This eagerly anticipated concert was a sell out well in advance of the event on Saturday, February 9, in Danbury Community Centre.

The enthusiastic full house audience enjoyed two hours of superb musical entertainment in a variety of jazz styles ranging from New Orleans, British Dixieland to Duke Ellington, performed by the popular international all star band, with ensembles, solos and vocals warmly applauded.

The organiser wishes to thank the many local business publications, newspapers and broadcast media for helping to publicise the highly successful event.

Clearly, the audience was well satisfied judged by the many complimentary superlatives at the end of the evening and requests for the band to return.

British jazz is alive and well with the Pete Allen Jazz and Swing Band leading the way.

BRIAN STANDWICK

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

MIKE Shelbourne and Ian Chamberlain were welcomed to Danbury URC last Sunday. Mike told us that his theme for today was Streams in the desert, and then we sang Praise My Soul the King of Heaven.

Mike said that today was Mother's Day and he wouldn't allow the day to go by without mentioning a few things - the great blessing of mothers and how wonderfully they influence us, though some mothers can have difficult lives and we hope that they will be able to remember the most wonderful things.

Ian then played us a song on his guitar called Just a Touch, and we all joined in the chorus: "Gentle, loving spirit, remind us every day, that power and love and peace and joy, are just a touch away."

Mike told us that he runs regular celebrate services on Wednesdays and told us about several marvellous answers to prayer during those services.

After singing As the Deer Pants for the Water, Mike said that a desert was a dry and difficult place, but a spiritual desert can be caused by many things - physical, worry, grief, and often may not even be visible. The only thing that can bring streams into our lives is Jesus, who is the living water.

Ian then sang a song, Streams Will Flow in the Desert, during which Mike read to us a passage from Isaiah which also told us that streams of water will flow through the desert.

Mike concluded by telling of all the good things Christians bring to the world and that if you took all of the Christians out of the world, the desert would become a much bigger place.

Ian concluded by singing I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say Come Unto Me and Rest'.

Next Sunday, Heather Brown will lead our service at 9.45am.