3 July 2026

Live updates from Friday at Together 26

Bethany Gibson and Tim Davis

Updates from Birmingham on the first day of Together 26.

8:30pm

Tonight’s concert at the ICC in Birmingham is under way!

The International Staff Band, International Staff Songsters and MACA Dance joined together for Kevin Larsson’s arrangement of ‘They Shall Come from the East’ to kick things off.

Together in Concert Auditorium photo — The audience is buzzing as Hall 1 fills up for Friday evening’s concert and the ISB and ISS take to the stage.

MACA Dance capture the dynamic diversity of God’s people as they support the ISB and ISS in their stirring presentation of They Shall Come from the East. — MACA Dance capture the dynamic diversity of God’s people as they support the ISB and ISS in their stirring presentation of ‘They Shall Come from the East’.

God’s presence was acknowledged right at the start of Together 26, with words of welcome from Paul Sharman (Music and Creative Arts) and an opening prayer fom ISS Executive Officer Lieut-Colonel Lisa Lloyd-Jones. Paul said: ‘We pray that God will convict, inspire and provide as we go through this evening with him.’

The ISS sing a heartfelt rendition of Lord, How I Love You: ‘Your boundless all-sufficient grace allows me to be me’ — The ISS sing a heartfelt rendition of ‘Lord, How I Love You’: ‘Your boundless all-sufficient grace allows me to be me’.

Don’t forget, you can hear the ISB and ISS by tuning into the livestreams this weekend at youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo.

Saturday 4 July:

6.30pm-8pm This is Us! Together in Worship – pre-meeting music from 6pm

Sunday 5 July:

10.30am–12.30pm This Is Our Journey: Ordination and Commissioning of the Keepers of the Covenant – pre-meeting music from 10:10am
3pm–4.30pm This Is Us! Part of the Story – pre-meeting music from 2:40pm

In the meantime, follow @SalvationistUKI on Facebook and Instagram for some soundbites from tonight's concert.

6pm

Welcome to live updates from Together 26!

It's Beth and Tim here from the Salvationist team and we’ll be bringing you the latest from Birmingham throughout the weekend, thanks to our colleagues.

Before the weekend starts, make sure you’re following @SalvationistUKI on Facebook and Instagram, so you’re ready to tag us and join in the Together 26 experience on social media.

You can make the most of Together at Home by visiting salvationist.org.uk/together-home, where you'll find the event guide and information about the livestream, along with prayer points, a Spotify playlist and the Kids Alive! activity pack – there's something for everyone!

A image of the frontpage of the Together 26 event guide

What's happening this weekend?

The programme for each day, plus messages from our territorial leaders.

download

This Is Us

Our theme, This Is Us, invites us to join together, united in faith, hope and purpose.

In their message to the territory ahead of the weekend, Territorial Leaders Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main said: ‘As we gather from all sorts of places and contexts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, we are reminded that The Salvation Army is not defined by its structures: we are a Movement of God’s people, grounded in his presence and energised by faith. There is a place for everyone to belong and flourish, and to play their part in carrying out God’s mission.’

A photo shows territorial leaders Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main.

United in faith, hope and purpose

Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main encourage us to be part of the story as we celebrate who we are.

A message from the territorial leaders

Stay tuned for updates from the ICC, where the weekend will start with a concert of worship and praise with The International Staff Songsters and International Staff Band, supported by MACA Dance.

Wherever and however you are joining Together 26, you are welcome and part of the story: This Is Us!