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"Sing Along
Messiah"
Wow! And Hallelujah! Those kudos are for our two
Sing Along performances of Handel's Messiah at the
APEX. These were superb musical evenings with The
Academy Choir leading our 450 enthusiastic
participants in the Christmas Oratorio. We served the
musical tastes of cosmopolitan Hong Kong people well;
and honored God. I hope there can be other brilliant
musicals like this in our future. The performances
certainly proved that the APEX has great natural
acoustics for the sung human voice.
And we raised a lot of money - at least $50,000 -
to send goats to Chinese farmers through Heifer
Project China. The names given to the goats by their
patrons are delightful.
Another beautiful instant happened at worship on
Third Advent when Deborah Pike, a visitor from St.
Louis, led us in signing our Advent carol "Come Lord
Jesus, Come and be Born in our Hearts." I was wowed by
the concentration and enjoyment of the congregation as
we sang and signed along with Deborah. Signing, when
done well, always uplifts the singing of the hearing
persons as well as those like Deborah who are
deaf.
At dim sum after this wonderful worship service
Deborah's Hong Kong relatives told me that they had
researched local churches to try to find a
congregation with signing. Out of the approximate
l,000 congregations in Hong Kong they could identify
only two Chinese language congregations with signing
at worship. I pray that CCHK may commit to becoming
the first English language congregation to offer
signing which should be a standard service in a
metropolitan church like ours.
This January I shall resume my search for a
professional music leader as well as for a new church
administrator. Now I shall add to my list of essential
helpers a signer. We need all three to help us keep
growing and to present great worship and great music
which has marked our Advent-Christmas time.
Speaking of Christmas, note our first ever
Christmas Eve "Celebration for Jesus" beginning at 6PM
in the Executive Club of Central Plaza. We will offer
public carolling to the throngs on the Concourse and
enjoy a performance by the Covenant Players - "A
Modern Christmas Story." There'll be prayers by
candlelight and refreshments. For those who don't have
to rush somewhere else after our celebration concludes
at 7:30PM, there will be a Christmas Supper.
On Christmas morning we'll be upstairs at the APEX
with gathering carols at l0:30AM and an hour Christmas
worship at ll:00AM.
A blessed holy season to you near and far.
Pastor's
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