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Tasmanian Anglican

June 2003

 

Full churches for Songs of Praise

by Derek Nichols

 

 

On Pentecost Sunday last year in association with Greg Clifton, Derek Nichols launched Songs of Praise as an inter-church activity in the city centre of Launceston. They were delightfully surprised when over 400 people arrived and filled the church.

The series continued bi-monthly and filled the City Baptist, the Roman Catholic Church of the Apostles, Salvation Army and Pilgrim Uniting Church in succession.

Maintain the interest

Each program includes hymns and modern songs requested by members of the congregations, with choral groups, soloists and instrumentalists, organ, piano, keyboard, flute and the Salvation Army Band and Songsters. A combined churches choir has been a regular feature with up to 60 voices from eight different denominations. Short talks or interviews by ministers and lay folk from different churches maintain the interest of the congregations.

500 Christians from more than ten denominations packed St John's Church, Launceston on Sunday 27 April to celebrate in Songs of Praise the Resurrection of Christ. This was the sixth of the series of Songs of Praise, which has moved to central Launceston churches - Baptist, Catholic, Uniting and the Salvation Army - always to full churches.

Scripture Union in Tasmania

More than $5000 has been donated to Christian groups locally and overseas. In April over $1000 was given for the work of Scripture Union in Tasmania, and Kay Hunter (State Director of SU) and Ben McKinnon (SU Youthworker) took part in the event.

Two new choirs took part in April: Singcognito - a delightful a cappella Launceston group of 30 voices colourfully singing spirituals and South African Zulu songs. With a Salvation Army trumpeter and a Baptist soloist the Jerusalem Passion choir sang 'Jerusalem, come down'. Composed in Queensland by Murray Wylie The Jerusalem Passion has been a source of inspiration and encouragement in Christian unity in Australia and further afield.

To praise God and to serve him

Last performed in Launceston 10 years ago, The Jerusalem Passion again thrilled audiences totalling 2000, in April 2003 in the Albert Hall. Instrumentalists and a choir of nearly 100 were under the direction of Barry Dudgeon, Music Director at Launceston Grammar School. Over $8000 was given to the Launceston City Mission as a profit from the three performances.

Christian music is providing an exciting way of bringing Christians together to praise God and to serve him - another Songs of Praise was held on Pentecost Sunday at Punchbowl Christian Centre which seats 700!