacy of faith, hope and love that will inspire and empower those who follow in our footsteps.
• As the Champions of the Mission session of cadets prepare to be ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers on Sunday, we pray that God's Holy Spirit will rest upon them, equipping them with strength, wisdom and unwavering faith for the journey ahead.
• We pray our hearts will be open to receive all God has planned for us this weekend.

If you haven't already watched it, don't miss the latest video from our territorial leaders!

Stay tuned for updates from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where the weekend will start with a celebration of music, worship and praise with the International Staff Band, International Staff Songsters and the Canadian Staff Songsters.