Songs of Praise
 Not many churches can arrange for a fanfare from the Royal Marine Corps of Drummers to begin a service but that was the amazing start of our Songs of Praise service in the middle of Great British Week and it finished with a virtuoso display of  drumming and bugle playing outside the cathedral. Several well known members of the British community, including the British Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission, selected hymns that were special to them and said why . Everyone took this task really seriously, the congregation sang their hearts out and hymns were interspersed with readings that picked up themes within the hymns that held the service together and a powerpoint presentation provided visuals at appropriate times. We were privileged to have a St Christopher’s School Choir who sang All things bright and beautiful the choice of Wendy Bataineh and Ed Goodwin and also Rodney and Michelle Davies.
It was wonderful to have such a packed church, a really appreciative congregation, many of whom saying that we must do this again. Of course it helped riding on the wave of the Great British Week and receiving good publicity in the press and in the special magazine for the week, but it also responded to a need within the community. |